Elizabeth Igoe, who lives in North Road in St Andrews, said the council has not considered how the plans would impact parking, local businesses and traffic and called the scheme an “unnecessary waste of money”
Overton Road in Bristol where work to pedestrianise the street is taking place(Image: PAUL GILLIS / Reach PLC)
A disabled resident has slammed Bristol City Council’s pedestrianisation project on a street leading to Gloucester Road.
Elizabeth Igoe, who resides on North Road in St Andrews, criticised the council for not considering the impact on parking, local businesses, and traffic, labelling the scheme an “unnecessary waste of money”.
Bristol Live readers however are mainly in favour of the change.
The council’s proposal to pedestrianise Overton Road, connecting Gloucester Road with nearby St Andrew’s Park, was initially unveiled in January 2023.
At that time, over £200,000 was allocated to shut the road to vehicles, aiming to create more space for businesses, pedestrians, and cyclists.
Yet, by October 2024, BristolLive had reported that the costs for the pedestrianisation of both Overton Road and Princess Victoria Street in Clifton had surged by £500,000 – a 40 per cent increase due to gross underestimation by the council.
Currently, works are underway to excavate the road and finalise the project, but 72 year old Ms Igoe has expressed that these alterations are “making life more and more difficult” for her mobility.
Speaking to Bristol Live, she said: “It feels as if Bristol City Council is trying to make life as difficult as possible for motorists and has totally overlooked those of us in the community who are disabled and need to use cars.”
She added, “Until there is improved transport in Bristol people will continue to use cars but Bristol City Council seems to be in denial and instead makes it more and more difficult to get around the city.”
In a bid to alleviate parking issues, St Andrews has been earmarked as one of the potential sites for new residents’ permit parking.
Commenter Royalbluemersey1 asks: “Was any attempt made to interview supporters of the scheme? Some people just can’t accept change, especially where their precious motor vehicles are concerned. This scheme will make the area safer for pedestrians and a more pleasant place to live.”
Ezergood agrees: “It is slowly dawning on the motoring fraternity that the world does not owe them free storage space for their four-wheeled possessions. Some still have a perceived sense of entitlement, however.”
Cornishking2003 retorts: “Remind me why car owners pay car tax? It’s to use the roads! When cyclists start paying for the same privilege then you can start demanding who is allowed to use them. Cyclists want full use of roads, ignoring traffic lights etc, but contribute nothing.”
CheckOne adds: “There were only 3 or 4 parking spaces there anyway so not really the end of the world.”
KaylKa points out: “The ‘car tax’ you pay is VED, Vehicle Excise Duty and is an emissions based one. It doesn’t pay for roads, it falls way short so they’re paid out of general taxation budgets. BTW, ‘road tax’ no longer exists but is still perpetuated as a myth. Does road tax actually pay for roads? It does not specifically pay for everything to do with the roads as cars. The funds are added to the central funds of the exchequer – the total budget the government spends every year. Education, health, police, local council budgets— anything you can think of. So only a tiny part of it might, but not enough for motorists to claim sovereignty over the roads. More probably goes on education/welfare.”
Royalbluemersey1 agrees: “In actual fact, motorists are heavily subsidised by society since the real costs of driving are externalised. We have 30,000 people per year killed or seriously injured in traffic violence, many requiring long term care for life-changing injuries. There are >50,000 deaths per year linked to air pollution and many thousands more are diseased as a direct result of vehicular pollution. There is an obesity epidemic partly due to people living sedentary, car-dependent lifestyles. Then there is the cost of maintaining the roads and all the car related infrastructure which is hugely expensive and increasing substantially as vehicles get larger and heavier. This is in effect a direct transfer of wealth from those who don’t drive to those who do.”
Rockingallovertheworld thinks: “There are some car lovers who just don’t get it. One day they will and hopefully they’ll stop rattling on about it. Ditch the car for journeys in and around Bristol – you are the cause of congestion, pollution and making the streets unsafe. Sorted.”
AdvisoryService101 points out: “We need to look at the bigger picture and consider everyone’s needs. Everyone will be affected, good and bad, but overall this will benefit the local community.”
Headingley21 believes: “Once built, the pedestrianised area will be a huge success and everyone, including businesses, will wonder what all the fuss was about.”
How do you feel about the pedestrianised area? Will it improve the street? Have your say in our comments section.