Rat-run fear if busy road turned into cycle route
People living in Bathwick are growing more and more concerned at council plans to stop traffic in North Road.
The council is proposing to close the road to normal traffic and install a camera-operated bus gate. Under the scheme only walkers, cyclists, taxis, buses and emergency vehicles would have access to the road.
The council is trying to make a cycle friendly route from the city centre to the University of Bath.
North Road is very busy, linking the A36 to the university. It is well known for its steep hill and bends, with King Edward’s School at the bottom causing heavy congestion during school drop-off and pick-up.
Add to that the number of cyclists going up to the university and cars travelling south, as well as Bath Golf Club traffic, some people feel it is an accident waiting to happen.
But some people living in the area are worried closing North Road to traffic could send cars, lorries and buses down other residential streets, causing havoc.
Neighbours in nearby Cleveland Walk and Sham Castle Lane are worried cars will use their street as a ratrun if the plans go ahead.
Lyn and Chris Higgs say the scheme will cause havoc in the already congested area.
Lyn said: “We are all in favour of making our roads safer and reducing traffic, we walk and cycle ourselves, but this scheme will just make things worse. Closing one road will just send traffic elsewhere, it is not the answer. Cars will be forced down Cleveland Walk and Bathwick Hill, the junction is already very dangerous, it is a really bad idea.”
Local resident David Rose says it is a daft idea by the council and will not work anyway.
He said: “Why would cyclists go up to the university via North Road?
“It is a really steep hill, students use Bathwick Hill to cycle and walk up to the university, why would they go up North Road?
“It is a daft idea, nobody is going to come from say Oldfield Park to North Road to get to the Uni.
“North Road is too narrow anyway, there isn’t room for what the council wants to do, it’s a terrible place for a bike,” he said.
But one resident on North Road, who did not wish to be named, said: “I would welcome traffic control measures. North Road is a toxic and dangerous mix, the road layout threatens a bad accident waiting to happen with cyclists falling and near misses with cars.
“I have called the ambulance three times.”
The B&NES website says: “This road improvement scheme forms part of our district-wide strategy to move away from the idea that streets are just for cars, and to promote active travel in Bath and North East Somerset.
“This means making it safer and more convenient for you to take short journeys by walking, wheeling,
We are all in favour of making our roads safer and reducing traffic, we walk and cycle ourselves, but this scheme will just make things worse. Closing one road will just send traffic elsewhere, it is not the answer.
Lyn Higgs
or cycling.”
One idea is to allow traffic to come down North Road only and to make Cleveland Walk between North Road and Sham Castle Lane one way only.
They are inviting residents to have their say by taking part in a survey at https://beta.bathnes.gov.uk/city-centre-university-bathbeckford-road-and-north-road/ have-your-say.
The consultation will be open until March 21 and if the scheme gets the go-ahead it will be completed by March 2022.
The council is also consulting on a Transport Delivery Action Plan for Bath. To take part in the online consultation visit: https://beta. bathnes.gov.uk/transport-deliveryaction-plan-bath.