Traffic ban scheme for Dorchester Street in Bath
Proposals for cutting through traffic out of a busy Bath city centre street are due to be considered in the new year.
A report on possible ways to make Dorchester Street a traffic-free zone, apart from buses, taxis, bikes and motorcycles, will go before Bath and North East Somerset Council's cabinet on January 16.
The council has yet to say how the ban, which would also affect Manvers Street, would be policed, and taxi drivers have been told that cameras similar to those on Pulteney Bridge and Northgate Street could be used.
But the council, which has previously suggested that vehicles with direct business at the station and sorting office would still be allowed through, said final details were still being worked out.
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A spokesman said: "The council is currently looking at the arrangements for restricting traffic in Dorchester Street. A cabinet report detailing these options is anticipated for January."
The Lib Dem-run council believes that stopping general traffic using the area as a through route will help bus services run on time.
Meanwhile, the process of turning Bath's residential streets into 20mph zones is set to be rolled out to the London Road area.
B&NES has begun a £500,000 project to reduce speeds on smaller roads in the district, and has already implemented zones in Southdown.
Its next target area is the Walcot and Lansdown wards, and part of the Lambridge ward at Larkhall.
A consultation exercise will run until January 14 and leaflets are being distributed to every household in the proposed restriction area.
Lansdown Road and London Road will continue to be 30mph streets, and much of Camden is already covered by an existing 20mph limit. The council says there will be no new traffic calming in the areas.
Comments
by rogerh3
Friday, December 21 2012, 12:43AM
“Don't forget "empty city" roger - locals won't be there!"
Much as you apparently wish it, you'll find it otherwise.
.”
by rogerh3
Friday, December 21 2012, 12:41AM
“There are drop-off bays adjacent to Halfpenny Bridge included on both sides of Rossiter Road as part of the Widcombe scheme.”
by sunny_bath
Friday, December 21 2012, 12:36AM
“@rottidog
My casual observations while in the area suggest that a significant number of people driving cars do use it as a rat run i.e. a through route from North Parade / Pulteney Road to Broad Quays. A very low percentage of cars go towards the sorting office or into the Manvers Street car park. I agree that this seems a crazy choice for a short cut as it's reliably snarled up and passes through a large number of traffic lights. It would be interesting to see a proper analysis of journeys in this area to see with certainty what people are doing.”
by rottidog
Thursday, December 20 2012, 11:00PM
“I fail to see how anyone with more than one brain cell can describe Dorchester Street as a "rat run", the purpose of which is usually to short cut at a greater speed to beat the queues on the main route. A "snail run" would be more fitting and might even explain why my post is delivered so late these days!”
by sunny_bath
Thursday, December 20 2012, 10:57PM
“I vaguely remember seeing drop off / pick up bays to the South of Ha Penny Bridge on one of the plans that's been linked to on here over the past few months. I'd guess it was the Widcombe one...”
by tomsjan
Thursday, December 20 2012, 10:47PM
“Don't forget "empty city" roger - locals won't be there!
And do my eyes deceive me or did the cyclist just have a good idea????”
by t1mmyb
Thursday, December 20 2012, 10:44PM
“I actually think access to the southern side for drop-off/pick up would be a good idea, even with a new vehicle access bridge. Anything to get more traffic away from Dorchester Street/Manvers St.
I don't suppose such things come cheap, though.
If some space was reclaimed from the absurd dual carriageway between Widcombe and Churchill Bridge, there could be a drop-off/pick-up zone south of the river, and people could walk over Ha'penny Bridge.”
by rogerh3
Thursday, December 20 2012, 10:26PM
“I must admit that I would think that having a train station that is accessible by car is pretty desirable."
It will remain accessible by car and there will continue to be provision for disabled users. Just how many of the 5.2 million annual users of the station do you imagine arrive or leave by car, though? The majority will most likely be day visitors on foot who will be pleased to have a less polluted, less congested city to greet them outside the station.
.”
by rogerh3
Thursday, December 20 2012, 10:22PM
“When the Royal Mail mess up (who said surely not?) and I have to get to the Delivery Office, the thought of the trip fills me with dread!"
Seriously? Just how much difference will it really make going via Manvers Street rather than Dorchester Street on the few occasions you have to go to the sorting office? And bear in mind that with Dorchester Street closed to most traffic there'll most likely be significantly less between North Parade Road and Manvers Street anyway.
.”
by Dylanwing
Thursday, December 20 2012, 10:10PM
“I must admit that I would think that having a train station that is accessible by car is pretty desirable. Not everybody has other travel options, some people have mobility difficulties (So often overlooked by anti-car zealots) and some travellers will have luggage. Hardly encouraging public transport use, or are B&NES so obsessed with buses they overlook rail? BTW my wife is disabled, and the last year since her illness has given me a different perspective on accessibility issues. A great pity that certain Councillors can't make the same effort for the disabled as they do for cyclists.”