Riverside bus section shelved
Council chiefs have acknowledged that they will have to temporarily shelve plans to run a controversial bus system across Bath's Western Riverside.
The line of the city's Bus Rapid Transit scheme crosses the derelict zone, with Bath and North East Somerset Council intending to build it hand in hand with a mile-long section along an old railway route through Newbridge.
But developer Crest Nicholson has put its £1 billion homes and offices plans for the 43-acre Western Riverside on hold because of the economic downturn.
A report to a crunch development control committee meeting on Wednesday which will discuss the bus scheme says the Western Riverside is unlikely to be developed before the construction of the BRT.
This means that BRT buses will have to use ordinary roads once they have come to the end of the dedicated route through Newbridge, which is opposed by thousands of people in the city.
The Response2Route pressure group says it is shocked by the council admission in a report which urges councillors to grant the scheme planning permission.
The report says: "It is acknowledged that in the current economic climate this (the Western Riverside) development is unlikely to be constructed before the part of the BRT route included in this application comes into operation. In the short to medium term therefore the BRT route will have to return to public roads at Windsor Bridge Road. If this were to be the permanent route, this would negate some of the benefits from providing a segregated route, by rejoining public roads before the city centre is reached, but in an area where congestion still occurs. However, it must be seen as the first phase of a longer term plan to continue the route through the Western Riverside development and in this context it will maximise the potential benefits."
The BRT aims to link Newbridge park and ride with a new park and ride site at Bathampton.
Response2Route spokeswoman Jo McCarron said: "The council's business case for the BRT is for a fully integrated east/west route. "Councillors have consistently argued that the route along the old railway line is essential to achieving the integrated transport plan and the objective of reducing congestion. Ironically, it now appears that the Newbridge section of the route, which suffers the least amount of congestion, will be the only part of the scheme likely to go ahead.
"Newbridge residents are angry that their community will irreparably damaged and their lives adversely affected by a £16 million road going nowhere. Local residents are going to suffer the pain for absolutely no gain. Claims by councillors and officers to cut bus journey times now look even less achievable because buses will emerge on to the already congested Windsor Bridge and continue into the city centre on ordinary roads."
The BRT buses will also use ordinary roads through the city centre and London Road to get to Bathampton.
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by Sam, Bath
Tuesday, May 19 2009, 1:50PM
“Excellant you tube video councillors.
Filming at 2pm just goes to show that during the day, the BRT buses will be running empty all day. I've observed the Newbridge P&R buses and they are empty all day. At the start of the video you could see that only 1 person was waiting for the bus. The X39 drives past the Newbridge P&R site and they are often not very full during the day. Instead of driving empty P&R buses in and out of town during the day why not utilise the X39?
From 4pm onwards it's a different story. Everyone is making their way back home from work and shopping and I know several work colleagues have been unable to get on the Newbridge P&R bus in town because it is full.
Why can't they look at ways of improving the current transport system instead of building the BRT?”
by Cllr David Dixon, Bath
Monday, May 18 2009, 8:33PM
“We had time today at 2pm - many people will tell you that even in the morning traffic isn't much worse at peak - the point is that for the majority of the time there is barely any traffic.
The inbound morning traffic doesn't usually take effect until you get past Chelsea Road and again the biggest issue is at Windsor Bridge where the BRT would be ending. Outbound the traffic is mostly free flowing in the afternoon once you get past the lights at Windsor Bridge and until you get to the Newbridge Park and Ride.
The London Road is a much more complicated story, but why not, keep your eyes peeled for a much longer version along the London Road and Walcot Street the stretch for the other part of the route. This already has a "dangerous" bus lane sharing the main road, which already helps journey times for buses, the pinch point there will be at the roundabout at the A46.”
by paul, Odd down,Bath
Monday, May 18 2009, 7:22PM
“Cllrs' Roberts and Dixon,
LikiI like the u toob video, but it would have been so much more convincing if it had been filmed at 8-9 am or 5-6pm as that is when BANEs argur that the most congestions takes place.
Might I also suggest that you film one along London Road?”
by Cllr David Dixon, Bath
Monday, May 18 2009, 3:46PM
“Cllr Caroline Roberts and I checked out the "congested " Newbridge Road earlier today and thought to tape it for your enjoyment.
No Hollywood Blockbuster but I think it clearly demonstrates how pointless the Tory's Road to Nowhere really is...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4xOTwXz7WE”
by PJ, Batheaston
Monday, May 18 2009, 2:44PM
“Sam, David;
It's not as if they're not aware of the real causes of congestion. It's been spelt out in more than one objection to the planning apps being considered on Wednesday.
The problem is, as it always has been, that to follow a course that involves spending sensibly on effective solutions would first mean having to admit to making mistakes.
A bit like those in Westminster who made the rules on expenses and are now blaming the exploitation of the same rules for things going totally pear-shaped! Unbelievable.”
by Sam, Bath
Monday, May 18 2009, 1:55PM
“I listened to an interesting debate on the radio and the majority of people, including professional drivers (like taxi drivers), all agreed that traffic lights and bus lanes actually slowed down traffic and caused more congestion. London Road, and as David pointed out, the Morrisons junction is an example!”
by David, Bath, UK
Monday, May 18 2009, 12:37PM
“Ah, I'm glad the council read my submission then. I imagine that this will lead to B&NES "optimising" the junction at Windsor Bridge/Lower Bristol Road for bendy buses.
This will probably lead to another excellent solution such as the one at the Morrisons junction on the London Road, which is as far as I can tell the main reason for congestion on that side of the city.
So, despite there now being no benefit whatsoever in building the BRT route, what's the betting it still goes through?”
by paul, Odd Down
Monday, May 18 2009, 12:06PM
“It seems appalling that BANES are willing to waste millions on a road to nowhere and buses which no -one will use.
Yet they cannot come up with funding to provide affordable, reliable and and safe school buses for the thousands of school children in Bath.
Come on BANES sort your prioorites out!”
by Paul, Bath
Monday, May 18 2009, 7:52AM
“The Tories have shown they simply cannot be trusted to run our city, and that they have no intention of listening to us, the people of Bath.”
by Darren, Stuck in traffic
Sunday, May 17 2009, 9:00PM
“Ah, the Windsor bridge Road. Possibly the worst congestion blackspot during the rush hour and now it's going to have extra traffic lights and big bendy buses thrown into the mix.
Well done gerrish, well done haeberling.
You may live outside Bath but you certainly have the knack for managing this City!”