South Bristol Link - comment on options
Linking Hartcliffe with the Long Ashton bypass - your opportunity to comment on options.
About a million people live in the West of England and the area provides around 500,000 jobs.
This phase of consultation has now closed - read the report on the consultation -published June 2009
On this page you can read about the options to improve access to South Bristol and North Somerset, find out when and where the exhibitions are and, by following the link at the bottom of the page, give us your views.
You can download all this information and the questions in leaflet form.
More information about the options is available in the Consultant's Option Appraisal Report
The West of England sub-region is the major economic ‘powerhouse’ in the South West, but road congestion is a cost to the economy; and poor air quality in some areas threatens our quality of life.
There are also areas of significant deprivation and disadvantage in the sub-region which suffer with poor transport links, which is a barrier to encouraging new jobs and investment. Regeneration measures need to be closely linked to on-going economic development in the wider area and enhanced with improved transport.
Forecasts suggest that by 2026 our successful economy will support 122,000 more jobs, an increase of 27%. The area’s population could grow by 190,000, an increase of 19%. The emerging Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) proposes large-scale housing development for the sub-region with the construction of 117,000 new dwellings of which 51,000 are proposed for the existing Bristol urban area. We need a step change transformation in public transport and connectivity to support both existing and future growth.
In and around South Bristol and North Somerset
Of the proposed growth in and adjoining Bristol, at least 10,000 new homes are likely to be needed in South Bristol itself. The emerging RSS specifically proposes 10,500 new dwellings adjoining the city to the south west and in the Yanley/Ashton Vale area.
There has already been significant new development in south Bristol with Imperial Park and Symes Avenue largely complete. Work has recently started on the infrastructure for the new hospital, swimming pool complex, office development and Skills Academy at Hengrove Park.
For all this development there will have to be schools, shops and other community facilities. We also need to attract jobs and make significant improvements to transport links in the area. Better transport links have the potential to reinforce the success of regeneration measures.
In short, we need new links to help regeneration and support growth, to improve access to south Bristol and to help limit congestion.
What are the choices?
The four Councils in the West of England are working together to tackle congestion, improve air quality and attract major new investment in public transport. Various projects to improve walking and cycling, as well as major public transport schemes are underway or planned. Some of these, such as the Greater Bristol Bus Network and Cycling City initiatives, are progressing now.
T
he first stage of the rapid transit project (Ashton Vale to Temple Meads and Bristol City Centre) was the subject of consultation in parallel with this project, and further stages will be progressed later.
For south west Bristol we have been looking at different ways of linking the Hartcliffe roundabout with the A370 Long Ashton bypass. All these options would include new segregated walking and cycling routes.
The options are shown in these artists impressions of a road and rapid transit, a single carriageway road, or a rapid tranist system - click on the pictures for a larger image
A single carriageway road for all or part of the route, which could include remodelling of existing road space
A rapid transit link with a fast, frequent, reliable and comfortable public transport service
The precise route of a link has yet to be decided, but to help you, we have indicated approximate routes and the pictures show what the choices could look like.
We are at the early stages of this project and no decisions have been taken regarding any preferred route alignment or options.
Impacts
The options for the link have a range of impacts: some positive, some negative. A positive impact in one area may create negative impacts elsewhere. In this section, we outline a list of the potential impacts of the different options.
Impacts common to both road and rapid transit links |
Impacts mainly arising only with a road link |
Impacts mainly arising only with a rapid transit link |
| Improves access to jobs and facilities | Shortens some car journey times | |
| Improves journey time reliability | May increase traffic on King George’s Road | Potential interchange with other public transport services |
| Potential to shorten public transport journey times throughout area | Likely to reduce traffic on some key routes (including Kings Head Lane, Winterstoke Road, Parson Street and through Barrow Gurney) | Increases public transport access on King George's Road |
| Improves links for cyclists and pedestrians along the route | Could lessen emissions | |
| Could impact on wildlife | ||
| Needs some land | ||
| Could benefit business |
Next Steps
We are near the start of a long process and will keep people informed as we progress this project.
Next year (2009) we shall carefully consider comments received and carry out more work looking at environmental issues, as well as examining costs and benefits of the different options in more detail.
We shall identify the preferred option emerging from this work, and will make a bid to government for the funds needed to build this preferred option.
If government and other key interests support the project, we would then proceed to apply for the necessary approvals to continue. If consents were granted, we could then implement a scheme. At present it is unlikely that any project could be started before 2013, and this would be subject to planning consent.
There would be further public consultation before planning approvals could be granted.
Ths phase of consultation has now closed.
If you would like any more information or a copy of this information and the questionnaire in leaflet form please contact transport@westofengland.org or call 0800 019 3235.