The Liveable Neighbourhoods consultation is a sham and it must be scrapped and started again, Conservative Councillors say.

The Lib Dem administration recently held a public consultation on plans for Liveable Neighbourhoods. The plans involve introducing Low-Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) to restrict vehicle movements at various locations across the district, and the five-week public consultation to seek the views of residents ended on 3rd January.

But Conservatives say complaints have been made about the way the administration has conducted the consultation.

In an email sent to members of the Lib Dem Cabinet, one resident complained: “From the information presented with this consultation, I learned little that was new. Included were questions and pull down answers which could only be described as leading and I suspect meant to support an agenda already decided.”

Another said: “I have tried to participate in the so-called consultation but it is highly selective and complicated and does not allow generalised comment. It would seem that this is a sham consultation and I wonder what legal standing it has.”

Leader of the Conservative Group on B&NES Council, Vic Pritchard, said: “This consultation has no legitimacy whatsoever and should be scrapped and started again. The Liveable Neighbourhoods policy will be hugely disruptive for residents and businesses right across our district, and it cannot be introduced on the back of such poor levels of public engagement. I urge the administration to take these complaints seriously, scrap the consultation and go back to the drawing board.”