Bristol travel plans reworked to boost disability access

Plans to pedestrianise parts of Bristol city centre are being reworked after concerns raised by disabled people.

The city council wants to ban almost all vehicles from the Horsefair and also ban taxis and motorbikes from nearby Union Street.

More than 2,000 people responded to a consultation on the plans, with 59% in favour, but those with disabilities raised concerns about loss of parking bays and the rerouting of buses.

Green councillor Ed Plowden, chair of the transport policy committee, said the council is committed to ensuring the city centre is “welcoming for all”.

The council is working with the West of England Centre for Inclusive Living to explore potential solutions, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

As well as adding more disabled parking spaces, the plans will be updated with more crossing points that are level with pavements and separating bike lanes and pavements with different surfaces.

The council will consult on the designs again, as part of the process of issuing traffic regulation orders, which are legally needed to make changes to the roads.

Mr Plowden said: “We are committed to making sure that the city centre remains vibrant and welcoming for all, and I would like to thank everyone who got involved in the consultation and gave us their invaluable insights.”

The changes will be paid for by the government, through a pot of money known as the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement.

It can only be spent on projects making it easier for people to walk, cycle or take public transport.

Elsewhere in Bristol, plans to turn Bedminster Bridge Roundabout into two separate bridges, with one reserved for buses only, were supported by 60% of respondents.

A proposal to create a new park by Redcliffe roundabout was supported by 56% of respondents.

A further 66% were in favour of new crossings at Temple Way, and 58% were in favour of new bus lanes on the east end of Bond Street.