Bath residents were left in chaos for 24 hours following the installation of bollards on Winifred’s Lane by Bath and North East Somerset Council. The bollards were part of the council’s initiative to create liveable neighborhoods, also known as low traffic neighborhoods. Jason McNally, a resident of Winifred’s Lane, reported numerous near misses within the first day of the bollards being installed, leading to the closure of the road.
Despite the installation of road closed signs, many drivers continued to ignore the new restrictions and attempted to drive up the lane, only to be met by the bollards and forced to reverse out with limited visibility. The council’s cabinet member for highways, Manda Rigby, emphasized the importance of adhering to road signs to avoid fines or points on a driver’s license.
Concerns were raised by the Heart of Lansdown Conservation Group regarding safety issues, including traffic and cyclist near misses, road blockages, and difficulties for recycling and rubbish lorries to pass through Winifred’s Lane. A report by consultants SLR had warned about the safety risks associated with the new scheme, particularly the lack of visibility for vehicles forced to reverse onto the junction.
In addition to the bollards, a new traffic island was installed on Sion Hill (East), preventing right turns from Cavendish Road. However, a council bin lorry had to drive on the wrong side of the traffic island to make the turn, raising further safety concerns. Ms. Rigby assured that provisions were made in the experimental road traffic order to allow waste recycling lorries access to properties on collection days.
The council stated that safety audits were conducted prior to the implementation of the scheme and assured that the impacts would be monitored. Despite the initial chaos and safety issues, the council remains committed to creating more liveable neighborhoods and reducing traffic in the area. Residents are urged to follow the new traffic regulations to ensure the safety of all road users.
