We are adjusting the current scheme in Staple Hill High Street with alternative measures from Monday 13 July to enable social distancing and create a safe environment as we emerge from COVID-19 restrictions.
Since the Staple Hill scheme started on Monday 29 June, we have monitored the High Street and gathered feedback from residents and businesses which has given us a better understanding of how the High Street is being used and identified clear ‘pinch points’ for social distancing.
This has led to the decision to install more appropriate measures to protect people in the areas where social distancing is most needed.
On Sunday 12 July, the High Street will be closed while the current shuttle system is replaced with the following measures:
• barriers to widen the pavement (using parking spaces) at ‘pinch points’
• a temporary 20mph zone on the High Street from the Hill House Road junction to the Pendennis Road junction
• moving the bus stop to outside the former Lloyds bank to create space. The bus shelter itself cannot be moved and will have to stay in place.
From Monday 13 July two-way traffic, parking spaces, the pedestrian crossing on the High Street and access via Page Road will be reinstated. Additional social distancing road signs and pavement markers will be installed shortly. The through traffic closures at Signal Road and Charnell Road will be reviewed at a later date.
Cabinet Member for Planning, Transport and Strategic Environment, Cllr Steve Reade said: As lockdown restrictions are gradually eased our roads and High Streets are becoming busier, so staying safe and saving lives by keeping to social distancing guidance is more important than ever to help protect the most vulnerable and reduce the rate of infection.
“We are working to support the local economy by giving shoppers the confidence to start using their High Street again by providing space to queue and pass each other at a safe distance while enabling businesses to trade outside where possible.
“These changes are part of our emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We have a statutory duty to make it as easy as possible to follow rules for social distancing in public places and we are working on several projects across South Gloucestershire to make public places safer.
“We will continue to review these measures regularly and we continue to welcome feedback from the local community.”
The scheme for Staple Hill High Street has been implemented in response to COVID-19 statutory guidance for local authorities to reallocate road space to enable social distancing and encourage cycling and walking. The intention is to make public spaces safer, encouraging people to visit their High Street and to feel safe. We continue to work with businesses and residents on regeneration plans for Staple Hill High Street to encourage more people to visit and boost the local economy.
You can provide feedback about the Staple Hill High Street scheme at www.southglos.gov.uk/streetchanges
The funding for this work comes from central Government through the West of England Combined Authority (WECA).
Visit www.southglos.gov.uk/making-public-places-safer for more information on the Staple Hill measures and our other schemes.
We have also adapted our Local Transport Priority List (Assess and Decide) process for considering requests from residents. We welcome any useful suggestions from the public. If there are any interim measures we can implement to easily help people maintain social distancing we will put these in place as soon as possible. For more information and to make a suggestion please visit www.southglos.gov.uk/local-transport-priority-list
