Anger over 'most dangerous street'

The changes were introduced in March 2022

Keynsham councillors say their high street is "the most dangerous in the UK" and are calling for action to fix a cycle lane where 30 people have fallen in the past year.

Shortly after the segregated cycle lane was opened by Bath and North East Somerset Council in March last year, people started tripping and falling — some of them seriously.

One person who fell described the cycle lane as an “optical illusion” as there were kerbs and painted white lines which looked similar to each other.

Now councillors representing Keynsham on Bath and North East Somerset Council are bringing a motion before the council to determine the costs of fixing the cycle lane.

'Urgent action required'

Proposed by Liberal Democrat councillor for Keynsham East, Hal MacFie, the motion states: “The current situation, where Keynsham High Street is labelled as the most dangerous street in the UK and shoppers are continuing to fall and damage themselves seriously, is untenable and urgent action is required.”

The council painted the cycle lane red last year in a bid to make it more visible last year, but another 30 people have reportedly fallen since then.

The motion states: “Another bout of cosmetic changes is not acceptable. Fundamental changes must be made.”

Councillor Alan Hale has urged people who fall to report it

It has called on the council to obtain costings for the removal of the raised surfaces implemented as part of the scheme, and for returning the height difference between the pavement and cycle lane to that of normal street height.

Conservative councillor for Keynsham South, Alan Hale, said the motion had the support of the town’s six councillors. He said: “I have been leading the charge for 18 months.”

He added: “I’m just hopeful that the message has got across that if you do take a tumble, you really do need to report it on ‘fix my street.’”

The motion will go before Bath and North East Somerset Council’s full council meeting on 21 September.