News / Transport
Decision due on closing city centre road to cars
A decision is due on closing a road in the city centre near Bristol Hippodrome to cars.
Denmark Street runs around the side of the theatre up to the Hatchet pub and is full of restaurants and often busy with pedestrians spilling off the narrow pavement onto the road.
Bristol City Council is planning to stop cars driving down this side street, to help make the area more pedestrian-friendly.
The works include new dropped kerbs and tactile paving. Bollards would be installed, that can be removed by authorised businesses like the Hippodrome.
Councillors on the transport policy committee are due to vote on approving the scheme on Thursday.
If they do, the full business case would be sent to the West of England Combined Authority for a final check, before the funding is made available to carry out the work.
The roads are close to the Bristol Hippodrome, the O2 Academy and Bristol Beacon, as well as the Hatchet and the Queenshilling
A committee report said: “The proposal is to implement a full closure on Denmark Street to stop traffic cutting through and aim to enhance public safety.
“We have worked closely with the Business Improvement District and local stakeholders and businesses in the area to fully understand what is essential for the businesses to successfully trade on Denmark Street.”
The last time the committee met, in December, councillors said they didn’t want to approve the project because of a lack of detail.
The full designs and costings weren’t presented to councillors as they weren’t ready yet. So the project was deferred until now.
This would cost £820,000 to close the road. Access for lorry deliveries to the Hippodrome would be maintained.
Cars could be completely banned on Denmark Street if new proposals from the city council get the go-ahead
In December council staff met with the West of England Centre for Inclusive Living, to review how the designs would impact access for disabled people.
One previous concern was that parking right next to the Hippodrome would become harder.
But the committee report said that WECIL supported the scheme and suggested changes which have now been taken on board.
Alex Seabrook is a local democracy reporter for Bristol
All photos: Betty Woolerton
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