A controversial road scheme in Clevedon, North Somerset, has been scrapped after widespread public criticism and national ridicule. The project, which included wavy road markings, a two-way cycle lane, and changes to parking, cost over £1.5 million to implement in 2022.
Installed along the town’s Georgian seafront on Beach Road, the scheme was intended to slow down traffic and reduce roadside parking. North Somerset Council claimed the irregular markings would make the road appear narrower, encouraging drivers to reduce their speed.
However, many residents and visitors found the design confusing and impractical. The changes prevented motorists from parking facing the sea — a popular activity for enjoying the views over the Bristol Channel — and raised concerns about safety, particularly for cyclists navigating the shared space.
Motoring organisation the RAC labelled the scheme “one of the most bizarre” it had ever seen. After sustained public pressure, including protests and the formation of a local campaign group, ‘Save Our Seafront’, the council reviewed the changes and opted to reverse course.
Restoration work, which involved reinstating sea-facing parking, removing the cycle lane and the distinctive wavy markings — dubbed the “yellow brick road” — took 13 weeks to complete and cost an additional £500,000.
Campaigner Cathy Hawkins, who led local opposition, called the entire scheme “a disaster” and “a complete waste of money”. She claimed residents repeatedly urged the council to reconsider before construction began.
“They didn’t listen to us,” Hawkins said. “People opened car doors into the cycle lane — it was unsafe from the start. It’s better now, but it never should have gone ahead.”
She also criticised similar traffic schemes being introduced across the UK without proper community consultation, saying: “Councils are pushing through projects that people don’t want. That has to change.”
North Somerset Council has yet to issue a formal statement on the reversal.
