Pause and reconsider the Royal Victoria Park cycle lane scheme.

View the scheme here.

We, the undersigned, call on Bath and North East Somerset Council to pause implementation of the Royal Victoria Park cycle lane scheme and reconsider its design, cost and impact on access to this much-loved public park.

We support investment in safer cycling, walking and wheeling. We also recognise the benefits of helping children and less confident cyclists travel safely. However, the council must demonstrate that this particular route delivers benefits proportionate to its cost and its impact on other park users.

The reported £2.35 million cost of the improvement scheme warrants clear public scrutiny. Government transport funding remains public money, and residents deserve a transparent explanation of how it will be spent and what benefits it will deliver.

Of the 261 responses to the statutory consultation on the cycle lane, 219 objected or partly objected—approximately 84%. While consultation is not a referendum, this level of opposition deserves a clear and substantive response.

We ask the council to:

Pause the cycle lane works and associated parking removal while the decision is reviewed publicly.
Demonstrate the need for the proposed route, publishing evidence of current and expected cycling demand, the shortcomings of existing routes and the alternatives considered.
Publish a detailed breakdown of the £2.35 million scheme budget, distinguishing the cycle lane from pavement, crossing, lighting and accessibility improvements, and explaining funding restrictions and future maintenance costs.
Explain the practical impact of parking changes, including the exact number and location of spaces lost and retained, peak-period demand and walking distances from alternative parking to the play area and Botanical Gardens.
Publish the safety and accessibility assessments, addressing the contraflow layout, pedestrian crossings, children near the play area and personal safety after dark.
Explain how consultation objections influenced the approved design, and hold an accessible public meeting where residents, cyclists, families, disabled visitors and other park users can question the proposals before further implementation.
Royal Victoria Park should remain welcoming and accessible to everyone. Improvements must balance safer active travel with the needs of those who depend on convenient vehicle access.

We urge Bath and North East Somerset Council to pause, review the evidence and reconsider the scheme before further public money is committed.