Pandemic changes to road space

As North Somerset re-opens, temporary measures to support social distancing are being introduced to ensure everyone’s safety.

This includes:

• wider pavements
• quieter roads
• more space for walking and cycling

These changes will aid our social and economic recovery as we emerge out of the pandemic. They will also contribute to our efforts to be more green in light of climate change.

You can give us feedback on our social distancing emergency road schemes, as well as read the feedback we've received.

Comments help to identify improvements needed and highlight any safety concerns.

Disabled bays added to The Esplanade in Portishead so that people with disabilities can enjoy the seafront.

• Press release about the Portishead closure

Delivery time extended to 11am in the pedestrian and cycle zone on Regent’s Street. Pay and display parking has also been reinstated in the area.

• Press release on Regent Street

To help encourage social distancing, some high streets and parking bays will be closed to vehicles to allow access to shops and cafes. This will also provide extra room for spaces with outdoor seating.

Actions taken include:

• Nailsea High Street, Worle High Street and Meadow Street and Waterloo Street in Weston now use parking space to create wider pavements.
• Old Church Road in Clevedon is closed to vehicles.
• Regent Street in Weston-super-Mare is now a pedestrian and cycle zone.

Outdoor dining areas at the Italian Gardens in Weston, Queen’s Square in Clevedon, the Crown Glass Shopping Centre in Nailsea and the Precinct in Portishead have been introduced. Please read our press release for further details. 

Key roads and parking bays will be closed to vehicles to provide more space for leisure activities, such as jogging and dog walking.

Actions taken include:

• Portishead Esplanade is now closed to vehicles 
• Access to Clevedon seafront is restricted, with parking bays used to create space for walking and cycling
• Weir Lane, Manor Road and Sandy Lane in Abbots Leigh will now have parking restrictions

In the summer of 2020 we installed temporary barriers outside several schools across the district. Since then we have been working with schools to make the schemes more permanent, in many cases through the installation of planters and traffic orders.

At several locations we have designated key roads closest to schools as pedestrian and cycling zones. This means that unless there is a legal exception, vehicles are not permitted between 8am and 4pm.

We are working our way through the temporary schemes at schools to replace barriers and upgrade signage and have completed the following schemes:

• All Saints School – pedestrian and cycling zone on All Saints Lane
• Backwell School – pedestrian and cycling zone on Meadow Close
• Clevedon School – pedestrian and cycling zone on Valley Road, and junction realignment introduced to make it safer for cyclists leaving the school
• Crockerne Church of England Primary School – pedestrian and cycling zone on Westward Drive between Crockerne Drive and Cross Lanes
• Gordano School – pedestrian and cycling zone installed on Greenfield Park, waiting restrictions on Clevedon Road to improve traffic flow and planters along St Mary’s Road junction to limit parents dropping off and picking up
• High Down Junior and Infant Schools – pedestrian and cycling zones on Tower Road (including High View, Ridge Close, Hilltop), Downleaze and The Deans
• St John the Evangelist Church School – pedestrian and cycling zone on Fosseway between Camplins and Wickwar
• St Nicholas Chantry School – pedestrian and cycling zone on Highdale Avenue (part leading to the school)
• St Peters School – pedestrian and cycling zones on Hallett’s Way, Norfolk Road, Forester Road and Richmond Close
• West Leigh Infant School – pedestrian and cycling zone on Westfield Drive
• Worle Village Primary School – one-way system on Hill Road with carriageway markings for pedestrians
• Yatton Junior & Infant Schools – pedestrian and cycling zone on Stowey Road between Well Lane and Cherry Grove

We are still working on schemes for:

• Milton Park School
• Wrington Primary School
• St Nicholas Chantry School – Old Street
• Churchill Academy – walking and pedestrian route improvements

We will be continuing to develop schemes over the coming months.

In light of our action on climate change, we want to use this as an opportunity to encourage sustainable and active travel in schools, businesses, and communities.

If you are looking to work more towards sustainable travel,  initiatives such as Borrow a Bike and Sustainable Travel Grants can help. 

Find out more about these programmes on the TravelWest website.