Experimental trials 2024 – Timeline

Use this page to view a timeline that shows the project stages we will follow to trial five traffic restrictions in Bath during 2024 and 2025 as part of the council’s community-led Liveable Neighbourhood (LN) programme. We will update this page regularly. 

The trials include:

• a through-traffic restriction on Sydney Road
• formalisation of a one-way loop in Lyme Road

There are also three linked trials in Lower Lansdown and Circus Liveable Neighbourhoods area including:

• a through-traffic restriction in Winifred's Lane
• a through-traffic restriction in Catharine Place
• traffic restrictions in upper Gay Street

You can find out more about the LN Programme, the process we follow, and find out how to respond to a consultation using the relevant webpages. 

1. Shortlisting of potential trials

   Completed Autumn 2023

   We identified areas where there was community support for traffic restrictions during previous LN consultations. All proposals were considered against a range of criteria and draft designs were drawn up for five potential trials.

2. Baseline monitoring

   Completed Autumn 2023 to Spring 2024

   We collected baseline traffic data over a 7 day period outside of school holidays in each of the trial areas. We are also conducting additional air quality monitoring in all areas except for Lyme Road.

3. Correspondence with residents

   Completed December 2023

   Letters were sent to residents living in and around the trial streets to inform them about the proposed trials, Residents were invited to contact the team with any concerns or feedback. We informed the public via press, social media, and local ward councillors.

   Read the press release

4. Decision to proceed with five trials

   Completed February 2024

   At the beginning of February 2024, a decision was taken to proceed with five trials after funding was secured from the West of England Combined Authority’s City Regional Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS). Use the links below to read the decision notice, the related reports, and the press release on the decision.

   • Read the single member decision report on the Sydney Road trial
   • Read the single member decision on the Lyme Road trial
   • Read the single member decision report and decision notice for three linked trials in Lower Lansdown and the Circus area
   • Read the press release on the decision to proceed with the trials

5. Pre-trial informal engagement

   Active Winter through spring 2024

   Residents living on or near the trial streets are being informed of the decisions by letter. We will be making further information available on our website and at pre-trial events for local residents.

   • View the Sydney Road trial web page
   • View the Lyme Road one-way trial web page
   • View the Lower Lansdown and Circus area trial web pages

6. Installation of trials

   Active Spring through summer 2024

   The five trials are being installed throughout the spring and summer of 2024..

   We will send letters about installation to those living on or near the trial roads. Press, social media posts, and local promotions will alert the wider public to the timetable for both installation and public consultation.

   You can read the press release for the installation and public consultation for Sydney Road through-traffic restriction trial (March 2024).

   • Sydney Road Trial (installed 1-15 April 2024)
   • Lyme Road Trial (estimated to be installed end of May 2024)
   • Lansdown Trials (estimated to be installed June/July 2024

7. ETRO trial six-month consultation

   Active Spring through summer 2024

   Experimental traffic regulation order trials are consultations in-situ. Residents and the wider public are invited to share their views of the trials while they experience the trial over a minimum of six months.

   A public consultation questionnaire is/will be available on the trial web pages.

   The public consultations will be available for six months, between the following dates:

   • Sydney Road consultation from 3 April 2024 to 3 October 2024
   • Lyme Road consultation from end of May to end of November 2024
   • Lower Lansdown and Circus Area consultations from Summer 2024 to Spring 2025

   Explore the available consultation web pages.

8. Stakeholder engagement

   Active During 2024 trials

   During the trials, we will gather feedback from local schools, businesses, and services, such as the emergency services. Our partner Sustrans will support us in engaging harder to reach groups and seldom heard voices, such as young people, older people, young families, and people with disabilities.

9. Monitoring

   on target Summer through autumn 2024

   We will repeat the same 7-day traffic monitoring exercise conducted during baseline monitoring to help us measure any impact of the trials. This will be conducted outside of school holidays and major events.

   We will consider repeating the monitoring exercise again after one year of the trial starting.

   We are also conducting additional air quality monitoring, with additional monitoring stations installed in all trial areas except Lyme Road.

10. Evaluation

    on target Autumn through winter 2024 to 2025

    Once the six-month consultation periods have ended for each trial we will evaluate and publish the outcomes in reports. The trials will remain in place until a decision is made on making them permanent or not.

11. Decision making

    On target Winter 2025 to Spring 2026

    The consultation outcome reports will inform a decision on whether to permanently adopt the trials or remove them.

    This decisions will be made by the relevant cabinet member and council officer, considering council feedback, monitoring data, and our wider council policy. The decision will be made as soon as the reports are prepared and within 18 months of the trial starting.