Green councillors in B&NES have criticised what they consider to be a lack of communication regarding the impact of the closure of part of Manvers Street and the re-routing of bus services.
Here’s a press release l received today:
“Major reconstruction work is being carried out on Manvers Street in Bath between May and November 2026. The Green group appreciates the need for the work on the slabs and foundations; if not carried out, the road could fail, and failure would mean emergency work, which would cause more disruption for a longer period of time. However, the Green group questions whether the closure has been properly managed.
Green group leader Joanna Wright said,
“Councils have a number of statutory duties to maintain the public highway to facilitate safe and efficient travel for their residents. This includes pedestrians, cyclists and those using public transport. We feel this road closure could have been managed better to ensure less disruption to residents and visitors to a renowned World Heritage City.”
Bus stops on Manvers Street are closed while the work is taking place, and bus companies have diverted their routes and amended timetables. The Green group do not feel that communication has been adequate on this matter.
Councillor Saskia Heijltjes for Lambridge ward said,
“Many people still have no idea of this closure and the impact this will have over the next few months on their journeys. There is no information at Bath Spa Train Station or Bath Bus Station.
The information on bus services is of high importance to residents, and we have already heard from some residents who have gotten stranded and seen those impacted who are travelling through Bath or to Bath destinations.”
The Green group is concerned about the obstruction to bus services, particularly for those travelling to and from the RUH. The group has asked the Cabinet Member for Sustainable Transport Delivery how the Council is working with the Integrated Care Board on this road closure and access to the RUH.
Councillor Wright said,
“The walk suggested between bus services is not feasible for some people who are receiving medical attention. We understand the council doesn’t oversee the buses, but it does oversee the roadworks, and we expect better outcomes for patients, due to the strong partnership between the RUH and BANES. This is a public health issue that affects many residents for a significant amount of time.”
Pedestrians still have access, but people on cycles will have to dismount and use the footways. The green group has asked the Cabinet Member for Sustainable Transport Delivery if there has been communication around this at the train station for those who commute to the station regularly, and if there is a separate diversion for people on cycles travelling to the train station from the North.
Councillor Heijltjes said
“The motor vehicle diversion that is in place is treacherous for people on cycles, as it forces cycle users to travel via the gyratory at Churchill Bridge, a notoriously dangerous location for cyclists. Some people use their cycle as a mobility aid and cannot dismount or move through barriers (like those on Halfpenny Bridge).”
Can I just add that there isn’t even an information desk at the Bus Station anymore? If you haven’t got the app and don’t understand the electronic timetables …. well.
