Streets Close To Make Sunday Special

More than 10 streets in Bristol city centre will be closed to traffic on one Sunday per month from June, as part of plans to free up areas for recreational activities.

The city's Mayor, George Ferguson, wants to ''make Sundays special'' between June 23rd and October 20th and is calling on the likes of cyclists, runners, street performers, artists and singers to make use of the space. 

There are also plans to extend the scheme, if it proves successful. 

The Mayor said he was inspired by the success of similar traffic-free schemes in Bordeaux in France and Bogota in Colombia.

He said: "I want to see a city centre that is buzzing with life and activity. 

"With traffic-free streets and plenty of activity, it will open up a world of new possibilities for creative, active and organised groups and others to get out in the fresh air and show us what they can do. 

"Let's have dance groups, fitness camps, Tai Chi, puppet shows, street games, hula hoopers, on-street basketball, street theatre, local history tour guides, judo demonstrations, comedy acts, plug in and play, choirs, stilt walkers, circus and everything in between. 

"I want to see entrepreneurial activity too, with the market traders and stalls providing an inspiring choice of Bristol products, and of course wodges of Bristol Pounds changing hands and helping the Bristol economy."

Streets due to be closed to traffic during the three months include Baldwin Street, Welsh Back and Queen Charlotte Street by the waterside, King Street near the Old Vic Theatre, and St Nicholas Street, Corn Street, and Small Street near the western end of Broadmead.

There will also be closures on the south east side of Castle Park, along Castle Street and Queen Street. 

A so-called ''urban loop'' for runners, cyclists and skaters will be in use, taking in some of these streets, during the Sunday closures.

Where roads are closed, there will be no parking on them. 

The scheme will be launched during Bristol's Big Green Week, when Park Street will also be shut to traffic as a one-off event.