Traffic ban plan for shops bridge

Pulteney Bridge is one of a handful world-wide to have shops built into it

A bridge in the centre of Bath which has shops built into it - like the famous Ponte Vecchio in Florence - may be shut to traffic.

Plans submitted by Bath and North East Somerset Council (B&NES) would ban taxis and buses from crossing Pulteney Bridge making it fully pedestrianised.

It is part of a council scheme to make the Argyle Street and Grand Parade area more pedestrian and cyclist-friendly.

A consultation is due to begin with bus operators, taxi firms and people.

It will weigh up the impact of the plan to make the city more "pleasant" for visitors.

'Shops built in'

Councillor Terry Gazzard said: "This is a proposal that will go through the formal traffic regulation order process following further work on how this may impact traffic flows.

"Bath and North East Somerset Council is keen to develop a city centre which is pedestrian and cyclist-friendly and makes the city centre urban environment more pleasant for people visiting Bath."

Bus operator Wessex has already provided an alternative route for its service which uses the bridge.

No timescale for publicising the traffic regulation order has yet been announced.

Bath Tourism, part of B&NES Council, describes the bridge by saying: "Pulteney Bridge, together with the Ponte Vecchio in Florence, is one of the world's most beautiful bridges.

"Like the Ponte Vecchio it is one of a handful of historic bridges in the world with shops built into it."