We held a public consultation in August/September 2021 – asking your views on Royal Parade and what could be improved. Over 330 people had their say. Feedback has been incorporated into the programme. You said:
| You Said | We Did |
| Realigned bus stops with sawtooth layout was supported by a majority of respondents (51% agreed, 32% were neutral and 17% disagreed) | Bus stop realignment in sawtooth layout maintained, with an increase of the number of stops from 12 to 15. |
| Removal of central railings was not supported by the majority of respondents (56% disagreed and 27% agreed) | The central railings will remain in place and the scheme will refurbish and repaint the existing |
| Relocation of bus services stopping on Royal Parade to Mayflower Street provided a mixed response (32% agreed, 30% were neutral and 38% disagreed) | The Royal Parade and Mayflower Street bus improvements provide the infrastructure for future relocation of buses serving the city centre. The wider bus strategy is being developed by PCC’s Public Transport Team in consultation with the bus operators and all comments surrounding improvements to bus routes and timetabling from the public consultation have been shared with them. |
| Issues that respondents felt were important for this scheme to consider included: | |
| Landscaping and wildlife (51%) | Living roofs will be installed on all 15 new bus shelters, supporting biodiversity, helping to purify the air and contributing to making the city a greener place. |
| Less congestion for buses (50%) | Capacity improvements to increase the number of bus stops from 12 to 15, preventing double stacking and unnecessary idling. The sawtooth layout will also improve bus manoeuvrability and safety by reducing the need for buses to reverse to move away from congested bus bays. Existing bus lane maintained. |
| Good quality paving and kerb stones (47%) | High quality granite paving and kerb stones will be used, in line with PCC’s paving manual for the city centre. Additional materials to be ordered and stored to ensure quality replacements for future maintenance. |
| Better bins and seating at bus stops (46%) | All litter bins are to be replaced for new and locations of these will be consistent with the existing arrangement. This is to ensure efficient waste collection and avoids this service disrupting access for buses. All new bus stops will have improved bench seating with arm rests and a dedicated space for wheelchair users and pushchairs. |
| More space for pedestrians (42%) | Comments that discussed the need for more space for pedestrians refer to space within bus shelters, rather than more general space on Royal Parade. The new shelters will be wider and longer. More information about the bus shelter improvements is included below. Increased bus stop capacity will also prevent double stacking and improve safety by ensuring bus passengers can get on and off from the pavement |
| Better bus shelters (33%), including: Improvements to information Weatherproofing Size of shelters Security and cleanliness Improvements to seating | The 15 new bus shelters will be wider and longer and offer upgraded bench seating with arms and dedicated space for wheelchair users and pushchairs. The new infrastructure with brighter lighting also improves safety and discourages anti-social behaviour. As well as upgraded Real Time Passenger Information displays, information to help people find their way will be improved with the Council trialing combined timetabling information to be displayed in bus shelters (instead of individual timetables for each service, which can often be confusing and difficult to read). The new bus shelter contract includes all cleaning and maintenance and information on how to report shelter damage will be available in each shelter (including a QR code and phone number). Clean, well-maintained, quality infrastructure will improve the passenger experience and support the growth in passenger numbers as well as reduce carbon emission from traffic. |
| Less cluttered signage (28%) | Sign clutter was a consideration for some key design decisions, for example when considering the speed limit, to ensure improvements to streetscape was a factor as well as on-going maintenance considerations. Existing signage has been reviewed and there will be no net increase in signs. |
| Use of historic materials in construction (21%) | Historic England’s ‘Streets for All’ guidance explains that public realm and highways works need to be both functional and attractive, using materials of appropriate quality and durability for the setting and purpose (and enabling on-going maintenance), as well as achieving a positive aesthetic impact. In historic places this means ensuring works complement the character of the area. The paving design uses both high quality granite and kerb stones, whilst the banding design is in keeping with the character of the wider city centre and is in line with PCC’s paving manual, preserving the uniqueness of place. Historic England have contributed funding towards the scheme design and supported the choice of materials. |
| Other comments included: Requests for improved bus routes, timetabling, reliability and frequency of services and decreased ticket pricing Reinstatement of subway at Armada Way Concern at lack of cycling facilities Look of city centre is currently uninviting Concern this project will not address wider traffic congestion issues for car and other private vehicle users | All comments surrounding improvements to bus routes and timetabling have been shared with the Council’s Public Transport Team who work in close partnership with the city’s bus operators. The main aim of this scheme is to improve congestion for buses, with associated bus timetabling and reliability benefits, as well as to provide better facilities for bus users. Reinstatement of the subway at Armada way is therefore out of scope for this scheme. Cyclists use of the bus lanes will remain. The pelican crossing at Armada Way will be upgraded to a toucan crossing. A number of schemes are already underway or in developed to improve the look of the city centre, demonstrating positive investment for all users. We are doing this because we want more people to travel by bus to and from the city centre. Whilst the direct improvement of facilities on Royal Parade will make buses a more attractive and accessible option, increase in bus use has indirect improvements for all road users by reducing the number of private cars that would otherwise be making the same journey and reducing congestion across the city. |