Do you agree with car ban in Cabot Circus and Broadmead?
Traffic is set to be banned from two busy shopping streets running through Bristol's Broadmead shopping centre.
The Horsefair and Penn Street currently divide Broadmead from the newly opened £500-million Cabot Circus shopping mall.
They run in an arc from the bottom of Union Street to the junction with Broad Weir, the corner where the Harvey Nichols' store stands.
The ban is due to start on Friday, December 11, for an experimental period of 18 months.
Buses, taxis, emergency vehicles and cyclists will still be able to use the roads and delivery lorries will still be able to reach stores but all other vehicles will be banned.
The move is seen as a way to further pedestrianise the central shopping area and forge a closer connection between Cabot Circus and Broadmead.
Cabot Circus centre director Richard Belt said: "The Cabot Circus management team are very supportive of the Council's decision to undertake a trial on the Horsefair and Penn Street thoroughfare.
"These changes will create a safer and more pleasant shopping environment for our customers and will help integrate Cabot Circus with Quakers Friars and Broadmead to create a more distinctive retail area.
"Environmental responsibility is also important to us and any actions to help reduce congestion around the city centre are a welcome benefit for all."
Richard Saunders, of Bristol-based property agents Colliers CRE, said it was "great news" that the two streets were being closed to through traffic.
He said: "Bristol is unique in the sense that the central shopping area is contained within a condensed area.
"I therefore think it's important that it's exclusively a shopping environment without vehicles.
"Cabot Circus is a success story – most of the shop units are fully let despite the difficult economic circumstances – and so we should continue with the connection with the rest of Broadmead. The closure of The Horsefair and Penn Street is another step towards that."
Cabot Circus opened in September last year and is one of the South West's largest shopping centres.
In total, there are 15 major stores, including Harvey Nichols and House of Fraser, and more than 120 new shops – 20 of which are restaurants and cafes – together with a cinema, 120-bed hotel, 250 homes, and office space. The council will decide at a later date whether the road closures should be permanent. Anyone wanting to object to an indefinite ban should write to the city council at the Council House, College Green, PO Box 2156, Bristol BS99 7PH.
Do you agree - should cars be banned from this part of Broadmead? Have your say below.
69 Comments
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by Alex, Redcliffe
Tuesday, December 08 2009, 4:16PM
“Yes, it is not 'road tax' any more - it is Vehicle Excise Duty.”
by HC, beyondthepale-sub-mendip
Saturday, December 05 2009, 10:14PM
“whilst were on the subject of illegally banning cars from roads what us car taxpayers have helped to build and maintain
Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.
How many times does this total myth have to be debunked before in sinks into people's skulls.
Go and read the facts at ipayroadtax.com”
by hannah, bristol
Friday, December 04 2009, 8:56AM
“martin-its not my daughter, i was referencing someone else's comment, im not old enough to have a daughter with a four week old baby......im a stunner!!”
by Nigel, Downendia
Friday, December 04 2009, 7:31AM
“There is not much clear thinking at the council is there?
"Lets ban cars from a well used road....and lets do it in December, the busiest time of year!!!!!" Do'h.
Use your brains next time councillors and make any future changes at a sensible time of year ie. February, after the sales....!”
by Martin, Bishopston
Thursday, December 03 2009, 11:25PM
“Hannah
My parents brought up three kids without a driving licence in a rural area - I'm not convinced that it is necessary to have a car when living in a city centre - perhaps your daughter should try a pram - my Dad seemed to manage with just one leg, having lost the other in an industrial accident.”
by Simon, Bishopston
Thursday, December 03 2009, 11:22PM
“Bristol is a Cycling City so obviously any changes should give priority to pedestrians and cyclists.”
by Paddy, Bristol
Thursday, December 03 2009, 11:15PM
“Great idea. I drive, but can't say I've found a need to drive through there for a few years now anyway. Seems a crazy idea to have a road running right through the shopping centre and loads of pedestrians. It won't affect people shopping as worried as there's already Europes biggest car park attached to Cabot Circus by a walk way anyway. If you have to drive to the shops its convenient to park there.
I fully support this being permanent. In fact I'd support more of the centre by the Hippodrome becoming the same and further areas too at weekends when it's really busy with pedestrians.”
by hannah, bristol
Thursday, December 03 2009, 7:13PM
“My daughter with her 4 week old baby lives in Cabot Circus, so all you people who think it's such a "great idea" can you suggest how she gets all her stuff for the baby and her little one to her flat if she can't use her car. Typical of Bristol City council......not thinking it through properly.
keith, im sure she will be able to access her road via other streets, they are suggesting cutting off the main routes.”
by hannah, bristol
Thursday, December 03 2009, 7:10PM
“Edward? did you say your father does not qualify for a blue badge?you should get a second opinion on that.”
by Edward King, Bristol
Thursday, December 03 2009, 6:51PM
“My father has already said he will not visit broadmead/cabot circus because he finds it very difficult to walk so many yards without stopping due to heart problems and arthritis, he narrowly missed out on a blue badge for disability because he dosen't quite fit the criteria which is fair enough. But as he finds it hard to access public transport he relies on me to take him to places by car. Cribbs causeway has now gained our weekly shop as it is free and car freindly. I am sure many other drivers are in the same situation as me and will struggle to adapt to the restricted roads due to bottlenecks on the surrounding roads making it difficult to pull in to drop/pick up passengers. Their loss.. our gain in savings from car parks.
Edward.”