Council accused over BRT bus route image
Bath and North East Somerset Council has just staged an exhibition of its plans for the Bus Rapid Transit scheme which would run from Newbridge to Bathampton.
The route – part of the £58 million Bath Transportation Package – would include a segregated section along a disused railway line.
The council's exhibition shows what the BRT would look like from a bridge overlooking the back of the Hartwells car dealership – with before and after pictures.
But the Response2Route group fighting the scheme, which it says will be a £16 million white elephant, claims B&NES has been selective in its presentation.
Group co-ordinator Jo McCarron said: "The council's artist's impression shows the section of the former railway which is clearly the most unattractive and least green part of the mile stretch, certainly not how the majority of the track is."
The group, which collected signatures for a petition throughout the exhibition at the Guildhall, says there are areas which are far more attractive.
One example, it says, is the section between Rudmore Park and Avon Park.
Mrs McCarron said: "This section is used frequently as a safe car-free footpath for walking to school and for recreation."
The group said 95 per cent of the people it stopped at the exhibition were opposed to the BRT plan.
Mrs McCarron added: "It's really encouraging to hear that we have such widespread support. Many of the people we stopped were not directly affected by the BRT route. People from all over Bath said they had come along to make an informed judgement and came out of the exhibition very keen to sign the petition."
The group says it felt the council was presenting the proposed BRT route as a "done deal".
Mrs McCarron said: "It is clear that there is still a long way for the council to go. We will continue to fight the proposal for BRT route, because the massively negative impact it will have on our community and our local environment is totally unjustified by the very limited benefits the scheme may or may not deliver."
The group will stage a protest outside a Guildhall meeting of the full council at 6.20pm on November 20.
B&NES insists that there is no shortage of green areas in Newbridge – and that the BRT will make some parts look better.
A council spokesman said: "The Bus Rapid Transit route contains a path specifically for pedestrians and cyclists that will provide a safe, car-free footpath for walking and cycling to school, work, and for recreation.
"This part of Bath has access to a number of areas of public open space. Firstly, the residents of Rudmore Park face an area of public open space some 2,500 square metres in size.
"Secondly, there are further areas of public open space which also have children's play facilities, one in the Brassmill Lane Recreation Ground and one in Windsor Villas Park where, as a result of the bus rapid transit, it will have a pedestrian and cycle route away from busy roads to give direct access to this children's play area.
"The bus rapid transit route will also be subject to extensive tree and shrub planting to enhance the nearby local environment."
Meanwhile, dominant operator First says it would be interested in operating services on the BRT.
The council will be putting the service out to tender and says it has no preconceptions about who will get the contract.
Simon Curzio, commercial director for First Bristol, Somerset & Avon, said: "If the Bath Bus Rapid Transit scheme is given the go-ahead then naturally we, like any commercial bus operator in the area, would be interested in talking to the council about the ways we could work with them to run the service on their behalf.
"There is still a way to go before this scheme is given the go-ahead though, but it is a project we continue to watch with interest."
The exhibition on Thursday, Friday and Saturday was attended by more than 1,200 people.
More details are on www.bathnes.gov.uk/stopgridlock, while the pressure group's website is www.response2route.co.uk.
The group's picture at Rudmore Park
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