Whitehall residents: 'Road plan will make our lives a nightmare'
A GROUP of residents are furious about plans by the city council to close two roads to through traffic in Whitehall.
Bristol City Council is proposing to close Prospect Place and Stepney Road to through traffic at the Johnsons Road end.
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Mya Castillo leads a protest against the changes to Stepney Road
Many householders say it will make their lives a nightmare, and claim it is potentially dangerous as it will add to the journey times of emergency services called out to the area.
But a council spokeswoman told The Post the authority was trying to solve a problem raised at a Neighbourhood Partnership meeting by other residents.
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The council believes closing the two roads to through traffic will reduce rat-running in nearby Westminster Road, which had led to complaints by people living there.
But a group of householders who contacted The Post claimed the proposals would not stop rat running but just move the problem on to other streets.
Mya Castillo, 36, who is self employed and lives in Johnsons Road, said she thought it would cause locals "massive aggravation".
She said: "Closing access to these two roads won't really help anyone, it's just going to move the problem to other streets. It just seems daft and ill-thought through – it'll make our lives a nightmare.
"None of us are denying that Westminster Road is used as a rat run but this just seems like the wrong solution."
Andy Kenny, 49, a street performer who lives in Johnsons Road, said: "The problem is that the council plans road matters in isolation. It has not thought about the big picture and how this will affect other roads in the long run. Maybe the council should consider traffic-calming measures instead."
A city council spokeswoman said: "The council is looking at the possibility of closing two streets in Whitehall to through traffic.
"Experienced officers advise that closing only one would make the problem worse in the other, as they are quite close.
"As with all local road safety schemes put forward by Neighbourhood Partnerships, the council begins by aiming to solve a problem raised by a group of residents, in this case rat running through their local streets.
"We always consult as we are doing now, to work with local residents to see how the scheme can work in practice, and work out if it may cause any unforeseen problems.
"It is rare for all local people to be in agreement over any proposals, so we have to take a view based on often diverse public views, and work out the benefits weighed against any perceived inconvenience.
"The consultation closes on November 2."
Comments
by Lone_Ranger
Sunday, October 28 2012, 2:05PM
“Just how much would that cost to implement? Much more cost effective to signpost the roads as open to emergency vehicles only and place cameras in each to catch and fine drivers who flout the restriction.”
by Briztoller
Sunday, October 28 2012, 9:04AM
“Only an idea, but sound like they need bus lane barriers that'll go down for local residents and services, but stay up for rat-runners. http://tinyurl.com/9bfetvw
A solution which controls traffic flow without hindering local residents or services. Only issue is cost...”
by Lone_Ranger
Saturday, October 27 2012, 5:46PM
“Surely most emergency services (Fire Service and Ambulance especially) would approach the area from the Speedwell direction so the road closure would have little or no effect.”
by nogbutt
Saturday, October 27 2012, 10:22AM
“but how can the road fiddling department protect it's giant budget without blowing millions on this kind of thing? before you know it, the money would be transferred to providing services for the elderly, or shoring up the budget against cuts.”