CONSULTATION OPTIONS
Here are some more details of the thinking behind the various options for improved access and movement routes in the Bearpit:
OPTION 1) Surface level walkway from North (Stokes Croft) to South West (Haymarket) around the North West corner:
This option is for a minimal insertion of a walkway and stairs access into the Bear pit. It approximates most closely to the original concept drawing that was adopted by Bristol City Council when it allocated £1m to the provision of safe surface level access across the Bear Pit and would fulfil the criteria for safe transit of pedestrians and cyclists across the Bearpit. It also includes the possibility of provision of amphitheatre seating and a flexible performance stage
PROS:
a)Offers a relatively simple and achievable scheme that could be put into effect easily and quickly.
b)Provides a safe level transit across the road junction for pedestrians, cyclists and wheelchair users without having to walk through underpasses and around blind corners.
c)Gives the possibility of increased passive surveillance from the walkway into the Bearpit, and more interesting views of the Bearpit and the streets and architecture that surround it.
d)Retains most of the landscaping and trees as existing.
g)Will allow for future flexibility and additions but all further adaptations will need further infrastructure provision.
CONS:
a)Will result in disruption to activities and trading already operating in the Bearpit during the construction process.
b)Gives a loss of usable green space and greenery along the walkway route. The landscape designers will work hard to retain and enhance the overall amount of greenery currently in the Bearpit
c)Creates a route across the Bearpit that could bypass and reduce the viability of the activities, etc. in the sunken space. Increased Trading/Arts/ Performance/Play should counterbalance this possible effect and general landscape improvements will make the space more inviting.
OPTION 2) Surface level walkway from North (Stokes Croft) to South West (Haymarket) around the North West corner:
This option is similar in principle to Option 1 but with some significant additional features and possibilities as evident in the illustrations above and beneath.
The landscape under the walkway is removed to allow the space to be utilised for flexible usable space and the landscaping throughout the Bearpit is reconfigured to give access and provide attractive usable green space:
Ground floor view of how units could fit under the proposed walkway
It is envisaged that the structure for the walkway can be developed in collaboration with local artists, artisans and designers and use innovative techniques to deliver an attractive, flexible structure and spaces that allow for a range of possibilities and adaptations.
Key features in this approach include:
PROS
a)Allows for greater community engagement in the design process, with a consequent greater sense of ownership and responsibility.
b)Provides a safe level transit across the road junction for pedestrians, cyclists and wheelchair users without having to walk through underpasses and around blind corners.
c)Gives the possibility of increased passive surveillance from the walkway into the Bearpit, and more interesting views of the Bearpit and the streets and architecture that surround it, with a more inviting approach down into the Bearpit.
d)Provides usable space under the walkway that can be utilised for storage, covered market trading, shop units, offices, community spaces and accommodation to support other potential activities.
e)Provides much better access from the surface level route into the Bear pit and to the landscaped areas making all the space more usable and inviting.
f)Offers potential in the landscaping to include art, play, performance and trading activities and facilities across the whole space to maximise the potential for public use of the space.
g)Will allow for future additions, flexibility and adaptation within an established infrastructure framework.
CONS
a)Presents a more complex design problem requiring integration of the walkway, landscaping and other features into an holistic coordinated whole. There will need to be rigorous planning and careful decision making to deliver a more complex scheme within budget. The potential benefits make this worth the effort.
b)Will result in disruption to activities and trading already operating in the Bearpit during the construction process.
c)Gives a loss of usable green space and greenery along the walkway route. The landscape alterations give the opportunity to add back in more green space and planting.
d)Creates a route across the Bearpit that could bypass and reduce the viability of the activities, etc. in the sunken space. The new spaces and reconfigured landscaping will offer increased Trading/Arts/ Performance/Play that should counterbalance this possible effect.
OPTION 3) Surface level walkway from North (Stokes Croft) to South East (Bond Street) around the North East corner:
This option is again for a minimal insertion of a walkway and stairs access into the Bear pit although running round the opposite side of the space. It also includes the possibility of provision of landscaping improvements in line with option 2.
