Communities are being invited to help shape measures to reduce the dominance of vehicles in 15 neighbourhoods across Bath and North East Somerset.
“Quick wins” could be fast-tracked in January but the council is yet to confirm when the first schemes will be introduced, with consultation set to continue into next summer.
Ideas from the first stage of engagement that opened this week will shape concept designs that will be considered by a cross-section of the community during a series of workshops.
New measures could include reduced speeds, traffic calming, changes to junctions and crossings, residents’ parking zones and better cycle routes and storage.
Deputy leader Sarah Warren, the cabinet member for climate and sustainable travel, said: “We’ve had a fantastic response so far from communities who’ve really got behind the idea of liveable neighbourhoods.
“Of course, every community is different and has its own needs, so it’s important local people put forward their ideas to address the issues that affect them and work with us to develop tailored liveable neighbourhood schemes that work for their area.
“We also want people who live near the schemes to have their say and get involved in the design process, as it’s vital we understand and work to mitigate any potential impact on neighbouring areas.”
Conservative councillors have warned the liveable neighbourhood rollout will displace traffic, leading to higher levels of congestion and pollution and residents with mobility problems being disproportionately affected.
Responding to the concerns in June, Cllr Warren said: “I would emphasise the importance of patience. In some instances we will need to hold our nerve.
“Traffic displacement can be an issue in the first few days but over the weeks that follow a new pattern develops.”
The council is set to spend £2.2million on the programme over the next two years and finance boss Richard Samuel said he was prepared to commit further funding into 2023/24.
Following the consultation, the council will see in January if any scheme can be fast tracked to offer ‘quick wins’ for communities.
The following month the co-design stage will begin, and then in March residents will be consulted on the concept designs.
There will be a final public consultation next summer once technical designs have been drawn up.
The consultation website does not say when the first liveable neighbourhoods will be introduced, although Cllr Warren said in June that “several schemes” would be installed by 2023 and designs completed on others so they can progress rapidly when funds and capacity permit.
The council plans to look at other areas following the first phase but does not yet have a timetable for the work.
The first 15 priority liveable neighbourhood schemes are:
- Whitchurch & Queen Charlton (Publow with Whitchurch and Saltford)
- Temple Cloud
- Morris Lane/Bannerdown (Bathavon North)
- Mount Road (Southdown)
- Oldfield Lane & First/Second/Third Avenues
- Edgerton Road/Cotswold Road (Moorlands)
- (New) Sydney Place and Sydney Road (Bathwick)
- Area bounded by Sydney Place, Great Pulteney Street, St Johns Road and Bathwick Street (Bathwick)
- The Circus/Lower Lansdown/Marlborough Lane & Building/Royal Victoria Park/Cork Street area (Kingsmead & Lansdown)
- Lyme Road/Charmouth Road (Newbridge)
- Chelsea Road (Newbridge)
- Snow Hill (Walcot)
- Church St & Prior Park Rd (Widcombe & Lyncombe)
- Entry Hill (Widcombe & Lyncombe)
- Southlands (Weston)
Visit www.bathnes.gov.uk/liveableneighbourhoods to respond to the consultation.
Stephen Sumner, Local Democracy Reporter
