The Society has commented on this Council consultation. The consultation sets out an ambitious set of proposals in the city centre. It covers the Broadmead area, Temple Way, Redcliffe, and Bedminster Bridges. A new north/south rapid transit route across the city centre has had a major impact on the design choices in the Broadmead area.
The Society’s response considers the overall balance between the different transport modes across the whole scheme, just as the Council has to do. Finding the right balance is not easy. This forms the major part of our response. We then go on to comment on specific elements of the scheme.
The Council’s adopted transport policy is to change the roads to help support public transport and active travel. It seems clear that in practice road-space tends to get allocated to buses first. Only in Broadmead would road space be taken away from general motor traffic. As in other schemes, there are some improvements in provision for active travel modes, but in many places the provision for active travel modes would remain compromised. Our biggest concern is the impact of so many more buses on Nelson Street.
This consultation is about transport and movement, but place matters too. The Society considers place just as much as movement. We are very concerned about Redcliffe Way. The plans would compromise its spatial development as a dramatic link between the station and town of the sort found in many European cities.