The bus gate on Mill Road, which permits only buses, cycles and pedestrians to cross the bridge, was installed as part of a Government COVID-19 initiative to promote measures that enable people to maintain a safe distance on busy streets. The County Council used an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order, which allowed the scheme to be installed without pre-consultation. Consultation is still required, and that is happening now until 24 December.
There has been much discussion about the pros and cons of this scheme, who benefits and who is disadvantaged. It isn’t clear-cut. It is therefore very important that a broad cross-section of the community respond to the consultation with their personal experiences: residents and businesses, people who visit local shops and eateries, and people who travel along or across Mill Road to reach other destinations.