Popular city to greenlight Low Traffic Neighbourhoods with drivers urged to ‘have their say’

The initiative aims to transform areas including Southville, Bedminster, Ashton Vale, Malago Vale, Windmill Hill, and part of Totterdown into safer, healthier communities.

The project comes after numerous complaints from residents over increased traffic concerns as well as noise pollution caused by busy roads.

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Now the proposed changes will aim at creating quieter streets, encouraging walking and cycling for short journeys while improving air quality.

The council is currently in the early planning stages, having collected initial data on traffic, air quality, and noise levels.

But as the project gets closer to a launch date, the council has turned to the community for input.

Drivers and residents will have until October 13 to share their views and ideas for improvements as well as feedback on the proposed LTNs.

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An online map and survey will be available for residents to share their thoughts as well as several drop-in events organised to allow face-to-face discussions with project planners.

These consultations aim to gather views on current traffic conditions and the street environment.

The Liveable Neighbourhoods project aims to create safer and healthier communities with cleaner air and reduced noise pollution. A key objective is to improve access to quality green spaces and safe areas for play and community interaction.

The council detailed: “The improvements aim to make it easier to catch a bus and to walk or cycle, with better facilities and less through traffic. Liveable neighbourhoods can encourage exercise, reduce loneliness, and make life better overall.

Residents, workers, and regular visitors to the affected areas are encouraged to participate in the consultation process.

This includes sharing their views on current traffic conditions and suggesting potential enhancements.

In the Q&A part of the consultation website, the council explained: “A Liveable Neighbourhood is made up of residential streets bound by main roads, which are more suitable for carrying traffic, such as HGVs, buses and all other vehicles through an area.”

The authority added: “Likely measures will include stopping people using residential streets to cut through the area and moving them back onto main roads, which are designed to handle greater volumes of vehicle traffic.”

Measures that could be installed as part of the LTN include modal filters, bus gates, pocket parks, changes to one-way and two-way traffic flow, cycle hangars and trees in large planters.

Other changes include new street lighting, signalised crossings, footway improvements, planting street trees and sections of protected cycle track.