Please help us stop the isolation of Spike Island and protect Coronation Road!

The Spike Island community wants a judicial review of Bristol City Council’s plan to install a 24/7 bus gate in the citybound lane of Cumberland Road, near SS Gt Britain, which would:

• increase congestion and pollution by forcing Spike Islanders and visitors to make long diversions for essential travel along already congested routes 
• prevent west-end residents from travelling east, and east-enders from accessing their homes from the west, forcing even more traffic onto Coronation Road and Hotwell Road 
• isolate vulnerable residents and negatively impact the local economy. 

We have been motivated by the support of 1200+ signatories to our objection and petition.  We have now secured support from a law firm dedicated to protecting the environment, who believe we have a strong case, and we urgently need to raise £15,000 by 31^st July 2023 for our judicial review application. 

The Council justifies the plan as ‘benefiting the M2 Metrobus’ and being part of the Clean Air programme, but there are no delays to the (limited) bus service, and no benefits to leaving our road empty, while pushing pollution outside the boundary. 

We support clean air measures, but this would worsen air quality, while imposing unsustainable costs and hardship on:

• vulnerable residents, who need access to care and medical services
• all 1100+ islanders, who work, study, care for family, access services and supplies (e.g. groceries!) 
• businesses and charities, some of which will be forced to relocate
• employees and ‘zero hours’ workers, who provide care, deliveries, domestic services

The Council seems unconcerned that its actions are forcing residents and businesses (some on council land) to move away from Spike Island and Harbourside - we are determined to protect the unique character of our community, which has been isolated by road closures for years, and we support our neighbours fighting for fairness around harbour fees and the planning system.  

Please help us by pledging a contribution and please share this as widely as possible.  If we are successful in this first step, we will have to raise more funds but will be a big step closer.  If we win our case, the Council should reimburse our costs, and any surplus will go towards community projects. 

If we fail to meet our fundraising targets, we will have to abandon the campaign, and will have to live with the consequences of the Council’s unfair, illogical and damaging actions.

Thank you for supporting our community!