Community organisation ‘extremely concerned’ about ‘negative impact’ of EBLN

A community organisation at the heart of Barton Hill has laid out their serious concerns about the East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood scheme and are calling on Bristol City Council to take “urgent action”.

A statement published on the Wellspring Settlement website said: “Whilst we are supportive of the long term aims of the scheme – cleaner air, more active travel, healthier neighbourhoods – we are extremely concerned about the negative impact on the community of Barton Hill and the lack of consideration of how to manage these changes in line with Just Transition principles.”

The statement says that the team at Wellspring feel that feedback from the local community and others being impacted by the EBLN trial “is being dismissed as fundamentally in opposition to the scheme (and) as a result, constructive feedback is not being listened to”.

“A lack of constructive engagement is not helping the scheme or the community move forward.

“We believe the Council has a duty to listen to all views, and to be willing to change the scheme to address serious concerns.”

Wellspring Settlement was founded in 2020 following the merger of Wellspring Healthy Living Centre and Barton Hill Settlement – photo: Wellspring Settlement

Wellspring’s statement says they are “particularly concerned that there are no published criteria for the assessment of the scheme against which its success or failure will be evaluated, nor has there been a commitment to amend the scheme if the evidence gathered suggests that change is necessary”.

They claim that the EBLN survey open until November 7 “is structured to limit the feedback that can be given, and is wholly inappropriate for local businesses”.

Wellspring add that on behalf of the community of Barton Hill, they have a list of demands for Bristol City Council including amending the survey questions, confirming they are willing to incorporate changes to the scheme based on constructive feedback and to evaluate the impact of the scheme on local economic activity.

They are also calling on the council to “repeat and publish the Equalities Impact Assessment and ensure that proper advice has been taken from people with lived experience on the impact of the scheme on people with disabilities”.

The East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood pilot scheme “hopes to create a safer, healthier and greener neighbourhood” – photo: Karen Johnson

Writing in September on how the future of the EBLN will be decided, deputy council leader Heather Mack said: “This administration is committed to evidence-based decision making with the voices of Bristol a crucial element of our assessment.

“Throughout the trial process we have listened and made necessary changes – from introducing more support for active travel and expanding exemptions for the bus gates, to making physical alterations such as improved road markings at Blackswarth junction.

“Now, this extensive data collection and engagement exercise will provide councillors on the Transport and Connectivity Committee with the evidence and views of residents to decisively judge the success of the trial.

“As a council we hope to see an increase in active travel and a decrease in traffic and the negative impacts of cars.

“Along with the South Bristol scheme, these Liveable Neighbourhood projects are part of a wider strategy to rebalance Bristol’s transport system and ensure neighbourhoods are designed around people – not just cars.”

Main photo: Bristol City Council

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