Cotham Hill Permanent Scheme Consultation

In November 2020 we carried out public engagement. People filled in a survey where they were asked about their street environment, what they liked about the street, what they would improve and what would they prioritise. The survey was open for 6 weeks and closed in January 2021. 2632 responses were received and the responses showed strong support for pedestrianisation on Cotham Hill and a full report is available at https://bristol.citizenspace.com/sustainable-transport/cotham-hill-engagement-survey 

Temporary scheme installation

The feedback from the first survey held in November 2020 along with the engagement with local businesses, community groups and local stakeholders has been used to help produce a road layout design for two temporary road closures on Cotham Hill. The aim was to implement two temporary road closures by 12 April 2021 to allow several hospitality businesses to trade outside as COVID-19 restrictions started to lift, as well as providing improved journeys for pedestrians and cyclists. Two parts of the road have been closed to motorised traffic - between Whiteladies Gate and Hampton Lane; and between Hampton Park and Abbotsford Road.

Whilst this was an urgent measure to support businesses and enable social distancing, we committed to engaging the community on a more permanent scheme in the coming months which would look at a more holistic approach and could incorporate changes to the wider area.

Improvement to scheme installation

In July 2021 we installed new planters to replace the red and white barriers, improving the appearance of the road layout and provided new signs and road markings to advise people to cycle slowly through the shared area.

On street survey

The Council also carried out a snapshot survey of how the temporary closure is working and asked almost 200 people over a few days. Nearly 80% of the responses were from local residents and 6% were from local business owners. Of those who travelled over 85% walked to the street and 26% use a bicycle. Around a third of respondents live on or within 100 yards of Cotham Hill with almost 50% living within one mile of the street. Most people (around 60%) visit 2 to 3 shops in their average trip to Cotham Hill and over half visit daily or 3 to 4 times a day. 
In terms of the street environment:

• 65% felt the air is cleaner on this street today than before the temporary road closure, and a similar amount thought the air quality was good or excellent on that day.
• Over 80% felt the street is cleaner or about the same since the temporary closure and 55% rated the cleanliness on the street that day as good and or excellent.
• Over 80% felt the road was safer in terms of traffic movement today than before the road closure and 65% felt the road was safe and or very safe on this day.
• 75% felt the shared space was very easy and easy to use in the street.
• 83% felt there was less noise caused by traffic on the road today than before.
• 42% felt there was more noise caused by people on the road today than before  and 43% felt it was about the same.
• 58% felt the noise on the street was neither noisy or quiet and 26% felt it was quiet.
• 65% of respondents had been present during the night time economy and 24% felt the street was noiser and 32% felt the noise was about the same and 24% felt it was quieter then before the temporary closure.
• Over 75% felt the street was easy to walk along and 48% felt cycling was easier with 31% thinking about the same after the road closure.
• 50% of people felt it would be more difficult to drive around the area and 41% felt it was about the same after the road closure.
• Over 80% were very satisfied or satisfied with the street on this day.

Consultation on a permanent scheme

We have now developed designs for a permanent scheme, using feedback received in the first survey and since the temporary arrangements were implemented. We are now seeking your views on our designs for a permanent scheme.

The temporary road closure will remain in place during this process so that we can continue to monitor the temporary arrangement.

Below is a survey asking local people to think about three possible options for a permanent scheme. The overall the aim of any scheme will be to make it easier to walk and cycle within the local community for everyone including those with disabilities, support the local economy, and improve air quality with less pollution.

Please give us your feedback by Tuesday 30 November 2021.

If you have a comment, question or you would like this information in another language, Braille, audio tape, large print, easy English, BSL video or CD rom or plain text please contact us:

• Email: transport.engagement@bristol.gov.uk
• Phone: 0117 903 6449 and leave a message on the answerphone.
• Write to: Cotham Hill, Transport Engagement Team, PO BOX 3399, 100 Temple Street, Bristol, BS1 9NE

Proposed permanent options

We have developed designs for a permanent scheme, using feedback received in the first survey and since the temporary arrangements were implemented. We are now seeking your views on our designs for a permanent scheme.

Option A - Cotham Hill pedestrianisation scheme plus improvements on surrounding roads

This option continues with the closure on Cotham Hill for vehicles between Whiteladies Gate and Hampton Park and Hampton Park and Abbotsford Road. Extending the pedestrianised area to the junction of Abbotsford Road. Vehicle access will be retained for private access at number 38. Footways will be widened throughout the traffic free area where possible and trading space retained outside businesses with trading outside to cease at 10pm. Removing traffic from Cotham Hill in these locations enables the junctions at side roads to be upgraded significantly.

