Campaigners have raised alarm over a potential safety hazard in Bath as data reveals that a council’s liveable neighbourhood initiative has led to a 720% surge in traffic passing a primary school.
The closure of Winifred’s Lane at the top of Cavendish Road as part of Bath and North East Somerset Council’s liveable neighbourhood programme has caused concerns about the impact on the local community. While liveable neighbourhoods are designed to enhance residential road safety and promote walking and cycling, the closure has diverted traffic onto roads with schools and residences.
The increase in traffic has been particularly notable on Sion Road, with vehicle numbers rising from 116 per day before the trial to an average of 951 presently, and on Morford Street, where traffic has increased from 1,473 cars per day to 1,833. These changes suggest that more vehicles are now traversing roads past junior schools and nurseries.
READ MORE: Former Police Officer Receives Suspended Sentence for Child Sex Offences
READ MORE: Small Businesses Struggle with Rising Costs and Job Losses
A spokesperson for the Heart of Lansdown Conservation Group expressed significant concern about the implications of the traffic surge, emphasizing the heightened safety risk for school children, pedestrians, and cyclists. They highlighted the escalating traffic passing junior schools, nurseries, and heavily residential streets, labeling the situation as “extremely concerning.”
Before the trial, Winifred’s Lane saw an average of 1,219 vehicles daily, and videos captured by the group illustrate cars mounting the pavement on Sion Road outside the school gates as they head northbound up the winding road. The group warned that the current scenario poses a serious threat to school children’s safety, emphasizing the urgent need for remedial action.
The liveable neighbourhood trial, implemented through an experimental traffic regulation order (ETRO), is subject to consultation and decision-making by a single council cabinet member. Manda Rigby, the council’s cabinet member for highways, emphasized safety as the key consideration in any proposed road scheme. The council is collecting data from various locations and time periods to comprehensively assess the impact of the trial.
The Heart of Lansdown Conservation Group expressed strong opposition to the trial, characterizing it as unsafe and irresponsible. They emphasized the potential dangers posed by the increased traffic, particularly given the need for cars to climb onto pavements in order to pass each other where children and parents walk.
In response, the council reiterated its commitment to safety and the thorough consideration of all relevant data before finalizing any decisions. The council explained that private studies, such as that conducted by the Heart of Lansdown Conservation Group, would not be factored into the decision-making process.
As the council proceeds with the trial, the public is invited to participate in the ongoing consultation, providing an opportunity to voice their feedback until April 30. Further details about the trial and the consultation process are available on the council website.