Have Your Say On New East Of Bath Park & Ride Plans

Bath & North East Somerset Council is to hold a public consultation to seek the public’s views on possible sites for a new park and ride to the East of Bath.

Councillors Anthony Clarke and Tim Warren

The plans for an East of Bath Park & Ride form a key part of the Council’s wider strategy to improve transport, tackle congestion and reduce air pollution levels in and around Bath.

Cllr Tim Warren (Conservative, Mendip), Leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council, said: “Our existing Park and Ride sites are very popular with the public and have recently been expanded.

“But we also need an additional Park and Ride site to the east of the city to improve access from that side and further reduce traffic coming into the centre unnecessarily. 

“One of our new administration’s top priorities is to improve local transport – making it easier for residents, businesses and visitors to get around our area.

“Therefore we’re taking action to meet people’s needs for an east of Bath Park and Ride. We’re keen for people to take a look at the potential sites and give us their views to help us to choose the preferred location.”

The consultation will start on 7th September 2015 and run until early October.

At the end of the consultation, officers will analyse the results, which will be put before councillors in November for a decision.

Once a preferred site has been chosen it will be included in the Placemaking Plan later this year.

An independent review in 2013 found that there were seven potential sites. Three have been deemed viable.

Cllr Anthony Clarke (Conservative, Lansdown), Cabinet Member for Transport, said: “The three sites which are being put forward to consultation are the ones which have been assessed and identified by the Council’s transport officers as the most viable of the seven originally considered.  

“We do not have a preference for which of these three sites should be taken forward – we want to hear which site residents believe would be the most appropriate location and deliver the most benefit in terms of improving transport.”

All of the P&R sites are near the A46

Local Conservative Councillors representing areas on the east of the city have welcomed the fact the consultation will put forward more than one site option. 

However, Conservative Councillor for Bathavon North, Geoff Ward, has said that he will personally be opposing the site on the Bathampton Meadows to the east of Mill Lane, a site which had been previously earmarked for a Park & Ride in the past, and will be encouraging residents to join him in sending in their views.

Councillor Geoff Ward (Cons, Bathavon North) said: “Over the years people have become used to the fact that most consultations only put forward one option, giving the impression the decision is a fait accompli.

“So I think it’s really refreshing that the Council has decided against this approach and has instead committed to such an open process in which residents will be presented with more than one option and given a genuine say over the location of the Park & Ride.

“My priority will be to ensure that residents’ views are heard so that the best location with the least visual impact is selected.

“Personally, I am totally opposed to using the land previously earmarked for a Park & Ride to east of Mill Lane, as I believe the visual impact of this site on the meadows is simply too great, and I know many residents in the area feel the same way. 

“Therefore, I will be putting forward my strong objections to this site as part of the consultation, and would encourage local people in the area to make sure they give their views as well.”

Walcot Councillor Fiona Darey (Cons), whose ward includes the notoriously congested London Road, has welcomed the launch of the consultation. 

She said: “This is a long-overdue project which has been discussed for many years but has never come to fruition, so I’m delighted to see this progress finally being made.

“Anyone who has lived with the problems caused by the traffic congestion and air pollution on the London Road will know how desperately we need to see action taken to reduce the number of cars coming into the city from the east – and building this Park & Ride is one of a number of measures needed to address this problem.

“I’d therefore encourage all residents affected by the traffic on the London Road to get involved in this consultation when it launches in September.”

Councillor Dine Romero (Southdown), Leader of B&NES Lib Dem Council Group, commented: “This announcement is far too vague and says nothing about the park and rail/ride scheme.

“Our rail and ride proposal was sustainable, future-proofed and won support from local people.

“If the Conservatives are dropping the rail and ride, they should be honest about it now.

“The consultation must be run in a fair and open manner, giving residents from across B&NES and from neighbouring areas an opportunity to make their views known.

“The Conservative administration has only one opportunity to get this right and won’t be forgiven for forcing through a scheme on the wrong site.”

Ben Howlett, MP for Bath commented: “Taking action to get Bath moving was a central part of my election campaign, and is something I have continued to fight for since May. 

“I’m therefore delighted that the Council’s new Conservative leadership is already putting into action our manifesto commitment to deliver this important and long-awaited transport project. 

“An additional park and ride will help alleviate congestion in Bath and help to reduce air pollution.

“The most important thing is for as many residents as possible to get involved in this consultation when it starts. 

“This is a major infrastructure project which will benefit residents throughout the city.”

The three sites for consultation are:

• Land east of the A4/A46 junction;
• Land west of Mill Lane;
• Land east of Mill Lane.

The consultation will include:

• A brochure and website where you can look at plans for the different sites and compare their benefits and challenges.
• Exhibitions in Bathampton Village Hall (Saturday 19th September – 2.00pm to 6.00pm) and the Guildhall in Bath (Tuesday 22 September – 4.00pm to 8.00pm).
• More exhibitions are planned, see the Council’s website for further updates.
• Meetings with parish councils and other interested local organisations.

Objectives for the Park and Ride Scheme:

• To reduce congestion within the city;
• To improve the city’s environment;
• To reduce car use into the city centre and improve the proportion of journeys made by public transport;
• To reduce carbon emissions from transport;
• To support the city’s economic development and Enterprise Area;
• To improve connectivity to support business and growth of the wider region.

There are currently three Park and Ride sites on the edges of Bath, at Newbridge, Lansdown and Odd Down.