Transport No Weca funding for Park Street plans

CONTROVERSIAL plan to ban cars from driving through Park Street has been blocked by the West of England metro mayor.

- Alex SEABROOK

West of England Mayor Helen Godwin

But Bristol City Council could still press ahead with the scheme, which would stop through-traffic from using the shopping street, to free up buses stuck in congestion.

Park Street, a steep shopping street north of the city centre, is a main route for many bus services. But these buses often get stuck in traffic, with long queues to get to the bottom of the road. The council wants to ban most drivers from the street, and work was due to begin last October.

The main problem with the plan, according to the mayor, is that traffic would be diverted along Park Row, passing the Bristol Royal Infirmary and the Children's Hospital. This street is already polluted and the extra number of cars could increase the levels of pollutants harmful to health. One compromise offered by the mayor was banning through-traffic only at peak times as a trial.