Centre Promenade works: street tree felling consultation

Further information

Fountains and decking area

The three sunken fountains, that are broken and beyond repair, will be filled in and the old wooden decking removed so the area can be covered over with the same buff-coloured high friction surface. Platforms over three sets of steps that run alongside Broad Quay in between the tree planters will be built so they can be used for extra concessions, such as food stalls. Creating a flat surface across this whole area will mean there is more space for events, the harbour market, and people walking, wheeling and cycling through the thriving central area. The project does not include any changes to the Cascade Steps.

Art project

We are working with Bristol City Centre Business Improvement District to commission an artist to create a large-scale 2D artwork to be installed across Centre Promenade’s new surface area. The aspiration is for the artist to inform the overall aesthetic of the revitalised area, including the planters and the plant and flower selection in the area. Produced by Bristol Legacy Foundation, the artwork will celebrate Bristol's diversity and creativity and reflect themes of playfulness, memory and community spirit. It will serve as a focal point, enhancing the area’s identity as a dynamic gathering space and cultural hub.

Access throughout the works and harbour market

Throughout the works, the middle of Centre Promenade will be fenced off. The harbour market will not be able to run in this location during the works, but other sites are being considered. The cycle track to the side of the work area will remain open and pedestrian routes will be signposted.

Improving the cycle route through the centre

As part of this project, we are reviewing the cycle route through Centre Promenade and considering options to make it more visible to reduce conflict between pedestrians and cyclists. This will follow on from the initial improvement works.

Funding

The Centre Promenade works are projected to cost around £365,000. This is being funded from various sources, including City Centre and High Street programme funded by Bristol City Council and the West of England Combined Authority, and Bristol City Council through highways capital, harbourside development, harbour estate repair maintenance, and section 106 funding for trees. The art project is also being supported by Bristol City Centre Business Improvement District and Bristol Legacy Foundation.

Information about the tree felling

Why do you need to remove five healthy trees from Centre Promenade?

The five London plane (Platanus X hispanica) trees that are growing in the planters on the eastern side of the centre were planted around the year 2000. They can grow to a height of over 30m with a crown spread of around 25m. The planters only go down to a soil depth of between 70cm and 100cm, which is not enough earth for the growing trees. Over the last few years, the trees’ roots have escaped the stone planters, growing underneath the coping stones and down between the marble cladding and the inner concrete lining. Damage to the planters can be seen as the roots have shifted the coping stones and are pushing off the cladding. We have been removing loose coping stones and cladding. To fix the planters we need to reset the coping stones and re-fit the loose cladding. However, the tree roots, that have caused the damage, need to be removed to allow this to happen successfully. Damage to the tree roots would likely lead to the trees becoming unstable, which would be a risk to the public, especially in such a busy area. We have been working with arboricultural specialists to explore all the options, with a presumption that existing trees should be preserved, but we have concluded that replacing the trees with a more suitable species is the best way forward.

Could the roots be cut back and the planters repaired?

We have looked at only pruning the roots to allow the planters to be repaired. However, the number of roots to be pruned would reduce the structural stability of the trees and negatively affect their health, as it would reduce the trees’ anchorage into the ground and reduce their ability to take up moisture and nutrients.

Could the trees be pruned so they are not so large and heavy?

We have looked at reducing the crowns of these trees and maintaining them on a regular pruning regime. This would reduce the wind sail and leverage and make structural failure less likely. However, this amount of pruning would affect the health of the trees, as it would limit their photosynthetic abilities and cause wounding which could lead to decay and failure. This approach would also not solve the issue of root encroachment so would be a short-term fix. Without major changes to the design of the planters, root encroachment would be likely to happen again.

Could the planters be rebuilt so there is more space for the root systems?

We have looked at leaving the trees as they are and attempting to rebuild the planters around the trees structure. The problem is that, given the size of the trees and the roots, we would need to dismantle the planters and completely redesign them for this to be successful. This would be very difficult because the planters are a composite part of the wider landscape - for example the steps that lead people up and down to the bus stops on Broad Quay would also have to be redesigned. There is also no guarantee that the same problem wouldn’t happen again as the trees grow bigger. A further problem with this approach would be that in dismantling the planters and wider landscape it may end up damaging the trees’ root systems and causing them to decline. The most sensible option is to remove the trees and replant a more appropriate species. This would mean that the original design of the planters can be kept and fixed. However, this means we need to remove five healthy trees from the city centre.

