• Swindon & Wiltshire Economy
• Monday March 24 2025
• Author Name: Peter Davison

Plan to ban cars from Bristol’s Park Street takes another step forward

Plans to ban cars from Park Street in Bristol have taken another step forward, with Bristol City Council‘s transport committee giving proposals the green light.

Councillors approved the £15 million scheme, which will see the major retail destination only used by buses, cyclists and pedestrians.

The plan was pushed by members of the ruling Green Party. Labour abstained, while Lib Dem and Tory councillors voted against the scheme.

The plan must now go before the West of England Combined Authority for approval.

Some Park Street businesses have objected to the plans, although a petition has garnered only a few hundred signatures – far less than the 3,500 needed to trigger a debate.

The move has the backing of bus company Network First Bristol, which says its services face “serious delays because of congestion” on Park Street. Supporters also include the area’s arts venues, including live music venue St George’s, art gallery the Royal West of England Academy, and the University of Bristol’s music auditorium the Victoria Rooms.

The venues are understood to be discussing an arts festival to make use of the traffic-free space around the historic buildings and statues at the top of Park Street.

The council says its no-through-traffic plans would allow Park Street “to be made into a pleasant environment and encourage people to spend more time supporting the local businesses and cultural venues.”

Under the proposals, a bus gate would be installed at the top of Park Street. Motorists would still be able to drive onto Park Street but access would only be from St George’s Road.

Through traffic, however, would be fed along Park Row or Anchor Road.

The plans – part of the central section of the £37.5 million A37 and A4018 transport corridor improvement project that follows the number 2 bus route from Henbury in the north of Bristol to Stockwood in the south – also include reducing Queen’s Road to one lane in both directions from Whiteladies Road to the Clifton Triangle, widening the pavements on Park Street, and creating a large area of public space in front of the Victoria Rooms.