Meeting documents

Appx 9

Bath and North East Somerset Council

Executive Meeting - Wednesday 6^th September 2006-09-05

Paper 17 - Joint Local Transport Plan 2006/07 - 2010/11 Bath Package of Major Schemes, Business Case

Statement from Cllr Peter Metcalfe, Widcombe Ward, Bath

When I was first elected in 1992 to represent Widcombe I rapidly became aware of the Rossiter Road saga and the lack of understanding by the then Avon County, and quite frankly Bath District Council in comprehending the way Widcombe High Street was gradually being destroyed by increasing levels of traffic. The street was dying, the grocer, the greengrocer, and finally the butcher, all vanished and it was becoming increasingly difficult for people to use the remaining shops or to even cross the road.

The Widcombe Association was already fully engaged and fighting for action with exhibitions, petitions, in fact all the tools of the trade that they could muster to register their distress.

As committed environmentalists, Widcombe Councillors stuck with the issue year after year, working with the WA, meeting traders and despite everything, the prime aspiration of restoring Widcombe Parade to a local shopping centre gradually moved up the agenda.

The year 2000 heralded the first real breakthrough with the in-principle inclusion of the A36 Rossiter Road project into the Council's first 2001-05 Local Transport Plan, an event that warranted a minor celebration by local people and traders alike.

In 2003 Ward Councillors and the Association encouraged the council to undertake an economic sustainability appraisel that led in 2004 to another consultants highways study. These two initiatives provided a second breakthrough, an east to west single lane route along Rossiter Road to remove HGVs from the High Street and potential for economic regeneration.

After so many false starts, the news that something might actually happen led to a trickle of new businesses into the high street, restaurants, a violin-maker, fiery fireplaces to name a few. But the traffic levels of course have continued to rise, the noise levels have gone through the roof, and the High Street today has the envious reputation of very poor air quality. People living over the shops know what it is all about and the WA reading the runes, published two reports on noise, vibration, pollution and air quality at the end of 2005.

The past two years has seen the success of Widcombe Rising led by Ralph Oswick, and many, many volunteers, the day closure of the parade with the help of officers, gave a snap shot of what a sustainable community is about.

What will the scheme in front of the Executive do?

Return Rossiter Road to two-way traffic

Facilitate Urban Design enhancements to manage light and private local traffic, speeds and parking for the shops.

Pedestrian safety and ease of access for all age groups

Regeneration of the High Street so that it can become again a local shops destination for local people.

Substantial reduction in air and noise pollution

It is incomprehensible to all who work and live in the area that quality of life factors do not appear to register weight on the Department of Transport's Economic evaluation criteria and hence today's report. Ward councillors will certainly be taking this issue up to another place.

Removal from the Bath Package of Major Schemes is unfortunate, but the decision by the Executive to collectively find a way to deliver the Rossiter Road Project is very warmly applauded by Widcombe. The officer's report fully reflects the issues raised by local councillors during the August consultation, thank you.

The Council's promise to dig into its 2008/09 transport capital funding programme to implement Rossiter Road is a real step change and for the local people and City as whole, a glimmer of light is now visible at the end of a tunnel that spans 20+ years of endeavour.

I ask the Executive to uphold the officer's report.