Frequently Asked Questions

Funding for the Gloucester City Centre Cycle Spine has been secured from Department for Transport Active Travel Funding and Levelling Up funds. The total scheme cost for the delivery of the section is in the region of £8 Million.

It is anticipated that the scheme will commence at the end of 2023, with a build period of between 12 and 18 months. The construction programme will be in sections, with the phasing of the works still to be confirmed.

We will write to you directly if we think access to your home or front garden will be temporarily affected during construction and we will work with you to address this. 

The construction will be daytime hours wherever possible in order to minimise noise disturbance to people in their homes, although some works might need to take place in the evening or overnight. 

Before we start construction, the contractor will agree what they will do to manage noise and traffic to try to keep disruption to a minimum. A 'Meet the Contractor' event will take place later this year.

Whilst it is too early to confirm the exact arrangements required to manage traffic during the works, we will be maintaining access to businesses and residents and will be working hard to minimise disruption to the travelling public. 

Lane closures and temporary traffic signals will be required to provide safe working space for the contractors in some areas but will be kept to a minimum.  Some full night closures will be required, but residents will be given adequate notice in advance. 

The works have been planned so that the adjacent highways improvement scheme on A430 Llanthony Road will be complete by the time construction starts. 

Therefore, traffic will be able to divert away from Southgate Street to the newly completed bypass both during and after construction. 

The decision to propose the removal of parking spaces has been carefully considered and possible alternative routes have been investigated (see other FAQs). However, in order to meet the standards, set by our funding providers and the requirements of current government cycle design guidance (LTN 1/20), space needs to be reallocated to provide a direct route for better facilities for walking and cycling. 

We understand that the plans will impact on residents and businesses, and we wish to use the consultation to better understand the current use of the street and see what amendments can be made to further improve the design. 

The proposed changes to parking are as follows: 

Northgate Street

The proposals include changes to some of the parking and loading bays. This includes the reallocation of the three existing disabled parking bays to alternative spaces nearby and alterations to loading bays. There will also be the loss of 4 Pay and Display parking spaces.

Southgate Street

Southgate Street is currently an accident ‘hot spot’, with accidents involving cyclists and pedestrians. To improve safety and make space for the cycle track the current proposals include the removal of up to 20 parking spaces.

The available options for the cycle track on Southgate Street have been carefully assessed. The proposals for segregation are considered the only safe option without more significant traffic reduction measures such as bus gates or wider restrictions on traffic.

However, to mitigate the loss of parking other spaces will be provided where possible and this includes the creation of approximately 5 spaces on Spa Road. This will see a loss of 15 spaces.  

Pay and Display parking will still be available close by at the Southgate Moorings, Gloucester Quays or on alternative streets. Resident parking permit holders will be able to continue to park within Gloucester Central Zone which includes Spa Road, Brunswick Street and Brunswick Square. 

The St Ann Way junction is at a key strategic gateway location leading to the centre of the city, and also provides a route east or west around the city centre. 

The signals have not been upgraded for a number of years, and consequently the timings of these can be significantly improved. As well as a full upgrade, the junction is also being re-configured to provide a direct and shorter crossing times for both pedestrians and cyclists. 

The cycle route will link to the proposed two-way path on the western side of Southgate Street, and to the south will in the future link to a funded route as far as Haresfield (and eventually to Stroud).  

Traffic data shows that there is a low amount of traffic from Trier Way turning right to Southgate Street and also turning left from Southgate Street to Trier Way. A proposed ban on these two movements would improve the phasing and flow capacity of all arms of St Ann Way Junction, to the benefit of all users.

For those vehicles wishing to make those movements, alternative routes are available. One via Spa Road, Brunswick Road and Park Road and a second on the other side of St Ann Way junction via Stroud Road and New Street.

The council are aware that congestion on Southgate Street has been at a higher level than usual in the past 6 months, due predominately to the roadworks on Llanthony Road Bypass. 

However, when the works are fully complete at the end of the summer 2023 it is anticipated that (over time) traffic will transfer back to the Bypass as travel times will be significantly reduced.

The zebra crossing will that is currently in place will be upgraded to a segregated parallel crossing with illuminated beacons. Options for the pedestrianised zone including tactile paving along the High Street.  

We welcome any feedback on this section that could be made to improve the pedestrianised area. We will also be introducing a small kerb upstand to help blind and partially slighted pedestrians identify the edge of the carriageway.

The aim of the Cycle Spine is to provide a direct, attractive and safe route, that passes through the desired locations within Gloucester and also links to the areas of highest population. Following detailed assessment of all the available options Southgate Street has been highlighted as the most appropriate route. 

This area has also been identified as an accident ‘hot spot’, with accidents involving cyclists and pedestrians. The cycleway aims to improve safety by fully segregating pedestrians, cyclists and road traffic, narrowing the road, reducing speeds and improving visibility. 

The next-best alternative route would be along Brunswick Road and through the park, however, there are implementation difficulties on this route, and it does not meet the Active travel requirements, nor does it connect directly to the Gated streets. 

An alternative consideration was to use the canal towpath. However, the space available along the towpath is insufficient to provide the required quality of cycleway. It is also not the most direct route and is approximately 500m longer than the Southgate Street option. 

To improve the footway and provide a segregated cycle facility, it is necessary to remove a lane westbound underneath the railway bridge on the approach to the junction at Black Dog Way. 

This will enable the cycle facility to link the city centre to the existing cycling provision on London Road. A full cycle and improved pedestrian crossing will be provided at the Black Dog Way junction, improving the busiest desire lines in this area.

The scheme forms part of the wider Gloucestershire Cycle Spine route which aims to contribute to a significant cycling and walking network across the County, improving quality, connectivity and safety.

The current phase of works on the Llanthony bypass are intended to add traffic capacity and reduce traffic impact on the city centre, particularly on Southgate Street and the surrounding area. Once complete, these works will cause a shift in traffic away from this area. 

The proposals are for cyclists to use the gated pedestrianised streets as is currently permitted. The scheme is investigating the possible use of a tactile paving to help blind and partially sighted users navigate through the pedestrianised streets. 

This will be consulted on in more detail with charities and user groups. Further discussion will also take place with the city council on possible improvements to planting and street furniture.

The Active travel schemes such as this, form part Gloucestershire County council’s commitment to tackling climate change and creating a greener, healthier more prosperous Gloucestershire. The wider Gloucestershire Cycle Spine, comprising the B4063 Gloucester to Cheltenham scheme, currently under construction and the A435 Cycle scheme currently under consultation, is included as part of the overall Gloucestershire Local Transport Plan.

Evidence and research, including by the Department of transport, the cycling charity Sustrans and Transport for London, shows the benefits that active travel and public transport can have on people, businesses and the wider economy. 

Gloucestershire County Council has been successful in securing some of the UK Government funding from the Department for Transport Active Travel Funding and Levelling Up funds to deliver these schemes. This funding is critical for delivering these investment and improvement opportunities for Gloucestershire’s residents, business and visitors.

To find out more about the reasons why so much money and effort is being pumped into sustainable transport, please read these links below: 

Benefits for physical and mental health that will reduce the stresses on the NHS: Active Travel Toolkit - The role of active travel in improving health - Sustrans.org.uk

Benefits for businesses: Active Travel Guidance for Businesses August 2021 (tfl.gov.uk)

Benefits for the wider economy: Walking and cycling: the economic benefits (tfl.gov.uk)