Bath MP Ben Howlett has welcomed the Council’s consultation on potential sites for the long awaited East of Bath Park & Ride, and has announced the site that he’d like to be developed.
Mr Howlett said: “One of my main election pledges was to tackle the traffic and air pollution problems in the city and stop Bath stalling.
“I want to encourage as many Bath residents as possible to have their say on where this important Park and Ride should be located.
“I personally believe the site to the West of Mill Lane, Site B, is the best site as it has the potential to incorporate a rail stop in the future, it has little or no risk of flooding and will potentially have less visual impact than the other options.
“This important transport project will, alongside the work I am doing to create an A36-46 link road, go a long way to reducing congestion and air pollution in the City.”
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.
An independent review in 2013 found that there were seven potential sites. Three have been deemed viable.
Cllr Tim Warren (Conservative, Mendip), Leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council, said: “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.
“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.”
The consultation will 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.
There are currently three Park and Ride sites on the edges of Bath, at Newbridge, Lansdown and Odd Down.
