Let's close centre to traffic on Sundays

The whole of the centre of Bristol should be closed to traffic on some summer Sundays, a leading city councillor has suggested.

Former Lord Mayor Peter Abraham says a suggestion by the council's cabinet councillor for transport, Jon Rogers, that the A4 Portway close on Sundays is looking at the wrong place.

Mr Abraham, who has been a councillor for 40 years, said that would only really benefit cyclists, whereas whole families could enjoy a day out in a traffic-free city centre.

Bristol's French twin city Bordeaux bans traffic in its centre for six Sundays every year.

Mr Abraham said: "I have been there when they close off the whole of the central area of Bordeaux to traffic.

"It's wonderful. The city takes on a different atmosphere. It's so much quieter.

"Families go out together to enjoy the city without the worry of crossing busy roads.

"We could block off certain roads. I would suggest Jacobs Wells Road, the city centre, Baldwin Street and the roads around Castle Park.

"In Bordeaux they start setting up for No Car Sunday on Saturday afternoon.

"There are stalls and street entertainment – it creates a great family atmosphere.

"I'm convinced The Portway closure would just be for cyclists.

"Closing the centre of Bristol would be for everybody."

He said Bordeaux first began having 'No Car Sunday' two or three years ago and it was very popular.

Broadmead manager John Hirst said of the city centre closure plan: "I think it would need to be carefully looked at by transport experts to see what implications it would have on people getting in and out of the city effectively.

"We need to make sure that we send the right message to people that they are still welcome to come here, and keep at least some routes into the city open.

Councillor Rogers' suggestion that the Portway could close on Sundays came following the success of Bristol's Biggest Bike Ride last weekend.

But it was criticised by Councillor Abraham's colleagues in the Conservative group on the city council.

Tory Leader Councillor Richard Eddy said of the Portway plan: "This road closure plan is absolutely barmy. The A4 Portway is a major arterial road into and out of the city.

"We have already seen the enormous and unnecessary disruption caused to the travelling public created by the daft Prince Street swing bridge fiasco – which, if anything, has created more of a traffic hazard where previously none existed.

"Now, the new Lib Dem Cabinet have shown their true anti-car credentials in proposing to exclude motorists from being able to access yet more of the existing road network."

"I appreciate that as part of the Cycling City campaign, the council is looking to create safer routes around Bristol and make parts of Bristol – particularly on Durdham Downs – more family-friendly.

"However, this initiative should not used as an excuse to continually beat up on the car driver or surrender ever more road space over to leisure use where this will have a detrimental effect on the commercial life of the city."

Mr Abraham's son Nick, 29, died after being hit by a vehicle while cycling along The Portway on January 6 this year.