Mayor hopefuls reject Park Street restriction plan



None of the candidates vying to become the next leader of the West of England have supported plans to restrict cars from a major Bristol road.

During a BBC election debate the six mayoral candidates for the West of England Combined Authority (Weca) were asked if they were in favour of closing Park Street to through-traffic.

Bristol City Council's Green councillors approved the £15m plan to limit Park Street to only buses, cyclists and pedestrians at a meeting in March.

Not one of the candidates raised their hands in support of the plan - including Green Party hopeful Mary Page.

Reform candidate Arron Banks described the scheme as a "terrible idea", adding that businesses on the street had been forgotten.  Pointing to a scheme banning through traffic from part of central Thornbury, where he lives, Mr Banks said it has created "a ghost town".  "You've got to have some consideration for the people who trade there and it kills the vibrancy of it," he said.

Labour candidate Helen Godwin said she was "very unsure" about the scheme, raising concerns about traffic instead being directed past the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children and the Bristol Royal Infirmary which she described as "already one of the most polluted streets in the country".  She added that she was "not convinced" of the need for a bus gate on Park Street, having travelled through the area by bus during the morning rush hour without seeing heavy traffic.

On 1 May voters will head to polling stations to pick their new mayor of the West of England Combined Authority.  Made up of Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset (Banes) and South Gloucestershire, the combined authority holds power over transport, skills, economic development and planning in the region.  Decisions made by Weca, however, require the agreement of other council leaders.

During the BBC election debate, some of the candidates set out their transport plans if they were to be elected as Weca mayor.

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