Use this page to learn more about the Bath City Centre Security Improvement Project.
We work with Avon & Somerset Police to make sure Bath city centre is a safe, secure and welcoming place. We have put in place various temporary security measures to provide a higher quality of protection from terrorism around Bath Abbey, the Roman Baths and Pump Room, as well as the retail core of the city centre. This has successfully helped to maintain the city’s safety.
Works have started on permanent security measures. Visit our project works webpage for updates.
Covid-19 and Social Distancing
In June 2020 temporary access restriction measures were put in place to enable social distancing, as the government eased Covid-19 restrictions. Prior to the pandemic, in conjunction with the police, proposals were already underway to permanently strengthen and improve city centre security and public safety in parts of Bath’s historic city centre by 2021. The plans would see purpose-designed controlled vehicle access points and enhanced street furniture begin to replace existing temporary concrete barriers and gates.
Public Consultation
An online public consultation for the project occurred between 16 November 2020 and 31 January 2021. Paper copies were provided for those who did not have internet access.
As part of this process, an adviser who is registered under the National Register of Access Consultants (NRAC) carried out an Accessibility Study to consider the impacts on people living with various disabilities, including those with additional mobility needs. The Access Consultant reviewed responses received from the City Centre Security consultation, as well as engaging with the B&NES Independent Equalities Advisory Group (IEAG); the Active Travel and Accessibility Forum (ATAF) and a panel representing members of the community and local accessibility organisations chosen with the Council’s Equalities team.
Amendments and next steps
In order to proceed with implementing this project, our Council Cabinet reviewed amendments to the proposals at its meeting on 20 July 2021.
These included
- recommendations on next steps for the proposed scheme
- the feedback report from the public consultation
- the Accessibility Study
At this meeting, Cabinet decided to progress to the next stage of the project.
Traffic regulation orders
To implement or enforce parking restrictions of any kind on a public road, we needed to introduce a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO). In this case we would be using a combination of Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) and Traffic Regulation Orders for anti-terrorism purposes. The TRO consultation ran from 23 September until 14 October 2021. With information sessions held in Bath City Centre on 28 September, 4 and 12 October at the Council's Commercial Hub on New Bond Street.
In December 2021 a decision was made to proceed with traffic regulation orders for some of these streets, you can view the reports and traffic regulations orders here. We concluded consulting on these permanent TROs on 14 October 2021, with the TRO’s coming into force for Cheap Street, Hot Bath Street, Upper Borough Walls and Lower Borough Walls, and York Street. These are the amended plans for the Bath City Centre security scheme, based on work done on this project so far.
The recommended changes to the TRO’s, without compromising security, were as follows:
- Cheap Street, Westgate Street, Saw Close and Upper Borough Walls: access restrictions from 10am to 6pm, with controlled access permitted for Blue Badge holders and carers, taxis or other vehicles serving their needs.
- York Street: Restricted access operating hours 10am to 10pm, to support the increased footfall which is anticipated from Terrace Walk to the new Clore Learning Centre and World Heritage Centres.
Extra Blue Badge parking, resident permit and loading space has been provided nearby, outside of the restricted area.
On 1 January 2022, vehicles were permanently restricted in some streets in Bath as part of the Bath City Centre Security scheme. This was to protect the city's most crowded spaces from the risk of vehicle based terrorist attack.
On 20 June 2022, advance works began to replace temporary measures and install permanent bollards following the outcome of a public inquiry. We expect the permanent measures to be installed and complete in 2024.