News / protest
Anti-liveable neighbourhood protesters march from south Bristol to City Hall
It was a precarious walk at times along some dangerously narrow pavements.
Some protesters wore hi-vis vests in order to be seen more closely by drivers, one man holding his hand up in an attempt to stop oncoming traffic as they crossed Raleigh Road close to the start of their march from Aldi on North Street.
A group of around 30 people had swelled to almost 80 when they reached City Hall ahead of a meeting of the transport & connectivity committee, hoping to show the strength of feeling against the proposed South Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood scheme.
Bristol City Council is planning a liveable neighbourhood in Southville, Bedminster, Ashton Vale, Malago Vale, Perrets Park, Windmill Hill and Totterdown, as the first trial project in east Bristol continues to attract controversy.
The stated aim “is to design safer and quieter streets to encourage people to walk, cycle and wheel for shorter journeys, improve air quality, enhance the public realm and green spaces, and improve access to local high streets”.
After leaving Aldi soon after 3.45pm on Thursday afternoon, the group of protesters walked along North Street, picking up more people along the way at stops including the Hen & Chicken, the Steam Crane and the Coronation (the latter of which had a sign in their window banning Labour MPs from entering).
“Keep us united, not divided!” was the most popular chant, with handwritten banners including ‘No to roadblocks’ and ‘Leave our streets alone’.
More than 3,000 people have signed a petition against the South Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood.
The opposition Labour group at City Hall is now calling for £900,000 of council funds to be redirected away from developing the full business case for Bristol’s second liveable neighbourhood trial, and invested instead into other road safety and active travel initiatives in the area.
Anti-South Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood campaigners walk by flowers on North Street at the spot where cyclist Alan Hydes was killed in a hit and run in January – photo: Rob Browne
At the front of the march as it set off was artist Onny Thomson from Southville, who told Bristol24/7 that the area where she lived was “already a liveable neighbourhood”.
“There is not a lot of traffic. Some roads may be busier than others but I feel completely safe walking and cycling in our streets,” Thomson said.
“But what I see the proposals are doing is make North Street and Coronation Road much busier and more dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists, and it doesn’t make sense.”
Thomson did say that “calming bumps and things” would be preferable to “lights and cameras everywhere”, adding that “it’s not a police state yet but it does begin to feel a bit like that”.
Some people on the march claim that the liveable neighbourhood will create ‘roadblocks’ – photo: Rob Browne
One of the marchers who did not want to give her name but lives in Ashton said the proposed liveable neighbourhood would cause “chaos”.
She said: “I disagree with the way they want to change things. I’m not against change. But the way they want change is just not going to work.”
Campaigners walked from North Street to City Hall – photo: Rob Browne
Another vocal protester was Nell Pursey, 72, from Bedminster, who said there is currently no problem in the area and the council “are creating a problem”.
“This discriminates against car drivers. Bristol City Council thinks that everyone is a fit person. All they are promoting as an alternative is cycling, walking and e-scootering.
“So hang on a minute, do they not know that a lot of people are married with children, and they have to do shopping and they need their cars.
“There’s just no logical reason for Bristol City Council to close the roads.”
A sign at the Coronation pub says Labour MPs are banned – photo: Rob Browne
Main photo: Rob Browne; video: Martin Booth
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