Implementation follows public support for the concept in public consultation
Measures to establish an Active Travel Neighbourhood (ATN) to reduce the use of residential streets as a cut-through for commuters are to be introduced in Saltaire.
ATNs are areas where a number of measures are introduced on residential side streets to discourage commuter through traffic from using smaller streets to avoid main roads – often referred to as ‘rat running’.
The Saltaire ATN aims to make the area a more pleasant, vibrant and safer area by limiting through-traffic, which can feel like it dominates the area, while still allowing all residents, businesses and organisations to access their premises.
The measures will be installed on a trial basis in a temporary form from Monday 11th July. The trial will then run for six months during which time the public will be asked to feedback on their views and experiences of the ATN.
The success of the trial will be measured based on public feedback, traffic monitoring and air quality monitoring data, with a decision on whether to keep, adjust or remove the measures being taken once analysis has concluded at the end of the trial period.
The decision to trial the measures has been taken following a positive consultation with residents and businesses over the last year. An initial consultation, held in July and August 2021, returned 489 responses with 80% of respondents feeling positive about the concept of introducing an ATN in Saltaire.
Since then, Bradford Council has undertaken a workshop with a group of local business, community and organisation representatives, and letter drops to homes and businesses located near the proposed measures, asking for feedback on the specific measures. Having considered and amended the scheme further as a result, the live trial of the ATN is now set to go ahead.
Temporary measures being rolled out include point closures – in the form of timber planters – on Tower Road, Dallam Road and Carlton Road. Vehicular deterrent paving, a type of road surface that prevents private cars from entering or exiting a road but still enables larger service vehicles pass will be installed on Carlton Avenue and Park Street.
A school street, where roads immediately outside a school are closed to non-residential traffic between school drop-off and pick-up times is also planned for Saltaire Primary School. Residents of the roads are given passes which enables them to get in and out during the closure times. Blue badge holders are also allowed in and out of the road at all times.
Active Travel Neighbourhoods have been found to deliver a range of medium to long term benefits for local communities in other areas including reducing vehicle speeds, improving road safety, limiting commuter parking, reducing pollution and boosting confidence for people to safely get around neighbourhoods by walking and cycling. They also encourage more people to spend time outside and significantly improve the environment for outdoor play for children.
The Active Travel Neighbourhood scheme is being funded through the second tranche of the Department for Transport’s Active Travel Fund, which has been designed to deliver better environments for walking and cycling across the country. The West Yorkshire Combined Authority has been awarded £12.5 million from the Active Travel Fund to deliver a programme of ATNs across the region.
Bradford Council has been allocated £2m of West Yorkshire’s share of the fund to implement a range of measures to support active travel schemes and facilities including Active Travel Neighborhood trials.
Cllr Alex Ross-Shaw, Executive Member for Regeneration, Planning and Transport at Bradford Council, said:
“We’re excited to begin the trial for the first Active Travel Neighbourhood in the district which should make a real difference to residents’ everyday lives. The Saltaire community has experienced significant numbers of people from outside the area using the neighbourhood as a cut-through for years.
“The scheme should improve safety and air quality while encouraging more people to walk and cycle for shorter journeys. We really hope that the residents of Saltaire get involved with the trial and provide us with feedback so that we can continually improve the measures to ensure that they work for everyone.”
Residents can get in touch with the team throughout the trial period to ask questions and provide feedback by freephone [0808 196 9119], email [info@activetravelbradford.co.uk] and freepost [Freepost BFD Highways].
Details of the ATN measures can be found at: www.activetravelbradford.commonplace.is
A leaflet on the measures has distributed to all addresses within the boundary of the scheme.
