Consultation Hub

Public consultation on the Prince Street Cycling Ambition Fund (CAF) project closed on 15 August 2016. 66 responses were received via the online consultation survey and 4 additional comments were received from individuals or groups. Full details of the feedback can be seen in Appendix 1.

 The Prince Street consultation was undertaken in parallel with the Draft Shared Use policy consultation. In addition to the online consultation two stakeholder workshops were held with a cross section of equalities, amenity and cycling groups to enable the design to be informed by the latest shared thinking on the subject. Visit: https://bristol.citizenspace.com/city-development/shared-use-routes-for-people-walking-and-on-bicycl/ for further details.

There was overwhelming support for BCC promoting schemes that prioritise people walking, cycling and using public transport (83%), and strong support for an improved 8-80’s segregated cycle route up Wapping Road and Prince Street (64%) and for people being encouraged to cycle across The Centre in a managed way (65%).

The majority of people considered that better cycle routes would encourage them to cycle (62%) and reduce conflict with pedestrians (74%). Prince Street bridge, Farrs Lane and The Centre were recognised as particularly challenging locations where large numbers of people walking and cycling share space and improvements are needed. Pedestrianising Farrs Lane and Narrow Quay was considered important or most important by a majority of people (56%), although there was concern from some about access arrangements for businesses. A better crossing on Cumberland Road for people walking and cycling was considered important or most important by a majority of people (68%). 

All groups considered that cycle routes should be consistent in design and more clearly marked and signed to make them easily recognisable. Most preferred segregation to sharing space.

There was considerable concern from some groups about inconsiderate cycling and that there should be some areas where cyclists are not allowed or are asked to dismount. BCC need to have a good behaviour message campaign launched with the cycling improvements.

The design has been changed to reflect the feedback from the consultation. In particular:

1. Broad Quay

• the colour of the cycle route has been changed to make it more prominent through the space
• the Anchor Road crossing has been split to separate people walking and cycling
• pedestrian priority on the primary pedestrian routes has been reinforced

2. Prince Street bus stop

• The route to the bus stop will be paved to indicate pedestrian priority across the cycle lane   

3. Farrs Lane Toucan Crossing

• the design has been changed so that pedestrians wait behind the cycle route not in front
• the crossing has been split to separate people walking and cycling, reflecting the alignment of the cycle route coming from Queen Square

4. Prince Street bridge

• The new deck will be lower, with a 15mm upstand between people walking and cycling, creating much more usable and flexible space. The width will be split almost equally, allowing people to pass each other without having to move onto the other side    

5. Wapping Road

• BCC have negotiated with the Wapping Wharf developer to enable the cycle route to continue right down to the crossing on Cumberland Road and enable pedestrian and cycle priority across the entrances to the development.

Shared Use policy

The Draft Shared Use policy will be finalised. It states that there are three possibilities for creating provision for people walking and cycling:

• Segregated routes - these are the preferred approach where there is adequate space to allocate to both users, and are particularly suited to linear routes
• Delineated routes - these will be used to enable flexibility where space is limited and/or complex pedestrian movements and other activities dominate the space
• Shared space - these will be used where there is low usage or limited space or other environmental factors, eg a sensitive historic environment

Share with Care

BCC are developing a new sign to encourage considerate cycling and will use more signage and route marking to make it clearer where people walking may encounter people cycling.

Pedestrianisation of Farrs Lane and Narrow Quay

Traffic Regulation Orders will be published for statutory consultation in the New Year

We propose that the best way for Young Carers and their families to receive the appropriate support is for there to be a clear referral route to that support so that any concerns, whether this be from a young carer, family member or professional, can be directed to the same place. In addition to this, once these concerns/needs have been identified the appropriate whole family support including a key worker will be allocated in a timely manner.

There was agreement that a “structured and coordinated approach is exactly what is required to support this vulnerable group of young people and their families”. In the survey 86%.5 respondents agreed, 11.5% didn’t know and 1.9% disagreed.
Feedback suggested that the model needed to ensure there are links with other services, and that wider services have staff who are ‘Young Carers aware’. People agreed that a whole family approach would be the best way to support Young Carers, and that they should be seen as an individual and care should focus on them but within the context of the family.

Young Carers said they wanted to have long term support with a key person. Sometimes just going to a monthly (social) session, but having someone to talk to when things got hard at home. Young Carers wanted adults who listened and understood, and who were able to provide more information about how to get support. The key person to talk to was someone who they trusted from school or college, or their Young Carers worker at a youth project. Some Young Carers said they had an anxiety involving/ not wanting new workers or over complicating their home life.

