Agenda item

A new Transport Strategy has been prepared entitled ‘Getting Around Bath’ and the draft is now ready for formal consultation with stakeholders

Councillor Anthony Clarke in an ad hoc statement emphasised the need for cross-party support if the transport strategy consultation was to be effective.  He felt that particular mention should have been made of north-south travel to school.  He observed that report did not address the transport issues across the area and should be seen as the first building block of a wider transport policy.

Councillor David Laming in an ad hoc statement supported the proposals although he felt the title should have said “Getting Round and Through Bath”.  He observed that no mention had been made in the report of river ferries and other ways in which the river would be part of the solution.  He asked Cabinet to consider the need for a safe, well-lit cycle path from Pulteney Weir right though to Newbridge.

[David Redgewell (South West Transport Network) arrived after the debate had already started but the Chair at his prerogative agreed that David could still make his statement]

David Redgewell welcomed the consultation and emphasised a number of issues which he felt must be addressed: the Dorchester Street scheme; a strategy for cross-border services; bus fleet upgrade; the public realm and the transport strategies for Bath and the rural areas.

Councillor Caroline Roberts, in proposing the item, said that a lot of hard work had already been done to bring the proposals to consultation and she was pleased to propose that the consultation period should begin.  She asked Councillors and members of the public to feed all their comments into the consultation.

Councillor Paul Crossley seconded the proposal.  There had been significant problems but also significant opportunities.  He hoped to hear from residents during the consultation period.  He reminded the meeting that recent improvements already introduced had been hybrid buses, Park and Ride options, variable messaging about car park places, cycle hire and the electrification of the main line to London.  He encouraged Councillor Laming to feed his river ideas into the consultation.  He was delighted that Councillor Clarke had offered to support the consultation process and assured him that funds were already earmarked to conduct similar studies of Keynsham and Somer valley.

Councillor Tim Ball observed that in his view very slow progress had been made in developing the city’s transport strategy by the previous administration but that it had planned to build a bus route through the back gardens of Newbridge residents with no consultation.  He reminded Cabinet that the Council’s Core Strategy was dependent on the outcome of the three transport strategies so it was essential to make progress on them as soon as possible.

Councillor David Dixon said that the three main concerns were congestion, air quality and (especially in Larkhall) the river.  It would be essential to maintain cross-party support for the consultation to be a success.  He emphasised that the strategy could not be only about the city centre.

Councillor Ben Stevens expressed the hope that the Strategic River Group would get involved.  He contracted to work with Councillor Laming to enable this.  He was determined that the strategy should work for the whole community and said that the residents of Batheaston would remember a plan put forward by a previous administration to concrete over their meadows.

Councillor David Bellotti said that the Rossiter Road scheme, which would remove pressure from Widcombe and was welcomed by local residents, had been held up because of opposition from some Councillors who had not listened to local feelings.  He regretted that there had not been cross-party support for the Council’s priorities: pedestrians first, cycles, 20mph schemes for safer roads.

Councillor Caroline Roberts summed up by saying she did not intend to score points over transportation.  She reminded Cabinet of her commitment to the Rossiter Road scheme, which she had championed since 1999; but regretted that the £250K put into the budget that year had not been used for that purpose and the Council was only now on the verge of delivering the scheme.

With reference to comments made about the scheme excluding Keynsham and north east Somerset, Councillor Roberts reminded Cabinet that funds had been reserved so that these schemes could be developed.  She finally reminded Cabinet that the present proposals were not detailed because they were intended to encourage consultation responses.

On a motion from Councillor Caroline Roberts, seconded by Councillor Paul Crossley, it was

RESOLVED (unanimously)

(1) To ENDORSE the Getting Around Bath Launch Document for consultation.