Bath & North East Somerset Council is moving forward with plans to make a controversial Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN) on Sydney Road permanent following a six-month experimental trial. The scheme, introduced in April 2024, restricts through traffic at the junction of Sydney Road and New Sydney Place with a row of bollards, aiming to prevent motorists from using the residential street as a shortcut to avoid A36 traffic signals.
This trial, part of the council’s Liveable Neighbourhoods programme, supports objectives to reduce traffic in residential areas and create safer, quieter routes for pedestrians and cyclists. Vehicle access to properties remains intact on both sides of the bollards, with a designated turning area and provisions for emergency services to remove the bollards if necessary.
Despite 76% of consultation respondents opposing the scheme, the council cabinet approved making it permanent. Cabinet member Mark Elliott acknowledged differing opinions but emphasized the decision was driven by a balanced assessment of evidence, scheme goals, and active travel policies.
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The experimental traffic regulation order (ETRO) allowed the council to monitor impacts and gather public feedback over six months. Opposition councillors called in the decision, leading to a two-hour debate before the council’s climate emergency and sustainability scrutiny committee. The committee voted to dismiss the call-in, affirming the trial’s continuation.
Opposition councillor Colin Blackburn expressed concerns about displaced congestion and questioned the scheme’s democratic process. However, council members highlighted that 72% of residents inside the Liveable Neighbourhood support the measure, with most objections coming from outside the affected area. The council also noted extensive resident engagement, including mailed notifications to 3,000 households.
Councillor Joel Hirst, Cabinet Member for Sustainable Transport Strategy, stated the trial successfully prevented over 3,500 vehicles daily— including heavy goods vehicles—from cutting through Sydney Road without significantly affecting nearby traffic flow, journey times, or air quality.
A final Traffic Regulation Order consultation is underway, allowing for further public comments before a formal decision is made in the autumn. If approved, the council will install permanent kerbing around the bollards and redesign the North Road junction to improve cyclist safety.
The scheme maintains existing parking arrangements and does not restrict access to homes or businesses, although some drivers may need to take alternative routes. Cyclists, pedestrians, and mobility aid users can freely pass through the bollard filter.
Further details and consultation documents are available on the council’s website, inviting residents and stakeholders to submit their views before the final decision.