A woman claims a proposal to implement a two-way bus route on a "narrow" Bath street would be a "nightmare" for bus drivers.

Bath and North East Somerset councillor, Richard Samuel, said that buses succeeded in going both ways along Broad Street in early-May - a road where vehicles can normally only go from a south to north direction.

Mr Samuel said although adjustments will be needed, this meant Milsom Street could be permanently closed in the future.

Rosemary Cox, however, claims this would be a mistake and it would increase air pollution in the area.

In a letter to the Bath Chronicle, she wrote: "So, I see that last week’s Chronicle (14th May) contains various items about the council’s future plans in regard to traffic.

"The lower half of page 8 contains their scheme to permanently close to traffic wide, spacious Milsom Street and shove double-decker buses both up and down Broad Street! – which, of course, is very narrow.

Looking for Bath's top stories in one place? Sign up for our newsletter here

"What a nightmare that would be for the ‘bus drivers allotted that route! It would certainly go a long way to increasing the air pollution in the area."

Previously, Mr Samuel said the success of the 'Love Milsom Street' initiative, where the road was pedestrianised for a weekend, was behind their thinking for the two-way bus trial on Broad Street.

The council has been contacted for comment.

In the rest of her letter, she wrote about the 60-metre-long steel bridge "superstructure" spanning the River Avon at the Bath Quays site being delivered from Belgium.

She said she hopes the same "pantomime" that occurred with the replacement Destructor Bridge, which has been shut to cars since 2013, does not happen here.

The rest of the letter reads: "Then the front page carries a photo (accompanied by an article on page 3) concerning the arrival of the first section of three of a bridge which it is proposed to span the Avon, linking North and South Quays.

"The first new bridge to cross the river in the last 100 years! Wow! For cyclists and pedestrians only, of course.

Stay up to date with our App and newsletter

It's more important than ever to stay in touch with what's happening around you on a daily basis. Here are some options:

  • The Somerset Live app delivers the latest news, sport and what’s on information to your mobile phone – all for free. Click on the App Store here to download the app for iOS devices, and on the Google Play store here to download the app on Android.
  • Our newsletters deliver you our hand-picked top stories straight to your inbox - every lunchtime, seven days a week. To sign up now just fill in the newsletter box at the top of this article, or visit our sign-up page for the Somerset Live newsletter or the sign-up page for the Bath Live newsletter.
  • You can also keep up to date on the latest Coronavirus news, and share details of community responses to the outbreak in our dedicated Facebook page.
  • You can get news and information for where you live from In Your Area - enter your postcode to find out what's going on locally.
  • Find our Bath Facebook page here or Somerset's can be found here .
  • Alternatively, follow us on Twitter - @BathLive and @SomersetLive .

"Let’s hope the same pantomime doesn’t ensue with its installation as that which we witnessed with the several futile attempts to re-install the replacement Destructor Bridge!

"Talking of which, there seems to be no reply from the council as to when this latter bridge will be reopened for full traffic use.

"Perhaps Councillor Joanna Wright, cabinet member for transport services, could enlighten us?"

In response to the Destructor Bridge criticism, Councillor Joanna Wright, joint cabinet member for Transport Services, said the plan was to reopen it to traffic this summer.

“The Destructor Bridge was fully reopened to pedestrians and cyclists as soon as construction finished in December 2016 and we continue to work with Crest Nicholson to reopen the bridge for vehicles," she said.

"It is anticipated that we will be able to do this later in the summer, once the new bus gate is installed and fully tested.

"We look forward to being able to open a low speed sustainable transport corridor along Stothert Avenue with bus priority, to help keep traffic moving in the city and reduce congestion.”