A group of 12 opposition councillors have this week called in the decision to make the controversial through-traffic restriction on New Sydney Place and Sydney Road at Bathwick permanent.
Looking down Sydney Place, with the LTN restriction in place
Call-ins are used to delay and interrogate important executive decisions.
The 12 councillors, led by Independent Colin Blackburn, have outlined their reasons for demanding a rethink on Bath & North East Somerset Council cabinet member Mark Elliott’s decision which he signed on Monday 17th February.
The trial was installed in April 2024 under an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) so that the impacts could be monitored and the community could experience it before giving feedback.
A line of bollards prevents drivers from using the residential streets as a cut-through to avoid the A36/Bathwick Street junction, keeping access to homes and businesses from either side.
The aim is to create a safer environment for those walking or cycling through the area.
Motorists instead have to follow the A36 around Beckford Road and along Sydney Place, passing the top of Great Pulteney Street.
The outcomes of the Liveable Neighbourhood (LN) trial, including traffic and air quality data, as well as public feedback, were set out in a single member decision report to be approved by Councillor Elliott, cabinet member for resources at the Liberal Democrat-controlled council.
But the 12 councillors have outlined the many reasons why it should not be made permanent. Leading the call-in is the Independent councillor for the Westmoreland ward, Colin Blackburn, who says the single-member decision is “unconstitutional”.
Councillor Colin Blackburn, who is leading the call-in against the scheme
He says the decision is widely opposed – 76% overall and 70% in the affected area – and does not satisfy the Department for Transport guidance for consultation.
Councillor Blackburn says the council and cabinet member for transport have not engaged those “suffering” from the LN, only with those in support. “All five major businesses in the area oppose the LN. First Bus oppose the LN.
“The EQIA (equality impact assessment) only concentrated on impact inside the LN, not on boundary roads – this may represent a breach of the Equalities Act.”
He says that virtually all traffic using Sydney Road – 4,500 vehicles a day – has been displaced onto less safe roads and causing up to 50% increases in traffic. He adds that the scheme will create a £135,000-a-year economic cost from delay from 1.4 million vehicles, with 35 tonnes of additional CO2 per year.
Although 87 households benefit from the LN scheme, 180 suffer on Darlington Street, Sydney Place and Beckford Road; 114 suffer on North Road and Cleveland Walk; and 59 suffer on Sham Castle Lane and St Ann’s Way, he says in his call-in statement.
“For the 1,700 residents of Bathampton, a principal route into Bath services (rail, supermarkets, RUH) has just been closed off.
“Presently the new road layout fails cyclists turning on the Warminster Road and has increased vehicles on North Road, now making these roads more dangerous to active travel users.”
He says that the trial data “underestimates” traffic on boundary roads as the A36 has been under roadworks or completely closed throughout the trial – reducing 700 to 3,000 vehicles a day from the LN area.
He adds that the summary of outcomes concentrates on the benefits within the area being realised for the minority, rather than the “considerable disbenefits” suffered by the majority.
He says: “The statement ‘without significant or intolerable displacement of traffic’ beggars belief when traffic has increased by up to 50%. The press release is even less balanced, using entirely cherry-picked data to suggest that the decision is a foregone conclusion. It also allows no freedom of choice for the single member decision.”
Councillor Blackburn concludes: “It is our belief that understanding the implications of this individual low traffic neighbourhood requires considering its cumulative effects; the data provided lacks a city-wide traffic management plan.”
The councillors who have called for the review alongside Councillor Blackburn are: Liz Hardman (Labour, Paulton); Alan Hale (Independent, Keynsham South); Lesley Mansell (Labour, Radstock); Chris Dando (Labour, Radstock); Tim Warren (Conservative, Midsomer Norton, Redfield); Sarah Evans (Conservative, Midsomer Norton Redfield); Gavin Heathcote (Independent, Peasedown); Grant Johnson (Labour, Paulton); Shaun Hughes (Independent, Midsomer Norton North); Robin Moss (Labour, Westfield); and Joanna Wright (Green, Lambridge).
