Southville overwhelmingly supports the SBLN.

In the 2024 Council elections the Green candidates (Tony Dyer and Christine Townsend) talked about the introduction of the SBLN being an important initiative.

However they did not publish any details of the proposals before the election. But who would vote against having a "Liveable Neighbourhood"?

Their win at the polls was taken as an clear endorsement for the SBLN scheme.

Greens welcome plans for a South Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood (Dec 2023)

Southville Councillor Christine Townsend said, “We are currently working with the Council’s transport team to assess the key local organisations that need to be part of the first wave of consultation.

“At this first stage, residents are not being included, and although it makes sense to get the initial scope right before launching a major public consultation exercise, it will be important that expectations are managed. 

“We sincerely hope that the Labour administration can focus on the benefits that this will bring to South Bristol so that we can work together on delivering this rather than seek to make this a divisive election issue in the spring.”

Windmill Hill Councillor Ed Plowden said, “As a transport professional and former Head of Service in the Council’s Transport Department, I have direct experience of listening to residents and stakeholders to optimise local transport schemes. 

“Knowing officers will be working closely with the hard-working, dedicated and responsive team of Green Councillors across this area gives me a lot of confidence that this large-scale and ambitious project will be a success. 

“With all surveys showing that there is a strong majority in favour of this sort of approach across Bristol, and indeed the UK, we look forward to strong Green Party leadership showing the rest of Bristol how beneficial this sort of scheme can be when done well.”

The SBLN Consultation

71% of the responses to the consultation were against the introduction of modal filters (road blocks).

But a Consultation is not a referendum and even if 100% of respondents said "Strongly Disagree" BCC would be under no obligation to remove them from the scheme.

The SBLN Referendum

The "real" referendum on the SBLN Scheme will take place at the next Council Elections in May 2028, when the residents of Southville will be invited to elect their local councillors.

The main difference between the 2024 and 2028 elections is that we now know what the SBLN actually is. Many people who voted Green in 2024 might say that the current scheme wasn't what they thought they were voting for in 2024.

If other 2028 councillor candidates for Southville commit to removing the modal filters then they could have a good chance of unseating Dyer and Townsend. The party with the best chance of defeating the Greens is Labour. But if Reform candidates stood, then perhaps they could upset the apple cart.