Concern was raised at not having a level of specialist work with Young Carers within the proposed service. The reasons were around Young Carers not wanting to access services via statutory routes for fear of stigmatisation, especially with mental health or substance caring.

Consultation feedback showed current difficulties with the current referral process. Feedback suggested First response, Early Help etc. are holding cases with more complex multiple needs, and the needs of Young Carers are potentially being lost.
Adults working with Young Carers and their families said they are more likely to identify with non-statutory agencies and ask for support through those agencies rather than statutory services.

Young Carers said they would like the person supporting:

• To listen and not judge
• To provide experience from an adult point of view
• To respect privacy
• To be able to talk for longer periods of time
• To provide more information on how to get support
• To be a dedicated worker, someone specifically trained in supporting Young Carers, not necessarily a teacher.

They also said they would like:

• Options for different workers (some Young Carers expressed that while they wanted someone to talk to they felt that sometimes this was best served by different support workers over time).
• More information available via posters, teacher announcements and assemblies

The work on the Young Carers pathway continues to be developed with the Birth to 25 Service, Adult and Children’s Services. Feedback from consultation has been taken into account for this work and as a result BCC have submitted a business case for additional funding for the commissioned service to undertake assessments as part of the pathway. The newly commissioned services will work within the pathway to support and complement support to Young Carers and their families. There was recognition that there should be an element of a specialist service within the new commissioned service, for young carers who do not want to access support via statutory services, and to help with pressures on Early Help services, where the needs of Young Carers could be lost.

As a result of the consultation the service will provide assessments and support for Young Carers. Staff taking referrals will have an understanding of the needs of Young Carers and are trained to work with Young Carers. The service will then provide support to the Young Carer and their family as identified in the assessment. This may include direct 1-to-1 or group work as well as signposting to additional agencies to receive additional support. The service will work closely with the Integrated Carers team to co-work on joint assessments, and as a link to BCC social care, to assist in service navigation.

We asked for comments on the proposed ‘Oral health Promotion Strategy for the populations served by four local authorities of Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset. We wanted to know whether the strategy would be a useful guide for partner organisations working collaboratively.  We also wanted to know if the key priorities set out reflected the current needs of all people in relation to oral health promotion. 

There were 77 respondents to the consultation. 90% were from individuals and 10% from organisations representing groups of people with specific needs. 

The vast majority (97%) of respondents agreed with the strategic vision of improving oral health of all people. Of the five strategic priorities, promoting healthier food and drink choices that are lower in sugar received the strongest support (96% strongly agreed) whilst the strategic priority on supervised tooth brushing and free tooth brushes received the lowest support – though still very supportive – with 91% of the respondents strongly agreeing to the priority.

Of the comments received, key themes raised by people include:

•                    Access to NHS dentists and the cost of dental treatment

•                    Provision of dental care for those with disability

•                    questions about  fluoridation of water (this is not within the remit of this strategy)

•                    Quality of oral health care provision

Supportive suggestions were made about

•                    Including oral health promotion within primary care contacts , such as GPs, Midwives, health visitors and family support workers

•                    Working with dentists and dental practitioners to raise awareness on  oral health promotion

•                    Teaching of oral health promotion to people working in the wider community and voluntary sector; care, social and education staff, in particular for young children, people dependent on care and carers.  

The high level priorities and objectives set out in the strategy were largely supported by the public consultation. However,  a number of points were raised that relate to the delivery of the strategy. This feedback has been taken in to account in the development of the Oral Health Promotion Delivery Plan, that sets out a life course approach to improving oral health.  It includes evidence based interventions that relate specifically to young children, vulnerable groups (the homeless, drug and alcohol users, those with disability), carers, older people and people living with dementia as well as ensuring oral health promoting activities also reach the working population. Teaching and training of community staff are core components of this plan.

Some issues raised by the consultation are beyond the scope of this strategy, such as water fluoridation and patient experience of dental services. The four local authorities work closely with Public Health England, NHS England as well as local dental professionals to ensure we support the promotion of good oral health among our communities and encourage equitable access to dental services. Specific issues raised have been communicated to the relevant organisation.

If you would like to hear more about, or get involved in, promoting oral health within our communities across Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset, please contact Paul Harwood, Dental Public Health Consultant at Public Health England on paul.harwood@phe.gov.uk  or contact Jon Roberts, Chair of the Oral Health Promotion Steering group, on Jonathan.Roberts@n-somerset.gov.uk .