'Element of incompetence' behind traffic plan - MP

The East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood aims to make streets safer

The Labour MP for East Bristol has suggested there is "an element of incompetence" in the city council's handling of the East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood.

Kerry McCarthy said "people feel that they're not being listened to" in relation to the scheme, which aims to reduce traffic and encourage walking and cycling around residential streets.

Green Party councillor Ed Plowden, chair of the transport committee, said "it's just not true" to claim the council is not listening.

Mr Plowden said he intends to present "a proper data pack to everyone, really transparently" in December.

'Divisive issue'

The East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood scheme officially began in April for a six-month trial period, but measures remain in place while the authority analyses the data it has gathered, along with the feedback from the public.

The trial involves a variety of measures intended to calm traffic, including bus gates and cycle lanes.

The improvements in a liveable neighbourhood, according to the council, aim to make it easier to catch a bus and to walk or cycle, with less through traffic.

Outside Beaconsfield Social Club, a group of men in their 80s said the scheme has made it harder to get to doctors' appointments.

"I think they're going to keep it, and I think that's wrong", said one man.

"It's all worked well for 200 years, why are they doing this?" said another.

In the Chinese takeaway, the man behind the counter said it was "always inevitable" that the liveable neighbourhood would impact his business.

"I'd prefer it not to be there, but I don't think that's going to happen," he said.

A supporter of the scheme said at times he felt "quite scared and intimidated" by the heat of the debate

Some houses display posters in support of the trial, which read "safer, calmer, cleaner".

"Before there used to be a lot of traffic queuing outside my house," said Dan.

He wants the scheme to remain but believes changes to the placement of some bus gates could improve the situation.

Describing the scheme as "one of the most divisive local issues" she has seen in her 20 years as the area's MP, Ms McCarthy said she "would like it to be successful", but believes it "needs to change".

In a letter to Mr Plowden, Ms McCarthy made a series of suggestions, including allowing all those who live or work in the area to travel through some bus gates.

"I'm really pleased that she's made those suggestions," he said.

"We'll be working through them carefully."

Ms McCarthy says opinion seems "fairly evenly split" among her constituents

Bristol City Council recently concluded a survey of residents, which Mr Plowden said elicited 2,731 responses.

But Ms McCarthy said the exercise appeared to be "a bit of a sham", criticising the authority for not creating space for people to freely express their views on the form.

"People start to feel that it's a deliberate attempt to not engage with them, I don't think it really is that. I'd urge them to treat people like people," she said.

Mr Plowden said the authority had responded to 430 emails since the trial scheme began.

The council has also commissioned an independent polling company to ask a representative sample of people for their views on the trial.

"I do get a bit worried that Kerry's making the polarisation worse," he added.

The West of England Combined Authority, which allocated government funding to the scheme, has said it will commission "a full independent review" of the East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood from outside the region.

Bristol City Council is aiming to publish the results of its survey in December, along with data about traffic flows, air quality and bus journey times.

A decision on the future of the scheme is expected in spring 2026.