Decision made on controversial Park Street car ban

9 hours ago

Matty Edwardsand

Marcus Boothe,Bristol

News image — The plan would have seen drivers diverted towards the Bearpit

Getty Images Park Street. It is a busy, hilled road with cars, busses and a cyclist travelling on it. The Wills Memorial building is at the top of it with a grand tower. Shops line the street and pedestrians walk up and down the pavement. — The plan would have seen drivers diverted towards the Bearpit

Park Street in Bristol will not be closed to general traffic after controversial plans were voted down.

Green councillors wanted to install a bus gate on the road to reduce pollution levels in the area. They said the move could have led to Clean Air Zone (CAZ) restrictions being lifted a year early.

The plan would have seen drivers diverted towards the Bearpit and past the hospitals on Upper Maudlin Street, before ending up on the Triangle.

But while four Green councillors on Bristol City Council's transport committee supported the plan, three Labour councillors, one Liberal Democrat and one Conservative councillor blocked it, citing concerns about pollution being pushed elsewhere.

The Bristol CAZ, which was introduced in 2022, led to a 12.6% reduction in air pollution in its first year and a 5.1% reduction in its second year, according to council data.

But the most recent data showed legal pollution levels were still being breached on Colston Avenue.

Air quality experts Kalaco found restricting through-traffic on Park Street would bring pollution down to legally compliant levels on Colston Avenue in 2027 - a year earlier than currently predicted - Green councillors said.

Bristol City Council A digital image showing plans for Park Street with pedestrians, cyclists and planters lining the street. — Millions of pounds have already been spent on designing the scheme and writing a business case

But councillor Tom Renhard, leader of Bristol Labour, claimed the scheme would have led to worse air pollution outside the Bristol Royal Infirmary (BRI) and Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, as traffic would not just "evaporate".

Kalaco said air pollution levels near the BRI would have experienced a "slight increase" under the plans, but would remain below the legal limit.

The £13m plan, which had not been backed by West of England Mayor Helen Godwin, would have been part-funded by £8m from CAZ fines.

Renhard said the fine money would be better spent on additional supported bus services, installing lighting on dark footpaths and active travel routes, cleaning drains and replacing bus stops.

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