PROS:
a)Offers a fairly simple and achievable scheme that could be put into effect easily and quickly and as it is much shorter in length should be quicker and more economical.
b)Provides a safe level transit across the road junction for pedestrians, cyclists and wheelchair users without having to walk through underpasses and around blind corners.
c)Gives the possibility of increased passive surveillance from the walkway into the Bearpit, and more interesting views of the Bearpit and the streets and architecture that surround it, with a more inviting approach down into the Bearpit.
d)Provides limited usable space under the walkway that can be utilised for storage, covered market trading, shop units, offices, community spaces and accommodation to support other potential activities although there would not be enough space to provide for all of these.
e)Offers potential in the landscaping to include art, play, performance and trading activities and facilities across the whole space to maximise the potential for public use of the space.
f)Will allow for future limited additions, flexibility and adaptation within an established infrastructure framework but with reduced expansion potential.
CONS:
a)Will result in disruption to activities and trading already operating in the Bearpit during the construction process.
b)Gives a loss of usable green space and greenery along the walkway route, although much less than other options. The landscape alterations can give the opportunity to add back in more green space and planting.
c)Creates a very short route across the Bearpit that is more likely to bypass and reduce the viability of the activities, etc. in the sunken space. Increased Trading/Arts/ Performance/Play should counterbalance this possible effect and general landscape improvements will make the space more inviting.
d)Creates a somewhat circuitous route across the space that is less direct and obvious than the other options.
Notes:
All the above options are based on the same arrangement of road crossings and traffic lights and so there is no difference between the options in these aspects.
Wheelchair access for all the options will necessarily be provided by a platform lift from the walkway down into the Bearpit as ramp access would take up a large amount of space and therefore reduce the usable space or area of greenery.
Other options:
Other possibilities have been considered in the process of working through the main 3 options. However, they have not been assessed to the same extent. Initial appraisals suggest most of these have some functional or cost constraints that would make them difficult or impractical to implement although we mention them here to widen the debate and stimulate more ideas.
Other options, in no particular order:
Surface level walkway from North (Stokes Croft) to South West (Haymarket) bridging across the centre of the Bearpit space
Surface level access provided solely by additional pedestrian crossings at the North (Stokes Croft), South East (Bond Street) and South West (Haymarket) junctions
Surface level access solely by additional pedestrian crossings and pedestrianisation of the road to the south of the Bearpit
The final option would be to make no provision for surface level crossing of the junction and to accept the current ramps and underpass access routes allowing for incremental improvements to the Bearpit in line with the Bearpit Improvement Group’s wider aims and aspirations.
If you feel strongly that any of these other options should be pursued in preference to the three shortlisted, please mention in one of the comment boxes in the survey form pages.
Here are some more details of the thinking behind the various options for improved access and movement routes in the Bearpit:
OPTION 1) Surface level walkway from North (Stokes Croft) to South West (Haymarket) around the North West corner:
This option is for a minimal insertion of a walkway and stairs access into the Bear pit. It approximates most closely to the original concept drawing that was adopted by Bristol City Council when it allocated £1m to the provision of safe surface level access across the Bear Pit and would fulfil the criteria for safe transit of pedestrians and cyclists across the Bearpit. It also includes the possibility of provision of amphitheatre seating and a flexible performance stage
PROS:
a)Offers a relatively simple and achievable scheme that could be put into effect easily and quickly.
b)Provides a safe level transit across the road junction for pedestrians, cyclists and wheelchair users without having to walk through underpasses and around blind corners.
c)Gives the possibility of increased passive surveillance from the walkway into the Bearpit, and more interesting views of the Bearpit and the streets and architecture that surround it.
d)Retains most of the landscaping and trees as existing.
g)Will allow for future flexibility and additions but all further adaptations will need further infrastructure provision.
CONS:
a)Will result in disruption to activities and trading already operating in the Bearpit during the construction process.
b)Gives a loss of usable green space and greenery along the walkway route. The landscape designers will work hard to retain and enhance the overall amount of greenery currently in the Bearpit
c)Creates a route across the Bearpit that could bypass and reduce the viability of the activities, etc. in the sunken space. Increased Trading/Arts/ Performance/Play should counterbalance this possible effect and general landscape improvements will make the space more inviting.
OPTION 2) Surface level walkway from North (Stokes Croft) to South West (Haymarket) around the North West corner:
This option is similar in principle to Option 1 but with some significant additional features and possibilities as evident in the illustrations above and beneath.
Ground floor view of how units could fit under the proposed walkway
It is envisaged that the structure for the walkway can be developed in collaboration with local artists, artisans and designers and use innovative techniques to deliver an attractive, flexible structure and spaces that allow for a range of possibilities and adaptations.
