Council proposes banning vehicles from Bath's Kingsmead Square

Bath and North East Somerset Council has proposed plans to make the busy Kingsmead Square area in Bath car-free during the day.

The public will be consulted on the plans, which involve closing Kingsmead Square to all vehicles between 11am and midnight each day.

The council is hopeful that pedestrianising the area will develop a 'cafe culture', as well as reducing air pollution levels by encouraging more people to walk and cycle.

A series of consultations have already taken place between September 2018 and January 2019, helping the council to develop the plans. Businesses in the Kingsmead Square area were also re-consulted in July.

In a show of how parking spaces can be 'reclaimed', the council will be taking over spots in New Street and Avon to create temporary mini-parks known as 'parklets'.

The parklets will be open on the 23 and 24 of September, and will have seating and greenery installed.

Council officers will be at the parklets to discuss the proposals on banning vehicles in the square and get public feedback on Monday 23 September from 4-6pm and on Tuesday 24 September from 12-2pm.

The vehicle restriction is proposed to begin in April 2020 for up to 18 months.