A group of 21 major Bath organisations have met with Council leaders to offer support, encouragement and urgency in their endeavours to solve Bath’s transport problems.
The Bath Alliance for Transport and Public Realm, which is made up of employers, businesses, housing providers, residents’ bodies, public transport providers, NHS bodies and universities, was formed a year ago and has been working to support the Council in addressing transport issues.
The members of the Alliance all share a belief that Bath is falling short of its full potential, blighted by air pollution and traffic congestion, dependent upon cars for mobility and that its public realm in the historic core needs attention. The Council’s own policy documents identify and support this analysis.
All Alliance members have signed up to a single unifying vision for Bath as: ‘A beautiful city in a green setting with vibrant public spaces, a historic centre free of all but essential traffic, clean air, good mobility and excellent transport infrastructure’.
“Only a whole package of programmed measures working together will reassure the public that this is possible and desirable. A piecemeal approach merely risks disjointed activity and pockets of local resistance at the expense of progress for the whole of Bath”, said Stephen Taylor, spokesman for the Alliance.
The meeting suggested that a Bath Transport plan be included in WECA’s upcoming Joint Local Transport Plan, just as Bristol City Council intends fora Bristol Transport Plan to be included. The WECA is an important potential source of transport funding and expertise for Bath.
Alliance members commended the Council for proceeding with a new Parking Strategy (including a Coach Strategy) and with the updating of the Bath Air Quality Action Plan, as mandated by central government.
The Council was also encouraged to develop equivalent plans for traffic movement, walking and cycling, noting that all these matters can be powerful policy tools to address Bath’s broader transport issues, are within its control and do not require large capital outlays.
In the meeting, a range of specific ways for the Alliance to continue its support and assistance was offered to the Council.
