News / Transport
Council committed to giving liveable neighbourhood ‘the best chance of success’
Bus gates and planters will remain in place in Barton Hill, St George and Redfield until spring 2026 even if the decision is made not to make the East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood permanent.
It will only be in the spring that the future of the controversial trial scheme will be decided.
Despite much concern that the EBLN is not fit for purpose, Bristol City Council’s transport supremo says that he is “committed to working with all parts of the community to give it the best chance of success” following the end of the latest survey.
Ed Plowden, chair of the transport & connectivity committee, said: “We’re grateful to everyone who took the time to share their views on the East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood trial.
“With over 2,700 survey responses and extra feedback, it’s clear that people care deeply about their communities and how they move around.
“We recognise that there are mixed feelings about the trial.
“This is a complex and ambitious project, and we’re committed to working with all parts of the community to give it the best chance of success.
“Your feedback will play a vital role in shaping the future of the scheme, and we thank you for being part of this important conversation.”
Deputy council leader, Heather Mack, said that the views from the completed survey “will provide the information we need to make the right decision for the area”.
Mack acknowledged that “a lot of people have commented on the lack of a specific question to flag concerns and changes to the scheme in the survey” but has attempted to assuage fears.
She said: “I want to reassure everyone that many such views have come in via around 500 emails during the trial and 1,400 free text comments in the survey, and these are all being analysed, along with councillor, MP and community leader inputs, as well as the independent representative polling and the Greengage workshops, to help us make any necessary or desired changes to the scheme.”
The East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood encompasses areas of Barton Hill, Redfield and St George – image: Bristol City Council
An engagement report is due to be published in December along with a monitoring report that compares data such as traffic volumes collected in October 2025 with data from October 2024.
The scheme’s objectives include reducing traffic cutting through the EBLN and also reducing traffic across the wider area.
Bristol City Council’s transport & connectivity committee will consider a report with recommendations for the future of the EBLN in the spring of 2026.
If councillors decide to make the EBLN permanent, a full business case will then be submitted to the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority to request the funding to make the scheme permanent.
Main photo: Bristol City Council
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