Residents of Bath are escalating their opposition to a contentious liveable neighbourhood (LTN) scheme by mounting a High Court challenge after traffic near a private primary school doubled. At the centre of the dispute is Winifred’s Lane, a narrow one-way road atop Cavendish Road, whose closure has sparked two years of ongoing conflict between Bath and North East Somerset Council and local campaigners.
The council closed Winifred’s Lane on a trial basis in November 2024 as part of its initiative to curb speeding and enhance neighbourhood livability. Although the trial was deemed successful enough for the council to make the closure permanent in February, it acknowledged “areas of concern,” particularly the near doubling of traffic on the lower part of Sion Road, which runs adjacent to King Edward’s Prep School.
In response, the Heart of Lansdown Conservation Group—a collective of concerned locals—has filed a legal challenge seeking to overturn the road closure order. A spokesperson for the group expressed deep frustration, stating, “It’s with sadness that we are taking this to the High Court after more than two years of trying to have councillors listen to us. This remains an appalling and unsafe traffic scheme that must be properly contested.”
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The group alleges that the council ignored overwhelming public opposition, with 73% of local residents directly affected by the closure opposing the permanent installation after a 15-month trial. They claim that the council’s decision disregards local democracy and raises serious safety worries, especially regarding schoolchildren.
Council Cabinet Member Manda Rigby (Bathwick, Liberal Democrat) defended the process, emphasizing that a comprehensive consultation was conducted and all related information is publicly accessible. She confirmed the council’s intent to “vigorously contest” the legal challenge while continuing to review the evidence.
The decision to make the LTN permanent was called in by a coalition of nine Independent, Labour, and Conservative councillors, but the climate and sustainability scrutiny panel voted to dismiss the call-in. Councillor Mark Elliott (Lansdown, Liberal Democrat), whose ward includes Winifred’s Lane, stressed the dangers that existed before the closure: “Before, the lane was potentially lethal for pedestrians, with 1,300 cars daily on a narrow road lacking sidewalks and flanked by high walls and hedges.” He added, “The scheme has since cut northbound traffic by 40%, transforming a hazardous path into a safe route where children can walk unaccompanied.”
Despite reductions on Cavendish Road and nearby streets, council data reveal that vehicle flow on Sion Road—characterized by blind bends—has roughly doubled, from around 1,022 vehicles per day before the trial to between 1,909 and 2,196 during the trial period. The council has noted “poor driver behaviour” and plans to implement mitigation measures to address these issues.
The High Court challenge underscores the ongoing tension between sustainability initiatives and community concerns over traffic displacement and safety in Bath’s evolving urban landscape.