Key features in this approach include:
PROS
a)Allows for greater community engagement in the design process, with a consequent greater sense of ownership and responsibility.
b)Provides a safe level transit across the road junction for pedestrians, cyclists and wheelchair users without having to walk through underpasses and around blind corners.
c)Gives the possibility of increased passive surveillance from the walkway into the Bearpit, and more interesting views of the Bearpit and the streets and architecture that surround it, with a more inviting approach down into the Bearpit.
d)Provides usable space under the walkway that can be utilised for storage, covered market trading, shop units, offices, community spaces and accommodation to support other potential activities.
e)Provides much better access from the surface level route into the Bear pit and to the landscaped areas making all the space more usable and inviting.
f)Offers potential in the landscaping to include art, play, performance and trading activities and facilities across the whole space to maximise the potential for public use of the space.
g)Will allow for future additions, flexibility and adaptation within an established infrastructure framework.
CONS
a)Presents a more complex design problem requiring integration of the walkway, landscaping and other features into an holistic coordinated whole. There will need to be rigorous planning and careful decision making to deliver a more complex scheme within budget. The potential benefits make this worth the effort.
b)Will result in disruption to activities and trading already operating in the Bearpit during the construction process.
c)Gives a loss of usable green space and greenery along the walkway route. The landscape alterations give the opportunity to add back in more green space and planting.
d)Creates a route across the Bearpit that could bypass and reduce the viability of the activities, etc. in the sunken space. The new spaces and reconfigured landscaping will offer increased Trading/Arts/ Performance/Play that should counterbalance this possible effect.
OPTION 3) Surface level walkway from North (Stokes Croft) to South East (Bond Street) around the North East corner:
This option is again for a minimal insertion of a walkway and stairs access into the Bear pit although running round the opposite side of the space. It also includes the possibility of provision of landscaping improvements in line with option 2.
PROS:
a)Offers a fairly simple and achievable scheme that could be put into effect easily and quickly and as it is much shorter in length should be quicker and more economical.
b)Provides a safe level transit across the road junction for pedestrians, cyclists and wheelchair users without having to walk through underpasses and around blind corners.
c)Gives the possibility of increased passive surveillance from the walkway into the Bearpit, and more interesting views of the Bearpit and the streets and architecture that surround it, with a more inviting approach down into the Bearpit.
d)Provides limited usable space under the walkway that can be utilised for storage, covered market trading, shop units, offices, community spaces and accommodation to support other potential activities although there would not be enough space to provide for all of these.
e)Offers potential in the landscaping to include art, play, performance and trading activities and facilities across the whole space to maximise the potential for public use of the space.
f)Will allow for future limited additions, flexibility and adaptation within an established infrastructure framework but with reduced expansion potential.
CONS:
a)Will result in disruption to activities and trading already operating in the Bearpit during the construction process.
b)Gives a loss of usable green space and greenery along the walkway route, although much less than other options. The landscape alterations can give the opportunity to add back in more green space and planting.
c)Creates a very short route across the Bearpit that is more likely to bypass and reduce the viability of the activities, etc. in the sunken space. Increased Trading/Arts/ Performance/Play should counterbalance this possible effect and general landscape improvements will make the space more inviting.
d)Creates a somewhat circuitous route across the space that is less direct and obvious than the other options.
Notes:
All the above options are based on the same arrangement of road crossings and traffic lights and so there is no difference between the options in these aspects.
Wheelchair access for all the options will necessarily be provided by a platform lift from the walkway down into the Bearpit as ramp access would take up a large amount of space and therefore reduce the usable space or area of greenery.
Other options:
Other possibilities have been considered in the process of working through the main 3 options. However, they have not been assessed to the same extent. Initial appraisals suggest most of these have some functional or cost constraints that would make them difficult or impractical to implement although we mention them here to widen the debate and stimulate more ideas.
Other options, in no particular order:
Surface level walkway from North (Stokes Croft) to South West (Haymarket) bridging across the centre of the Bearpit space
Surface level access provided solely by additional pedestrian crossings at the North (Stokes Croft), South East (Bond Street) and South West (Haymarket) junctions
Surface level access solely by additional pedestrian crossings and pedestrianisation of the road to the south of the Bearpit
The final option would be to make no provision for surface level crossing of the junction and to accept the current ramps and underpass access routes allowing for incremental improvements to the Bearpit in line with the Bearpit Improvement Group’s wider aims and aspirations.
If you feel strongly that any of these other options should be pursued in preference to the three shortlisted, please mention in one of the comment boxes in the survey form pages.