What trees will be planted instead?

We will be planting smaller trees into the planters. The species we have chosen is The Judas tree (Cercis siliquastrum) a small to medium tree that grows well in urban environments and has attractive pink blossom in the spring.

What about the trees at either end of the five that are being removed?

The tree in the planter closest to the Cascade Steps is already the smaller, blossoming tree Cercis Siliquastrum. It was originally a London Plane, but this died and was replaced. The London Plane tree at the other end of the row is planted in the ground so is not confined by a planter. This will remain in place and will not be impacted by these works.

Why were the London plane trees planted if they are the wrong type of tree?

It's likely that whoever designed the area originally wanted a certain symmetry with the other side of the centre where London planes were also planted. So, perhaps the fact that they were the wrong species for the planters was overlooked.

It may also have been the intention to remove and replace the trees when they got too big. However, this is not current council policy as one of our core principles is to retain trees to maturity or as long as reasonably possible.

What will you be doing with the trees once they have been felled?

As the trees are so big, to remove them safely we need to cut them up into smaller pieces. The pieces will be turned into woodchip. This will be graded and dried at the council’s Blaise depot. The dry woodchip will then be used to fuel bio-mass boilers in various buildings, including some public buildings like schools and leisure facilities. The woodchip produced will also be used to mulch around the base of next year’s newly planted trees. This acts as a weed suppressant, helping the soil retain moisture and increasing the nutrient levels as it breaks down.

What is Bristol’s commitment to planting trees?

Since 2015 we have planted more than 100,000 trees and continue to plant over 5,000 trees a year as part of our One Tree Per Child and Trees for Streets programmes.

Why are you replacing the sunken fountains?

The water features were installed in 2000. From the outset they have been challenging and expensive to run consistently. This is because of the limited water storage tank capacity and below ground mechanical operating system. In 2022 they were deemed to be beyond repair and at end of life. The fountains are the dominant feature of Centre Promenade. As they no longer work and take up valuable space, there is a need to redesign the area. Some of the funding for these works is coming from savings made from not operating the fountains.

Will the Cascade Steps be changing?

No, this project does not include the Cascade Steps as it is fully operational and does not have the same design problems as the fountains.

Are you removing the wooden decking?

Yes, the decking is rotting and will be removed to make way for a flat, continuous surface through the middle of Centre Promenade.

Will the area be closed while the works take place?

Yes, the whole work area will be fenced off and closed throughout the works. This won’t impact the pavement running alongside Broad Quay that will remain open, except when sections of if will be closed for the tree felling which will be done outside of busy times, generally early in the morning

Access for pedestrians and cyclists

The cycle path will remain open and a diversion for pedestrians will be signposted.

Will the works impact on the bus stops?

No, the bus stops will remain open and in use throughout the works. When the trees are felled, there may be some disruption. The current plan is to remove the trees early in the morning and potentially on a Sunday, which is at the quietest time.

What will happen to the market stalls and street food?

The harbour market will not be able to operate on Centre Promenade while the works are taking place. We are working with the market to explore an alternative area to trade.

As we are incorporating more public dwell space and seating, this project will improve the quality of trading space for the food and drink concessions and market operator.

How many food venders will be able to use the new space?

There are currently four long-term concession pitches in this space along with the harbour market stalls. The scheme will provide three more trading pitches on platforms over the steps for concessions, one of these will be allocated to one of the existing Centre Promenade long-term concession traders.

Will electric sockets be installed to limit generator use by vendors?

Yes, we are improving the on-site power supplies used by the vendors and the market. This will continue to ensure there is no need for generator use.

How will waste from the market and concessions be managed?

Bristol Waste Street Cleansing operates across the space. Traders are required to make commercial trade waste collection agreement for disposal of their waste. Currently they remove to off-site collection points but there may be scope for a coordinated collection and disposal arrangement.

Will you be improving the cycle path to make it more visible?

As part of this project, we are reviewing the cycle route through Centre Promenade and considering options to make it more visible to reduce conflict between pedestrians and cyclists. This will follow on from these works.

Will we be able to get involved with the art project?

In partnership with, and produced by Bristol Legacy Foundation, the council and Bristol City Centre Business Improvement District have commissioned an artist to create a large-scale 2D artwork that will be installed on Centre Promenade’s new surface area using a thermoplastic material. The artist, working with Bristol Legacy Foundation, will carry out engagement activities to involve the community and inform the public of the artwork.