Barton Hill residents block sneaky 3am Bristol City Council/Cops 'Liveable Neighbourhood' road works

Local residents halt overnight police operation at 4am to installs controversial road block traffic scheme in Bristol

Friday 14 March 2025

https://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2025-03-13/overnight-police-operation-installs-controversial-traffic-scheme-in-bristol

Workers arrived at Barton Hill at 3am to install planters, bus gate signs and paint the roads. Credit: The Barton Bugle

An overnight police operation took place in Bristol to finish installing a controversial Liveable Neighbourhood scheme.

The council, its contractors ETM, and Avon and Somerset Police arrived in Barton Hill at approximately 3am Thursday 13 March to install planters, bus gate signs and paint roads as part of the East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood scheme.

The installations took place in multiple locations at the same time.

Protestors arrived between 4 and 5am to attempt to stop works - but only succeeded in stopping the instalment of one bus gate at the junction of Marsh Lane and Avondale Road - where a group of women lay down in the road to halt contractors.

Work was abandoned at this junction - with a final "E" left to paint in a "BUS GATE" sign.

The East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood scheme came into effect in September 2024, and has been the subject of anger from many residents.

The scheme attempts to reduce traffic in parts of Barton Hill, Lawrence Hill, Redfield and St George by closing off side roads to cars, creating a series of no-through roads, dead-ends, and cul-de-sacs, while allowing pedestrians and cyclists to go through.

However, many locals have said it has made life unnecessarily difficult, with some saying car journeys have doubled or tripled in length because of congestion.

In January 2025, police were called as residents blocked contractors from working on the scheme.

Contractors were supported by Avon and Somerset police officers and a police drone operator team.

By morning, planters, road blockages and bus gates were installed across the area, including two locations on Victoria Avenue, Cobden Street and Dulcie Road.

In a statement, Cllr Ed Plowden, Chair of the Transport and Connectivity Committee at Bristol City Council, said: "Contractors attended six sites in East Bristol this morning to install the infrastructure required for the Liveable Neighbourhood trial.

"Officers from Avon and Somerset Police were on site to support the installation of the measures and facilitate any peaceful protest encountered.

"We recently announced a range of travel offers and bus gate exemptions to give extra support to households within the trial area. Further updates on the progress of beginning the trial will be shared with residents in due course."

Avon and Somerset Police said: "We attended the Barton Hill area at 4am today (Thursday 13 March) to facilitate the role out of a council-led scheme. While in attendance, a peaceful protest of approximately 10 people mustered.

"Officers engaged with the protestors and they facilitated a peaceful protest while work was carried out. Officers left the scene at around 6am."