Loading and disabled bays are proposed in the following locations:

• Whiteladies Gate, close to the Post Office and Pharmacy
• Hampton Park
• Abbotsford Road
• Aberdeen Road (disabled bay only).

A series of one-ways have been proposed that retain access for residents, businesses, and visitors whilst reducing traffic speeds, through traffic (rat running) and vehicles meeting head on. A ‘school street’ has also been proposed adjacent to St Peter and Paul Primary School.  

One-ways are proposed on the following streets:

• Hampton Lane (northbound)
• Aberdeen Road (eastbound from the junction of Hampton Lane to the junction of Cotham Hill)
• West Park (Eastbound from the junction of Whiteladies Road to Cotham Hill)  
• Abbotsford Road (westbound from the junction of Cotham Gardens to Cotham Hill)

A timed closure or “school street” is where the road closes to motorised vehicles between school drop off and school pick up times.  Residents parked within the street can exit the street within these times. The school street is proposed in the following location:

• Aberdeen Road (between the junction of Hampton Road and the school entrance)

The cycle lane on Cotham Hill between West Park and Hampton Road will be upgraded by installing bollards to separate people cycling from traffic. This will help make the cycling environment feel safer and more pleasant.

Option B – Cotham Hill pedestrianisation scheme

This option is very similar to Option A but with one main difference, it does not include the one way on West Park. This option builds on the existing temporary scheme and addresses issues that have been raised during the temporary scheme such as increased traffic on Aberdeen Road. Whereas Option A has expanded slightly further to include a one way on West Park.

This option largely retains the arrangements of the temporary scheme but with some alterations based on the feedback that has been received over the last few months. This option proposes to make the following changes.

Extending the pedestrianised area to the junction of Abbotsford Road. Vehicle access will be retained for private access at number 38. Footways will be widened throughout the traffic free area where possible and trading space retained outside businesses with trading outside to cease at 10pm. Removing traffic from Cotham Hill in these locations enables the junctions at side roads to be upgraded significantly.

Loading and disabled bays are proposed in the following locations:

• Whiteladies Gate, close to the Post Office and Pharmacy
• Hampton Park
• Abbotsford Road
• Aberdeen Road (disabled bay only).

Three one-ways have been proposed that retain access for residents, businesses, and visitors whilst reducing traffic speeds, through traffic (rat running) and vehicles meeting head on. A ‘school street’ has also been proposed adjacent to St Peter and Paul Primary School.

One ways have been proposed on the following streets:

• Hampton Lane (northbound)
• Aberdeen Road (eastbound from the junction of Hampton Lane to the junction of Cotham Hill)
• Abbotsford Road (westbound from the junction of Cotham Gardens to Cotham Hill)

A timed closure or “school street” is where the road closes to motorised vehicles between school drop off and school pick up times. Residents parked within the street can exit the street within these times. The school street is proposed in the following location:

• Aberdeen Road (between the junction of Hampton Road and the school entrance)

The cycle lane on Cotham Hill between West Park and Hampton Road will be upgraded by installing bollards to separate people cycling from traffic. This will help make the cycling environment feel safer and more pleasant.

Option C – One way scheme  

This option removes the current scheme and changes Cotham Hill into a one way street for motorised vehicles, allowing traffic to travel from Whiteladies Road to Cotham Road. By taking out a traffic lane and by removing the existing parking between Whiteladies Gate and Abbotsford Road we have been able to widen the footways and enable space for cycling in both directions. In this design there is no pedestrianised area and space on the high street to carry out trading for businesses is reduced. Reallocation of further road space to create additional space for pedestrians is not possible due to the constraints.

Loading and disabled bays are proposed in the following locations:

• Whiteladies Gate, close to the Post Office and Pharmacy
• Hampton Park
• Abbotsford Road
• Aberdeen Road (disabled bay only).

A series of one-ways have been proposed to reduce through traffic (rat running) and vehicles meeting head on. A ‘school street’ has also been proposed adjacent to St Peter and Paul Primary School.

One ways have been proposed on the following streets:

• Hampton Lane (northbound)
• Aberdeen Road (eastbound from the junction of Hampton Lane to the junction of Cotham Hill)
• West Park (Eastbound from the junction of Whiteladies Road to Cotham Hill)  
• Abbotsford Road (westbound from the junction of Cotham Gardens to Cotham Hill)

A timed closure or “school street” is where the road closes to motorised vehicles between school drop off and school pick up times.  Residents parked within the street can exit the street within these times. The school street is proposed in the following location:

• Aberdeen Road (between the junction of Hampton Road and the school entrance)

The cycle lane on Cotham Hill between West Park and Hampton Road will be upgraded by installing bollards to separate people cycling from traffic. This will help make the cycling environment feel safer and more pleasant.

For more information on bike hangars please visit: On-street bike hangars - Better By Bike