Call for action by Bristol City Council to address concerns about East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhoods scheme

Wellspring Settlement is calling on Bristol City Council to take urgent action in relation to the East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood Scheme. Whilst we are supportive of the long term aims of the scheme – cleaner air, more active travel, healthier neighbourhoods – we are extremely concerned about the negative impact on the community of Barton Hill and the lack of consideration of how to manage these changes in line with Just Transition principles.

We believe that much of the feedback of the local community and others being impacted by the scheme is being dismissed as fundamentally in opposition to the scheme. As a result, constructive feedback is not being listened to. A lack of constructive engagement is not helping the scheme or the community move forward. We believe the Council has a duty to listen to all views, and to be willing to change the scheme to address serious concerns.

We are particularly concerned that there are no published criteria for the assessment of the scheme against which its success or failure will be evaluated, nor has there been a commitment to amend the scheme if the evidence gathered suggests that change is necessary. The questionnaire being used to gather the views of residents is structured to limit the feedback that can be given, and is wholly inappropriate for local businesses.

To address these and other points, we ask on behalf of the community of Barton Hill for the Council to:

1. Publish the criteria for making a decision on whether to make the scheme permanent, and confirm that they are willing to incorporate changes to the scheme based on constructive feedback

2. Amend the survey questions to ensure all constructive feedback from the community can be submitted and will be heard

3. Evaluate the impact of the scheme on local economic activity and put in place a mechanism for hearing from businesses and organisations in the local area who provide jobs and services to local people.

4. Include evaluation mechanisms for the assessment of traffic and pollution in the areas surrounding the scheme where traffic has been pushed, as well as within the scheme itself

5. Carry out and publish the results of an ANPR assessment around residents’ access to areas via the bus gates

6. Carry out and publish the results of an assessment of the viability of the scheme for larger vehicle access, including deliveries to businesses, fire engines, bin trucks

7. Repeat and publish the Equalities Impact Assessment and ensure that proper advice has been taken from people with lived experience on the impact of the scheme on people with disabilities