Following a successful trial, plans to make Princess Victoria Street’s pedestrian zone permanent have been approved.
Following a successful trial, plans to make Princess Victoria Street’s pedestrian zone permanent have been approved.
In August 2021 a section of Princess Victoria Street was closed to road traffic between 11am to 5pm each day.
Since then, hospitality venues have placed tables and chairs onto the road for outdoor eating and drinking and more people have been walking and cycling to the high street in Clifton. Traffic data has also shown that fewer cars are travelling through Clifton Village as a whole.
Now the scheme has been approved, detailed designs will be drawn up to keep the road closure, retain space for businesses to trade outside, and improve the public realm. Funding opportunities for the scheme will also be explored.
Princess Victoria Street is one of a series of areas to have changes to the road trialled in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting from the need for better social distancing.
Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol, said:
Over the past year Princess Victoria Street has been buzzing with people making the most of the traffic-free street to walk and cycle with confidence, do their shopping in a relaxed environment, and take advantage of all the outdoor eating and drinking.
We’ve studied the traffic data carefully, alongside the feedback to our community engagement and consultations, and are confident these measures will help Princess Victoria Street to attract more visitors, reduce pollution and have a positive impact on the area as a whole.
It will mean we can replace the temporary measures with smarter long-term infrastructure that will improve the street scene for everyone.
Councillor Don Alexander, Cabinet Member for Transport, commented:
When we asked local people about what they wanted for their high street, they put safer streets with cleaner air high on the list. I’m really pleased the traffic data shows more people and cyclists are travelling through Princess Victoria Street and that overall car journeys through Clifton Village are reducing.
That’s why I’m delighted the pedestrian zone will be made permanent, meaning there is more space for people to travel actively and enjoy outdoor hospitality.
The daily timed closure on Princess Victoria Street will remain in place while funding options are developed to make the closure permanent with higher-quality materials.