Birmingham City Council (BCC) is consulting on the introduction of a modal filter at the junction of Holt Street and Lister Street, next to the Aston University campus, in order to reduce rat-running motor traffic. The two unclassified roads provide a route for car drivers to cut between Dartmouth Middleway and the Aston Express Way while avoiding congestion on Dartmouth Circus. This area has seen extensive redevelopment connected with Aston University in recent years, which is leading to increased numbers of people walking across that junction mouth. In order to deal with conflicts at this junction, BCC decided to use an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO), which allows them to introduce a road intervention for up to 18 months, with a public consultation period of 6 months at the start of the trial. This is an important way to trial new road layouts and let residents experience the new layouts before they respond to the consultation process.

The consultation period runs up to the 12th Dec 2025, and you can find the consultation on Birmingham Beheard: Holt Street and Lister Street Modal Filter.

Our View:

We welcome this modal filter as it improves cycling conditions on the roads in this area. Searching on Crash Map shows that there has been a cluster of road traffic collisions (RTCs) at the junction of Holt Street and Lister Street, and some RTCs, including a serious injury, where Holt Street meets the Aston Express Way. Eliminating the motor traffic rat-running down Holt Street will make both junctions safer for people cycling and walking, and making the road environment safer will contribute to increasing levels of active travel in the area.