News / East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood
Protesters halt East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood works
Protesters demonstrating against East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood (EBLN) have thwarted an attempt to install a bus gate in Barton Hill.
ETM, under contract by Bristol City Council, arrived early in the morning on Thursday and managed to paint a section of Avondale Road red, before protesters got in their way and prevented them from finishing the job.
One protester claims she was told by a police officer they would return with “30 police officers”.
A council spokesperson said this plan was “not something we’re aware of”.
Councillor Ed Plowden said attempts to block works are “really disappointing” – photo: Alex Seabrook
A bus gate is a small section of road through which general traffic is not allowed to pass, with cameras and the threat of a fine.
Buses, taxis, motorbikes, Disabled drivers and people riding bicycles and scooters can pass through.
The council is attempting to relocate the bus gate from its original position west of the junction with Marsh Lane, to a new spot east of the junction by Hamblins Fish and Chips.
This is to improve access for local residents making essential car journeys, including to the Wellspring Centre.
But a few determined protesters have repeatedly blocked this relocation.
Katie Sullivan, one of the protesters, said: “Why are they even doing it when a decision in six weeks might mean it’s ripped out anyway?
“It’s a waste of money at this point. We don’t know why they’re not listening. We’re not going to just let them get on with it.”
She said she told a police officer: “We’re not moving, we don’t want them to paint ‘bus gate’, we will sit in the road, we don’t care.”
The bus gate on Avondale Road has now been painted red
In July the transport policy committee is due to decide whether to make the liveable neighbourhood trial a permanent scheme.
The trial has reduced traffic among many residential streets in the area, with some residents praising the improvement in safety.
Elsewhere, there are now long tailbacks on Blackswarth Road and Troopers Hill Road has become a new rat run.
Green councillor Ed Plowden, chair of the transport committee, previously said: “It’s really disappointing crews have been blocked from doing their work to introduce changes to the EBLN trial measures, which directly responds to the feedback received from the community.
“Moving the bus gate will improve access to the Wellspring Centre and Days Road.
“This, along with a series of other changes, reflect what people have told us and it is frustrating to see a very small group of people acting in direct opposition to what their neighbours have told us they want to see happen.”
Main photo: Betty Woolerton
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