Hill Road and Beach Road

Question 1

Details of changes

Answer 1

Initial budget of £200,000 but spent £1,360,000

Widened walkways, new cycle lanes, bike parking and improved road surfaces

Mini roundabouts

Repositioned plant pots

Locals didn’t like changes and spent £425,000 reverting changes

Question 2

Players Involved

Answer 2

North Somerset Council - initiated scheme as part of active travel strategy which achieved £437,000 funding

AECOM (Texas TNC) - in 150 countries, conducted a technical review after changes based on feedback from residents, businesses and stakeholders, resulted in modifications such as parking improvements

Public and locals - made complaints about the changes and campaigned for its reversal

Question 3

Endogenous factors

Answer 3

Location
Beach road located along seafront meaning the road used by many tourists
Hill Road has a central location and hill means elderly people may prefer to park on the hill

Physical Characteristics
Beach road has the beach meaning people may go crabbing or swimming so will use it for parking

Land Use
Attractions like the Pier and Beach road as well as local shops are catered towards tourists

Economic characteristics
Commuter town with an economy based on tourism

Question 4

Exogenous Factors

Answer 4

Relationships
Pier to Pier cycle route links to Weston

Investment Flows
Council invested £1.3 million in redevelopment

Trade
Local businesses reported lower footfakk

Government and decision making
North Somerset Council Active Scheme led changes

Globalisation
AECOM led consultation to evaluate changes

Question 5

Past Lived Experience

Answer 5

Used to have 2 way traffic and angled parking which was efficient for space and led to higher footfall for local businesses

Question 6

Present Lived Experience

Answer 6

Frustration - locals frustrated with parking and confusing layout, tourists find it inconvenient

Question 7

Conflict created

Answer 7

Public Backlash
Protesters and violent complaints from locals and business owners
Caused conflict between council, residents and businesses
RAC criticized the changes due to “bizarre layout”
Residents calling for return of original layout

Question 8

Economic change and social inequalities

Answer 8

Businesses reported loss of revenue due to decrease in footfall and parking effected businesses which are reliant on out of town customers

Social Inequality
Prioritized cyclists over cars which elderly and families are reliant on

Question 9

Changing Demographic

Answer 9

Shifting from traditional seaside town to one which has an emphasis on cycling and sustainable travel
Businesses and locals alienated over prioritization of cyclists