The high street in Knowle West could see major changes in the future, as Bristol City Council has begun asking people how they want it to look. The authority says it has capital funding to make 'major' changes to Filwood Broadway, and it is consulting residents on two options for how the road could look in the future, with traffic changes and more green space being proposed.
The consultation says that the 'locally-led Filwood Broadway Working Group has successfully bid for funding from the Create Streets Foundation to work with the community to agree a vision for what the changes to the public realm should be'. Some of the changes proposed in both options are the same, such as pedestrianising a section of Barnstaple Road outside the community centre, and introducing a new junction and improved road crossing to Creswicke Road. But there are some key differences between the choices.
The first option would see Filwood Broadway reduced to two-way traffic, with a central square created at the crossroads with Hartcliffe Road. North of Hartcliffe Road, the road would then make an S-bend to slow traffic.
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The road between the Filwood Hope Advice Centre and the green would be pedestrianised in this scenario. Further changes include cyclists on the Filwood Greenway sharing the road with vehicles, and a new gateway structure and pocket park at the Creswicke Road end.
The second option would see Filwood Broadway reduced to two-way traffic running only on its east side, which is on the same side as Badham Pharmacy. There would be a raised pedestrian priority crossing at Hartcliffe Road, and the west side of Filwood Broadway would then become a wide tree-lined pedestrian route with a segregated cycle route.
There would be a new ‘bandstand’ on the green and a new gateway arch structure at the Creswicke Road, and there would be a new junction and better road crossing to Creswicke Road.
The council says that both choices would create new open spaces that could be used for markets and events, and there would be better play area opposite the community centre. They also say that cars could park between new trees at the side of the road.
The proposals follow discussion with the Filwood Broadway Working Group and the local community, and a further workshop will be held with local residents and businesses at at Christ the King Church from 11-2pm on Saturday, July 23. The workshop will explore the two design choices, and help the council to decide how to take the design forward.
To see the council's consultation, click here.
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