Businesses, residents and anyone who enjoys St Marks Road - named the greatest street in the UK last year - are being asked to make suggestions to build on this success. We want your ideas for how to improve enjoyment of the diverse stores, restaurants, events and other vibrant groups in the area.

During the summer, the council responded to the COVID-19 crisis by providing more space for walking and cycling on community roads to give people more space for social distancing. This included using temporary barriers to widen pavements and provide bike lanes. We have been flexible with our approach and we have been listening to suggestions from local people for improvements to support high streets and help people get around safely both during the pandemic and in the long-term.

The council has now secured further funding from the government’s Emergency Active Travel fund to provide more space for pedestrians and cyclists while public transport capacity is reduced. As a result, we are now looking for suggestions on how we can change a number of busy neighbourhood roads and high streets around the city, including St Marks Road.

We are aiming to:

• maximise enjoyment of the areas being considered
• minimise rat running
• improve access for all
• create more liveable neighbourhoods with less traffic congestion and pollution.

The government funding must improve cycling and walking journeys. Changes could include:

• consistent or timed traffic restrictions to stop motorists cutting through community hubs
• changes to the road layout or direction
• wider pavements
• new bike lanes

It is essential that we listen to local views before drawing up any detailed proposals and we remain flexible. The council’s aim is to ensure any change to the street environment benefits the whole community and supports businesses to stay and thrive in the area with increased footfall. We will only deliver a scheme if the community as a whole and the traders are happy with it.

In addition to the government’s Emergency Active Travel Fund for post-COVID-19 walking and cycling improvements, Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding is also available to improve the general St Marks Road environment. This could cover:

• new CCTV
• much needed improvement to road surfaces
• signage
• greenery
• lighting.

This has provided an opportunity to combine these funding sources to take a look at the street and see what is possible. We want to hear from local businesses, organisations, religious centres, residents and visitors on what they would like to see happen on St Marks Road.

Below is a survey asking you to think about St Marks Road and comment on what is working well and what could be improved. The overall aim of any scheme will be to support the much-loved businesses, grow economic benefits, improve air quality with less pollution, and make it easier to walk and cycle within the local community.

Your suggestions will help us design improvements to St Marks Road that will work for everyone. We will work with the community to co-design a scheme and there will be a public consultation on any detailed proposals that emerge before anything is decided or finalised.
 

Please give us your feedback by Sunday 17 January 2021 and return the survey in the freepost envelope.

If you have a comment, question or you would like this information in another format such as a different 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: St Marks Road, Transport Engagement Team, PO BOX 3399, 100 Temple Street, Bristol, BS1 9NE.