Readers react to the council dropping its South Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood road block plans, with questions over cost, fairness and what comes next
Residents of Southville march from Aldi at Ashton Gate to City Hall in protest at plans for the ‘South Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood’, on Thursday, February 5, 2026(Image: Bristol Post)
Bristol Live readers have been engaged in a lively debate over a proposed rethink on road blocks and other traffic management measures. Those commenting on the story raised concerns around public trust, expenditure, and representation. Many called on the council to set out its future intentions and to consult more widely with local residents before pressing ahead with any further changes.
Council bosses announced they would be scrapping plans to install ‘modal filters’ – planters designed to block roads to four-wheel vehicles – as part of a scheme to create four separate traffic zones.
Bristol Live reported earlier this week that the city council would be simplifying its proposals for the South Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood scheme, following a lack of support from residents in Southville and Totterdown for the original project.
The abandonment of plans to divide Southville into four distinct zones was welcomed by Liz Newton, who spearheaded a local residents’ campaign opposing the scheme, and she urged the council to go further.
While some commenters praised the council for changing course, others argued that listening to constituents should simply be standard practice. One reader, Dis1954 writes: “Why thank the council for listening to the community, that is what they are there to do, besides, they tried to bring it in by steallth. How much has it cost the local taxpayers?”
Evening adds: “The council listens, as if that’s something to be grateful for. They need to listen. Now remove the unneeded and dangerous bus lane at Hambrook lights.”
YosserBlues comments: “A cynical reader might wonder whether the liberal middle class of Southville have more sway with our liberal middle class ruling Council than the working class of Easton. As if!”
Bristolruined says: “What a surprise, so sorry for the Barton Hill community who had no say.”
Othermeinnit writes: “Some good news perhaps, although we still need to see the final plans, especially whether they still plan to block Raleigh Road. Still a huge amount of money wasted for what should be some quite simple traffic calming on a few roads. The £700,000 of public money on planting trees in Southville doesn’t seem to have gone away yet, though.”
Xercesblue12 thinks: “The Greens, at least, respond to public views on this, but why not canvas the locality more thoroughly at the start to get a better understanding of what people want? Evidently, SBLN will be more sensitive to local opinion than EBLN, initiated under Labour.”
Altreality says: “Excellent. Now let’s get rid of the Cumberland Road bus gate.”
EricMcNamara feels: “So people don’t want this nonsense, when will everything be pulled down. They can remove all the useless battery farms and solar farms, too. It’s the land that they want, nothing to do with saving 1.7 degrees from the weather in some distant future.”
What are your thoughts on the latest U-turn regarding the South Bristol Liveable Neighbourhoods? Comment HERE or below to have your say.