The first closure was hailed a success despite concerns some drivers would have to take a long detourLadies Mile is a road running through the Downs(Image: Alex Seabrook)

A road running through the Downs could close to cars for the second time during a weekend in September.

Ladies Mile cuts through Clifton Down, running from the middle of Stoke Road down to the top of Bridge Valley Road, and was closed for one Sunday last month.

The Downs committee voted in favour of setting up another closure in September.

The committee is made up of Bristol councillors and members of the Society of Merchant Venturers, a business group, due to a quirky Victorian law about the historic park.

A volunteer from the Friends of the Downs and Avon Gorge had reportedly tried to get the road closed for a quarter of a century. Now that the road has been closed once, and a second time is on the cards, temporary closures could become more routine and happen more often.

Green Councillor Paula O’Rourke, representing Clifton, said: “We managed to close Ladies Mile for a day, with somebody from Fodag having tried for 25 years to do that.

“And that was a lovely day. I would like to propose that we close Ladies Mile again on the second or third Sunday in September.

Advisers have proposed that Ladies Mile Road that cuts through the Downs, should face a trial closure this summer(Image: Bristol Post)

“People can come and bring their kids to learn how to cycle, we had playing out, and it was quite a simple thing to do in the end. It was a big street party. It had great value and everybody really enjoyed it.”

One concern which councillors previously raised is that people living in Stoke Bishop would have to drive further to get to the shops in Clifton. Many people there drive down Ladies Mile to get to the shops, who would otherwise have to drive “an awfully long way round”.

Ben Skuse, area parks manager, said: “The day when we closed Ladies Mile was really well received.

“It was a really good example of how people use the space as soon as we take cars off of it. In my opinion it’s something that we should do more of.”