Plans to make Princess Victoria Street’s pedestrian zone in Clifton permanent have been approved. In August last year, a section of the street was closed to road traffic between 11am to 5pm each day.
Since then, hospitality venues have placed tables and chairs onto the road for outdoor eating and drinking and more people have been walking and cycling to the high street in Clifton. According to Bristol City Council, traffic data has shown that fewer cars are travelling through Clifton Village as a whole.
Now the scheme has been approved, detailed designs will be drawn up to keep the road closure, retain space for businesses to trade outside, and improve the public realm. Funding opportunities for the scheme will also be explored.
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Princess Victoria Street is one of a series of areas to have changes to the road trialled in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting from the need for better social distancing. Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol, said: “Over the past year Princess Victoria Street has been buzzing with people making the most of the traffic-free street to walk and cycle with confidence, do their shopping in a relaxed environment, and take advantage of all the outdoor eating and drinking.
“We’ve studied the traffic data carefully, alongside the feedback to our community engagement and consultations, and are confident these measures will help Princess Victoria Street to attract more visitors, reduce pollution and have a positive impact on the area as a whole.
“It will mean we can replace the temporary measures with smarter long-term infrastructure that will improve the street scene for everyone.”
Councillor Don Alexander, Cabinet Member for Transport, commented: “When we asked local people about what they wanted for their high street, they put safer streets with cleaner air high on the list. I’m really pleased the traffic data shows more people and cyclists are travelling through Princess Victoria Street and that overall car journeys through Clifton Village are reducing.
“That’s why I’m delighted the pedestrian zone will be made permanent, meaning there is more space for people to travel actively and enjoy outdoor hospitality.”
Councillor Katy Grant, one of two Green councillors in Clifton who backed the scheme, welcomed the news. She said: “It is great news for the Village that the Princess Victoria Street scheme will be made permanent. We can see that the data collected by the Council supports making it permanent – it shows clearly that levels of walking and cycling have increased and that on average more people are visiting Princess Victoria Street than before.
"The increased footfall is particularly good news given the uncertain economic times we are living through. Despite concerns expressed by traders and others, we are really pleased that the shops which people treasure in Clifton Village remain, despite the many pressures on the high street. Like any scheme, there are some issues people have raised that will need to be addressed going forwards – these will be easier to tackle once the scheme has been made permanent."
Clifton Green councillor Paula O’Rourke added: "We know that many residents appreciate the pedestrianisation, and feel safer on the road. It is so much more pleasant to visit now cars are not there. Given the push for greater pedestrianisation throughout the city and the vision countrywide for cities with more liveable neighbourhoods, the Princess Victoria Street closure has put Clifton Village ahead of the curve.”
The daily timed closure on Princess Victoria Street will remain in place while funding options are developed to make the closure permanent with higher-quality materials.
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