News / Barton Hill
‘It’s bully-boy tactics that should not happen in a democracy’
A Labour councillor and Labour’s candidate for metro mayor have both slammed the “bully-boy tactics” used to roll-out the East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood trial in Barton Hill in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Fabian Breckels, who represents St George Troopers Hill ward, and former cabinet member Helen Godwin, have criticised the Green-led administration for its implementation of the scheme.
Godwin stood down from Marvin Rees’ cabinet in 2021, the same year that Labour’s election manifesto promised to “roll out at least two Liveable Neighbourhood pilots – with a view to expanding it”.
is needed now More than ever
Breckels, a councillor since 2007, said: “This is a controversial scheme that divides opinion. It has been made more contentious because of the way its introduction has been mishandled.
“Any implementation needs to be managed appropriately, respectfully and in consultation with local residents.
“The Green-led council ordering contractors to carry out works at 3am backed up by security, police officers and drones is blatantly an awful way to manage this.
“It’s bully-boy tactics that should not happen in a democracy.
“Trying to get the scheme imposed by the back door in a heavy-handed manner will damage trust between local residents and the council.
“I was genuinely shocked at how this was handled.
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Godwin, Labour’s candidate for West of England mayor, said: “After spending the afternoon with concerned community members, it has become clear that residents feel their voices have been ignored throughout this process.
“Contrary to assumptions, these are not individuals resistant to environmental initiatives, but rather families who rely on their vehicles for essential daily activities like work and school transportation.
“Multiple parents expressed genuine worry that their children would face detentions at school due to unreliable public transport alternatives.
“This underscores our consistent position that adequate public transportation infrastructure must be established before imposing restrictions on current travel methods.
“The Barton Hill neighbuorhood has expressed support for traffic calming measures but strongly opposes what many perceive as restrictions that isolate their community and create safety concerns.
“We call upon Bristol City Council to engage in meaningful dialogue with residents and reconsider the implementation approach to ensure it serves rather than divides the community.”
Minister for roads, Lilian Greenwood (right), with Helen Godwin (left) on Thursday as Greenwood announced a £6m investment package aimed at improving local road infrastructure and addressing pothole repairs across the Bristol region – photo: Labour Party
Ed Plowden, chair of the transport & connectivity committee at Bristol City Council, said: “Contractors attended six sites in East Bristol this morning to install the infrastructure required for the Liveable Neighbourhood trial.
“Officers from Avon & Somerset Police were on site to support the installation of the measures and facilitate any peaceful protest encountered.
“Five of the six modal filter sites have now been completed.
“The bus gates on Avonvale Road and Pile Marsh that have been installed are not currently live.
“We will give notice of when they are going to be in use and the large electronic signs will indicate whether they are operational.
“When the bus gates do go live there will be a period of ‘soft’ enforcement, when drivers will receive a letter in the post the first time they are detected contravening one of the bus gates, rather than receiving a fine.
“We recently announced a range of travel offers and bus gate exemptions to give extra support to households within the trial area.
“Further updates on the progress of beginning the trial will be shared with residents in due course.”
Main photo: Fadumo Farah
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