Independent business owners along Bristol’s iconic Park Street are threatening to relocate if a proposed £15 million transformation scheme goes ahead, warning it could devastate their livelihoods. The plan, unveiled by Bristol City Council in January, involves adding a bus gate at the top of Park Street, a bus lane from The Centre, and additional bus stops, alongside segregated cycleways, wider pavements, and road changes around the Clifton Triangle to enhance bus access.
Local traders, united under the “Save Park Street” group formed in early February, argue that restricting traffic will choke the high street’s vitality. Several told Bristol Live they’d be forced to leave if the scheme, slated for December implementation, proceeds. Michael Potts, owner of Mrs Potts Chocolate House—recently dubbed the UK’s most viral coffee shop—called the impact “devastating,” claiming it would “kill Park Street.” Since opening in 2017, his business has been a staple among the street’s independents. “Cutting traffic kills an area,” he said, citing the pedestrianized Princess Victoria Street as a failed precedent. Facing uncertainty over car access via backroads, Potts added, “We’d move if this happens—where to, we don’t know, but we’d go.”
Tony Revelle, Operations Director at Audio T, a fixture since the late 1980s, echoed the concerns. His “destination business” draws customers from beyond Bristol, most arriving by car. He criticized the council’s “ludicrous backroads route” for customers and deliveries—15 to 20 weekly for custom orders—saying, “Trucks can’t navigate those streets. Many customers will go elsewhere.” Suggesting timed restrictions instead of a full closure, he argued, “You can’t uninvent the car.”
Rudy, who took over Woodes cafe from his retired father in 2016, said the scheme could spell the end for his family’s three-generation business. “Turnover and footfall have dropped since 2007—from thousands of transactions weekly to 800 or 900 now. Covid, the CAZ, and this will just add more hardship.” He lamented Park Street’s shift from a diverse, quirky hub—with banks, bookstores, and unique shops—to a monotonous row of coffee outlets. “It’s probably the end of Woodes,” he admitted.
Mike, owner of Territo Tailoring, another destination business, warned that the changes would deter visitors. “It’ll make Park Street less attractive. Customers say they’ll think twice about coming into Bristol. There’s no problem to solve here—traffic flows, people work and live here.” The Save Park Street campaign has launched a petition, with posters urging support plastered across shop windows.
The council defends the £15 million overhaul as a way to boost bus, walking, and cycling trips while enhancing public spaces. Councillor Ed Plowden, transport committee chair, said, “We need big changes to meet environmental goals and accommodate a growing population. These plans rethink road use—check out the updated designs.” Following earlier consultations, a statutory traffic regulation consultation is set for spring or summer. Still, for Park Street’s traders, the stakes feel existential.
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