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Plans to put up a new bike rack outside an old church have sparked fury among parishioners who said the bike rack would “block access for hearses.” The planned covered bike rack was criticized as a “blatant act of vandalism” that would also block views of the 18th-century building.

The bike rack is planned for the top of Broad Street, in the city centre, outside Christ Church with St Ewen. The current Grade II listed building was built between 1786 and 1791, but the medieval church had been offering services for several centuries before then.

Last week, Bristol City Council workers were seen installing temporary fencing around a space in front of the church, raising concerns. Conservative councilors have also criticized the “deluded laymen” of the City Council for making it increasingly difficult to access by car.

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Jonathan Price, the church’s music teacher, said: “I was just horrified by what the council workers said they were creating. I asked one of the team who was expected to use the covered bike rack and he replied, “nobody.”

“Christ Church needs clear access here for hearses bringing bodies for funerals, wedding cars and for our sick and disabled faithful. Even the current bollards at the edge of the street spoil the view of our beautiful Grade II listed church. With an ugly bike rack here, it will be much, much worse.”

The council has since agreed to move the bike rack further down the street. The bike parking is part of a larger plan to reduce motorized traffic around the Old City, in an attempt to make the area safer for walking and cycling.

In addition to the new bicycle rack, road works are expected to begin this September to install barriers and license plate control cameras. This will make the temporary measures introduced during the pandemic permanent.

Conservative councilor and parishioner Richard Eddy said: “When I learned of the council’s plans outside Christ Church, I was appalled that the local authority would attempt to ransack this Grade II listed building by blatant vandalism.

“For the last six years, the faithful of Christ Church have seen parking charges imposed on them on Sundays; the council’s repeated refusal to allow strictly limited parking for the congregation; road closures; and the designation of the Clean Air Zone surrounding the church”.

A more suitable location for the bike rack, Cllr Eddy suggested, would be around the corner on Wine Street. The pavement there is much wider than on Broad Street, with a long stretch of building without entrances, so the bike rack would not be blocking any kind of access.

Cllr Eddy added: “Now we have this crazy plan to put up a bike rack outside the church. It seems that the deceived laymen of the council are determined to close the church. If there’s a demand for a bike rack nearby, there’s a wide, spacious sidewalk just a few feet away on Wine Street. Why was this not considered by the council?

“The council has a legal obligation to ensure that physical structures in a sensitive conservation area such as this, especially those that adjoin a listed church, enhance the character of the conservation area and certainly do not detract from it. The council has not contacted the owners affected by its proposals. I have emailed Adam Crowther, the city’s transportation chief, and members of his team are looking into our complaints.”

After receiving criticism about the planned location, the council agreed to move the bike rack further up the street. The new location should allow more space for vehicles such as hearses. The council also previously consulted with the public about its plans, but did not receive any comments or complaints about the bike rack.

Labor Councilor Don Alexander, a member of the Transport Cabinet, said: “I have met with on-site officials to consider feedback and options for the planned bike rack at the top of Broad Street, and have called for it to be moved. Now it has been agreed that it will be installed two meters closer to the existing planters.

“This will allow more space for vehicles that need to stop near the church and will mean that bike racks will not obstruct the church door. Within the installation works of the new bicycle parking, the bollards that are currently in the street in front of the church door will also be moved”.

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