As you may be aware, a scheme is included in the Council’s 2024/25 Local Active Travel and Safety Programme (LATSP) to introduce improved pedestrian crossing facilities along Bloomfield Road, between Englishcombe Lane and Bloomfield Green, and also to introduce measures to reduce vehicle speeds and to deter parking on the footway on the steeper section of the road.
The Council has been working with your local Councillors and Bloomfield Residents Association in the development of the proposed measures, which are described below.
The steeper section of the road between Bloomfield Drive and Englishcombe Lane:
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A priority road narrowing at the top of the hill with downhill vehicles giving-way to uphill vehicles.
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A priority road narrowing approximately half-way down the hill (at the slight bend) with downhill vehicles giving-way to uphill vehicles.
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Marked parking bays to encourage motorists to park wholly within the carriageway rather than partially on the footway, which will also help to moderate vehicle speeds.
The junction of Englishcombe Lane and Hatfield Road:
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A zebra pedestrian crossing to replace the existing refuge island.
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Road narrowing at the junction to improve visibility for pedestrians, particularly when crossing Englishcombe Lane, and to moderate vehicle turning movements.
The junction of Bloomfield Park and St. Lukes Road:
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A zebra pedestrian crossing to replace the existing refuge island.
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Road narrowing at the junction to improve visibility for pedestrians, and to moderate vehicle turning movements.
Entrance to Bloomfield Green:
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A zebra pedestrian crossing.
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Road narrowing to improve visibility for pedestrians.
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Revised parking arrangements, which will also help to reduce vehicle speeds.
This particular zebra crossing would be designed so that it could be modified to accommodate improved cycling facilities (e.g. a parallel crossing) at a later date.
The centre line along Bloomfield Road would also be removed where it’s not considered to be necessary, as this will help to reduce vehicle speeds by removing ‘lane ownership’ and introducing a degree of uncertainty between opposing vehicles.
Please note that the funding which is currently available might not be sufficient to introduce all of the measures described above. If this is the case, a decision will be made on which measures are to be progressed during the current financial year, and the remaining measures will be recommended for inclusion in a future LATSP.
In addition, the proposed measures will be subject to formal safety audits, carried out by an independent Safety Audit Team, and an internal approval process prior to their implementation. A statutory (legal) consultation process must also be followed to establish a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) to support the proposed zebra crossings and, as such, there will be an opportunity for people to formally object to these TROs if they wish.
If you would like to view the proposals in more detail, two drop-in engagement sessions have been arranged at St. Luke’s Church as follows:
• 2.00pm to 5.00pm on Monday 9th September.
• 5.00pm to 8.00pm on Tuesday 10th September.
These sessions will give you the chance to ask questions and give us your comments on the details of the scheme ahead of the formal consultation.
If you would like copies of the scheme drawings, either paper copies or in electronic format (pdf), these can be requested after the above engagement sessions by emailing Traffic_ManagementTeam@bathnes.gov.uk
Yours faithfully,
Highways & Traffic Service
Bath and North East Somerset Council
