Use this page to learn about the through-traffic restriction trial on Sydney Road at its junction with New Sydney Place.
This trial was installed in April 2024 under an experimental traffic regulation order (ETRO) for a minimum of six months. During this time, we consulted the community and monitored the impacts on traffic and air quality. Early in 2025, the outcomes of the trial were reviewed by the Cabinet Member of Resources who decided to make the scheme permanent under a TRO subject to public consultation in July 2025.
Purpose of the scheme
The trial has been introduced under our Liveable Neighbourhood (LN) programme. In line with the broader objectives of the LN programme, the through-traffic restriction aims to:
- prevent motorists from using this residential street as a short cut (to avoid the Bathwick St/Beckford Road A36 junction)
- improve the safety of the Sydney Rd and North Rd junctions with Warminster Road (A36)
- create a safer, quieter, and healthier street for those walking, cycling, or wheeling through the area
- encourage more people in the area to walk or cycle shorter journeys and reduce the numbers of short journeys made by car
We believe that it's important to provide safe and pleasant routes for walking and cycling, because not everyone drives a vehicle (or wants to be dependent on one). It's also widely understood that getting out and about in our communities is good for our health and wellbeing.
Find out more about the Liveable Neighbourhood Programme.
Find out more about the New Sydney Place and New Sydney Road LN area development.
Scheme details
The through-traffic restriction comprises a set of six bollards placed across Sydney Road at its junction with New Sydney Place.
The scheme does not restrict vehicle access to homes or businesses, but it may require drivers to take alternative routes from either side of the restriction. Cyclists, pedestrians, and people with mobility aids will be able to pass through the filter. The two central bollards can be removed for access by the emergency services.
Existing parking arrangements on the street have not changed, and no parking has been removed.
Additionally, we have removed the dedicated filter lane into Sydney Road from Warminster Road (A36, towards Bath) and made improvements to junctions. Advanced signage is provided.
Please look at the annotated maps on this web page and expand the corresponding sections below for more detailed information using the numerical key.
- Six bollards lie across the road at the junction of Sydney Road with New Sydney Place.
- Vehicle access is retained for all homes and businesses on Sydney Road via the junction with Warminster Road (A36), with enough space for vehicles to turn and no loss of parking in front of the bollards.
- Vehicle access is retained for all homes and businesses on New Sydney Place via Darlington St/Pulteney Road (A36) with enough space for vehicles to turn and no loss of parking.
- Advanced warning signs are installed at the junction with New Sydney Place to inform motorists of the through-traffic restriction.
- We have removed the dedicated filter lane into Sydney Road from Warminster Road/A36 (towards Bath).
- We have widened the footpath on the eastern side of Sydney Road at its junction with Warminster Road to narrow the junction.
- We have installed signage to alert motorists of the no-through-road.
- We have widened the footpath on the eastern side of North Road at its junction with Warminster Road and extend the island on North Road to narrow the junction.
- We have improved the informal crossing on North Road at the junction with Warminster Road, by installing dropped kerbs and tactile pavement.
- Advanced warning signs inform motorists of the no-through-road to the A36 via Sydney Road.
These are legal documents which follow a standard wording and format. You may find the summary of the proposals below and the map above are a clearer and simpler way to understand the details of what we are proposing.
ETRO consultation outcomes
This trial (as described above) was installed on 1 April 2024 under an experimental traffic regulation order (ETRO) for a minimum of six months. During April to October 2024, we consulted the community and monitored the impacts on traffic and air quality.
We prepared reports and published the outcomes in January 2025. After full consideration of the evidence, the Cabinet Member for Resources decided to make the trial permanent under a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO).
This decision in February 2025 was called in for review by the Climate Emergency and Sustainability Policy Development Scrutiny Panel in March 2025 who upheld the decision.
Consultation outcomes and decision reports
Traffic Order Regulation 21-day consultation
On Thursday 3 July 2025, 21-days’ notice was issued of our intention to make the through-traffic restriction trial on Sydney Road permanent with a formal Traffic Regulation Order (25-012) under provisions contained in the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.
This was a statutory consultation on a TRO that replaced the original ETRO, and representations of objection or support were invited during the 21-days’ notice.
The TRO consultation closed at 5pm on Thursday 24 July 2025 and a final decision was made in September 2025 to make the restriction permanent.
Read the outcomes of this consultation and the decision notice.
View the TRO documents
These are legal documents which follow a standard wording and format.
Earlier public engagement
Please expand the sections below to read more about previous consultations on Liveable Neighbourhoods and in the New Sydney Place and Sydney Road area:
During a public consultation in Autumn 2020 on Liveable Neighbourhoods in B&NES, we received the following results from 1,575 respondents (including residents and visitors to the area):
- 85% said they agreed with the principle of reducing the dominance of vehicles in residential areas
- 84% said they agreed that to establish LNs, it may be necessary to restrict through traffic on certain streets
- 78% agreed that certain trade-offs are required to achieve those aims
Monitoring
We collected traffic air quality data before installation in April 2024 and during the first four to five months of the trial, to understand how traffic flows and air quality changed.
What happens next
We will contact residents about wider plans for their Liveable Neighbourhood which include a continuous crossing over New Sydney Place with A4 Sydney Place.
Meanwhile, please subscribe to our newsletter and follow updates published on the New Sydney Place and Sydney Road LN web page.
Get in touch
You can contact us and talk to an advisor or request this information in an alternative format by emailing us at LNs@bathnes.gov.uk, or calling 01225 394025 and requesting a call back from a team member.
You can also stay up-to-date with the scheme's progress by subscribing to our newsletter.
Alternatively, you can connect with us on social media, by following us on Facebook and Instagram.
