Cross-city rapid bus route must be rethought, says Foster

Bath MP Don Foster is calling on council officials to re-examine plans for a rapid bus route through the city.

The Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) network would link the east and west of the city, and aims to reduce congestion and improve road safety.

But the Liberal Democrat MP says the information provided to people whose homes would be affected is confusing and misleading.

The Bath and North East Somerset Council plan involves hi-tech buses which would travel along designated lanes to take commuters in and out of the city centre every 10 minutes.

If the plan gets the go-ahead, 10 homeowners would lose part of their gardens and 54 on-street parking spaces would be lost.

The scheme is necessary for the council to retain funding for other transport projects, including a new park-and-ride site for the east of the city. But Mr Foster says there is no reason the precise route of it cannot be changed.

He said: "I am not convinced that adequate research has been carried out into the alternatives.

"The consultation document is extremely unconvincing and confusing. The figures look like they have been plucked from the dark and are very hard to understand.

"For example, the number of parking spaces that would need to be removed. The answers people are looking for are simply not there. We need to see the details of each possible option before any sensible decision can be made."

The council's overview and scrutiny panel will be discussing the scheme at a meeting at 10am next Thursday at the Guildhall.

Mr Foster is due to speak at the meeting, which will also be attended by members of the opposition group Response2Route.

Earlier this month, Conservative cabinet member for transport, Cllr Charles Gerrish, told the panel: "I have already given instructions for additional research in order to satisfy myself that we make the correct choice regarding our chosen route for a rapid route into the city."

But homeowners along the route are still unconvinced and believe their properties will lose value should the scheme be successful.

Jo McCarron, spokeswoman for Response2Route, said: "We believe it is impossible for councillors to make informed decisions on this route without a full and rigorous study of the economic and developmental impact the route will have."

Local estate agent Duncan Nash, of Whitfield Nash, said the scheme may affect property values: "A lot depends on the amount of noise and pollution it causes. It will affect prices to a degree but we don't know to what extent."

Members of the public can make submissions to the panel and contribute to the debate next week. Anyone who wishes to speak needs to register by Monday by contacting Mark Durnford on 01225 354458.