Cycling just not an option for majority

The Government is starting to ease lockdown and encourage people back to work. However, their advice is to avoid public transport. So, what does B&NES do?

It re-introduces parking charges and puts in place changes to the layout of several streets all on the altar of social distancing and their love of cycling and walking.

When will they understand that for the majority of people cycling is not an option?

Let’s consider Moorlands Road. You can find most things there greengrocers, butchers, card shop, bakers, mini supermarket, pet shop, hardware shop (probably the only one in Bath once Homebase has closed), banks, post office, book shop - the list goes on.

We used to buy our dog food from there, unfortunately we are now without a dog, and the birds in the garden have become very used to their seeds, nuts and fat balls. This is truly a local shopping paradise.

All this is now under threat as B&NES is planning to widen the pavements, albeit temporarily, which will lose the current parking spaces on both sides of the road.

Imagine what it will be like to carry a 25kg sack of peanuts to your car which could be a quarter of a mile away. The effect on the shops is going to be disastrous, the more so as B&NES clearly wants to make the changes permanent.

If you feel strongly about these changes then you can let B&NES know through a consultation web site at https://bathnesliveablestreets.commonplace.is.

Mind you the questions posed, and multiple-choice answers offered, are biased towards support for the changes.

Peter Mills

By email