A controversial liveable neighbourhood in Bath is set to be made permanent, despite three-quarters of people being against the plan.
Looking down Sydney Place, with the new LTN restriction in place
Bath & North East Somerset Council installed bollards across Sydney Road in April 2024 on what was officially a trial basis as part of its scheme of liveable neighbourhoods, also called low traffic neighbourhoods or LTNs.
It has been hugely controversial, with people on the street “freed from the tyranny of the motor vehicle” while neighbouring streets warn: “Their liveable neighbourhood has become our unliveable neighbourhood.”
Now council reports are recommending the scheme be made permanent “as soon as possible”.
The decision will be made as a “single member decision” by the council cabinet member for resources Mark Elliot (Lansdown, Liberal Democrat) on or after 15th February.
Mr Elliott said: “This is a detailed and thorough analysis of a comprehensive trial and consultation which I will consider carefully.
“It is interesting to see from the feedback how people’s opinions have shifted over the course of the trial to be more positive, although a significant number are obviously still opposed.
“The consultation process allowed people to express a wide range of views. The trial is a result of years of campaigning by residents, and it’s important that I assess whether the reasons for objecting are supported by evidence.
“I also note that the Bath Walking, Wheeling and Cycling Links scheme aims to further improve connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists by proposing a safer route connecting Bathwick and the city centre than the current National Cycle Route 4, which currently follows the busy A36.”
While the scheme has officially only been in place on a trial basis, the council spent £306,300 installing new pavements, bollards, signage and road markings at the beginning of the trial.
Asked at the time whether the council knew how much it would cost to undo these if it was not made permanent, it said it did not have a figure and said it would have to be included in future budgeting.
1,899 people responded to the consultation on the scheme, with 76% opposed to the scheme, and 24% in favour.
Of the 104 responses from people living on Sydney Road and New Sydney Place, 72% were in favour of the scheme; but the 684 respondents living on nearby roads within the trial area were 70% against.
83% of the 1,090 people who responded but live outside the trial area were opposed.
People against the scheme have raised more than £6,000 to fight the liveable neighbourhood through the courts if the decision is taken to make it permanent.
About 4,000 people had also signed a petition against the scheme on website 38 Degrees before it was disabled for “inappropriate content”.
Closing Sydney Road to traffic means cars heading for the centre from Warminster Road must now follow Beckford Road around Sydney Gardens, often meaning a wait at the traffic lights by Bathwick Street.
But council reports said the journey along the road only took five seconds longer than it had before the trial, although drivers had lost the ability to shave 40 seconds off their journey by going down Sydney Road.
But people living along Beckford Road told another story when several addressed the council in July 2024 to urge them to drop the scheme.
One person warned: “Near misses are happening the whole time because of the Sydney Road LTN.”
People living on Sydney Road, however, had addressed the council in March and praised the scheme, with one person saying: “Sydney Road LN creates a small safe space to move around without fear of being run down by a rat runner from Bathampton trying to get to Waitrose before it closes.
“Other more appropriate and better built roads are available.”
The council said that, before the trial, 4,466 to 4,770 vehicles went down Sydney Road each day on average, with 75% being through traffic. Now traffic has been reduced by up to 90% on New Sydney Place and 70% on Sydney Road.
John Wimperis, Local Democracy Reporter
