Three new through-traffic restriction trials in the Lower Lansdown area of Bath will be installed from Monday 5th August, the council has announced.
The linked trials, which Bath & North East Somerset Council says will allow cyclists and pedestrians safer routes on Gay Street, Catharine Place and Winifred’s Lane, will be in place for a minimum of six months under an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) and their impact will be monitored.
People are encouraged to share their views at any point during the trials at www.bathnes.gov.uk/lansdownetro.
Consultation surveys will be available from the council’s website from Monday 5th August.
No decision will be made on the future of the trials until the council has considered all the outcomes.
The council says the trials are the result of ongoing community engagement since 2021.
Councillor Manda Rigby, cabinet member for transport, said: “Motorists often use the trial streets to avoid the main roads linking the south of Bath to the A46/A420/M4, so the aim is to address speeding and excessive through traffic in these central, residential areas.
“We also want to create a safe and pleasant active travel route through the area. I want to reassure residents and businesses that vehicle access to properties will be maintained during the trials, although some drivers may have to use a different route.
“We currently have other Liveable Neighbourhood schemes in place, and these have shown us that the best method of consulting on through-traffic changes is via an ETRO.
“It gives us time to monitor the impacts of the scheme and for people to respond to the interventions, having experienced the scheme, before we make a final decision on whether to make them permanent.”
At Winifred’s Lane, two rows of bollards will be installed preventing motorists (but not pedestrians or cyclists) from using the route as a shortcut from Monday 5th August.
The council is also introducing a no-right turn (except cycles) into Sion Hill (East) from the top of Cavendish Road. During installation, the Sion Hill (East) junction will be closed in all directions.
From Tuesday 6th August, northbound vehicles will not be able to enter Gay Street from its junction with George Street. Access to Gay Street, which remains two-way, will be from The Circus only.
On exiting, vehicles can turn and exit via The Circus, or turn left into George Street, but they will not be able to travel south towards Queen Square.
During installation, vehicle access and parking on this stretch of Gay Street will be suspended until work is complete.
From Thursday 8th August, a row of bollards will in installed on Catharine Place between Margaret’s Buildings and just before the junction with Rivers Street Mews to create a no-through-route.
Some parking bays will be suspended temporarily during the works and during the trial to improve visibility and allow vehicles to turn.
Letters outlining what is happening have been sent to local residents and businesses.
The council secured £736,000 of funding from the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority (WECA) to implement the trials ahead of delivering the wider Liveable Neighbourhoods programme, the purpose of which is to develop a range of measures to improve streets.
