Labour City Hall bosses are taking Bristol “back to the 1960s with a car-centric approach” to the city’s transport network, Green councillors have claimed. A row about a “dangerous” diversion to a key cycling route has now escalated with many recent plans facing criticism.
A section of Concorde Way, connecting the city centre to north Bristol, closed in March for at least a year while a new train station is built in Ashley Down. A diversion set up by Bristol City Council directs cyclists up Boiling Wells Lane, and then along the busy Muller Road.
Bristol mayor Marvin Rees promised in March to take a second look at the diversion, after concerns were raised about its safety. But the mayor has since told local Green councillors that no changes would be made, sparking wider criticism of the council’s transport policies.
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Green Councillor David Wilcox, co-shadow cabinet member for transport and active travel, said: “The diversion of the Concorde Way is not fit for purpose. It brings pedestrians and cyclists into conflict on a shared pavement, and through Boiling Wells cyclists must dismount because it’s so steep.
“If we’re going to reduce traffic and tackle the climate emergency, we need to be making it easier, not harder, for people to walk and cycle to work. This diversion — which is expected to be in place until at least next March — undermines the council’s own policy aims and will only encourage more people to drive, causing more pollution and congestion for all of us.”
Green group leader Cllr Emma Edwards added: “The failure to address this dangerous diversion for Concorde Way is part of a worrying trend we have seen of late, with this Labour administration not only not improving things for cycling in Bristol, but in many instances actively making things worse.
“Far too many decisions by Bristol Labour — whether it’s removing cycle lanes, projects that don’t meet official standards, or simply dragging their heels on basics like new bike hangars — seem calculated to show contempt for cycling and walking. Labour’s car-centric approach belongs in the 1960s — it’s getting us nowhere fast.
“With our buses in a state of near-collapse, and constant steps backwards on active travel, it’s not surprising that Bristol is consistently one of the worst UK cities for traffic under this administration. Our city deserves better.”
Greens also criticised long delays to a new cycle lane on Nelson Street in the city centre; removal of a bike lane on Cheltenham Road near Stokes Croft; poor maintenance of existing cycle lanes; pavement parking blocking cycle lanes blocking key routes like Gloucester Road and Park Row; and bike storage hangars being rolled out only at some council flats.
But Labour hit back at the criticism and pointed to many new projects where the council is investing in cycling. These include building new segregated cycle lanes along Victoria Street and Temple Way, two key city centre routes.
Labour Cllr Don Alexander, cabinet member for transport, said: “A section of Concorde Way had to be temporarily closed due to the construction of the new Ashley Down train station. We appreciate that this closure is inconvenient and thank everyone for bearing with us.
“With Portway station close to opening, Ashley Down station will be only Bristol’s second train station constructed in nearly a century and will provide a valuable new transport option for local residents, so I am certain that any inconvenience will be worth it.
“The Green councillors’ claims don’t stack up with reality. This week, I brought papers to cabinet to approve a new segregated cycle lane on Victoria Street — adding to the new segregated infrastructure that opened across the city centre recently, alongside the project we are progressing on Temple Way and Avon Street — and to approve £900,000 worth of new funding to fix potholes, which benefits all road users.”
Cllr Alexander added that some schemes to help walking and cycling were not supported by Green councillors, such as allocating money in the council’s budget for a Liveable Neighbourhood scheme in Bedminster, Ashton and Southville; as well as a new School Streets scheme in a city centre school.
He said: “We are introducing the city’s first Liveable Neighbourhood in East Bristol and have allocated money for a second — which Green councillors failed to support. Cotham Hill, Princess Victoria Street, and the Old City have all been pedestrianised with Chandos Road, Overton Road, Rosemary Lane and more soon to come.
“We introduced Bristol’s first School Streets programme and are rapidly expanding it to more schools, including one at Bristol Cathedral School that, again, the Green party has openly said they oppose. Bike hangars are being rolled out at council properties across Bristol, and we are cleaning up our air through the Clean Air Zone.
“We have a proud record of delivery but there is, of course, much more to do. Only last month, the government cut active travel capital funding for councils for the next two years by two thirds. If Green councillors want increased spending on active travel schemes, they need Labour in government.”
Greens however said they abstained on approving the budget due to separate issues such as cuts to services and redundancies, and previously backed a South Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood scheme. Meanwhile, concerns around the Cathedral School plans include questions over why a “wealthy school” was prioritised over other schools in poorer areas, and why planned restrictions don’t include Deanery Road, used by many parents to drop off their children.
