Council decides against contesting injunction application over through-traffic restriction trials

Bath and North East Somerset Council has announced it will no longer be contesting an injunction application made by local residents against an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO).

The council had planned to install three linked through-traffic restriction trials in Gay Street, Catharine Place and Winifred’s Lane.

However, the scheme was paused pending legal proceedings following an application for an injunction brought by a group of residents, who argued it could push traffic past primary schools.

The council revealed yesterday (7 August) that as a result of pausing the scheme, it lost the allocated period with its contractor for delivering the project.

It said: “We are therefore not contesting the hearing that was due to take place on Thursday 8 August as we would not have been able to proceed with the project immediately, whatever the outcome.”

It added that it is taking the opportunity provided by the pause to “remedy any specific minor technical issues brought to our attention during the legal proceedings”.

Cll Manda Rigby, Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “We thank the residents involved for raising the issues that they have now so we can rectify any needing further clarification before proceeding. We will be bringing forward a new ETRO in the very near future. We are committed to the delivery of our Liveable Neighbourhoods programme, which aims to bring significant health and wellbeing benefits to our communities.”

Lottie Winson