Christmas market fears as roadworks cause long delays

22 minutes ago

Mike Gilmore,West of Englandand

Rosie Burgess,West of England

Roadworks could spark traffic chaos as thousands of people attempt to reach Bath Christmas Market

Getty Images Shoppers at Bath Christmas market set up in Abbey Green, in the old town of Bath. The lights in the cabins are on and a tree is lit up in the background. — Roadworks could spark traffic chaos as thousands of people attempt to reach Bath Christmas Market

Roadworks are causing major disruption on one of the main routes leading to the UK's largest Christmas market.

Temporary traffic lights have reduced A36 Beckford Road in Bath to a single lane, with people saying they are spending "hours sitting" in traffic.

But residents fear the delays will become even worse when the Christmas market opens on 26 November and have urgently called on council leaders to reopen a route shut for the city's low traffic scheme.

Bath and North East Somerset Council (Banes) said it could not confirm whether it would temporarily adjust rules on nearby Sydney Road, which has been closed to vehicles since 2024.

Sydney Road and Beckford Road were once both official parts of the A36, with the major route splitting in two around Sydney Gardens.

However, Sydney Road was closed to motorists in 2024 as part of the council's programme of liveable neighbourhoods.

There are now long delays on Beckford Road, which is undergoing improvements to its pavements, main road and cycling path.

A 200-year-old canal tunnel under the road is also being worked on after contractors widening a pavement accidentally broke through its roof.

Bath resident Martin Grixoni said the congestion on Beckford Road was "huge"

A man is standing by the side of a road having roadworks, next to a temporary traffic light. He looks straight into the camera with a serious look. He's wearing a green jacket and grey undercoat, with a poppy brooch on his chest. — Bath resident Martin Grixoni said the congestion on Beckford Road was "huge"

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), the incident caused stones to dislodge from the top of the tunnel causing a hole large enough that daylight could be seen through it.

Resident Martin Grixoni said the bridge archway was still dangerous as it continued "to leak bricks".

A Banes spokesperson said: "Safety is our first priority and engineers are closely monitoring the bridge."

Grixoni also described the congestion during rush hour at the traffic lights as "huge" and said raised concerns over "overweight" lorries continuing to use the bridge.

It comes after more than 1,800 people signed a petition urging the council to reopen Sydney Road to take the pressure off the bridge.

Business owner Mark Stricker said the congestion could be "easily resolved"

Mark Stricker stood at the lane closure on Beckford Road. — Business owner Mark Stricker said the congestion could be "easily resolved"

Kay Martin, who started the petition, spoke to Joe Sims on BBC Radio Bristol and said closing Sydney Road had caused "significant disruption and frustration" and the damage to the tunnel had "escalated the problem".

"The Christmas market starts in three weeks, we get so many coaches coming across that tunnel. At the moment we have 10,000 cars coming through there every day and they are all now in a single track," she said.

"Reopening Sydney Road is not just a matter of convenience, but a necessity," she added.

Business owner Mark Stricker said the main issue affecting residents was the decision to reduce the road's lanes from two to one.

"We are spending hours sitting here [in traffic] and I am one of thousands of local people experiencing the exact same thing when it should be so easily resolved," he added.

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