Bus rapid transit scheme under fire from campaigners
BRISTOL's bus rapid transit scheme has come in for criticism from allotment holders and one of the founders of a sustainable transport group.
Stapleton Allotments Association members say some of their land will be concreted over to build a new bridge serving a bus route to the city centre. The city council wants to build on the allotments at Stapleton to link the new bus route to the nearby M32.
But the allotment holders have warned they will take legal action to try to stop it.
In a statement, the group said of the land: "It has been cultivated for decades, providing leisure, healthy activity and locally produced food for more than 50 years. It is also a haven for wildlife and a valued green space. For a city aspiring to be European Green capital and where there are long waiting lists for allotments, the proposal to cover the site in concrete turns common sense and logic on its head."
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A city council spokeswoman said: "Approximately 60 per cent of the allotments would remain in their existing place with 40 per cent to be relocated immediately adjacent to the existing Stapleton Allotments site. We would pay for all the work required to relocate any affected allotments."
She also said detailed ecological surveys are being done for the overall scheme.
Meanwhile John Grimshaw, a founder of green transport charity Sustrans, believes Bristol should lose its status as the UK's only "Cycling City" if the rapid transit scheme goes ahead in its current planned form.
He said he feared that the current vision would fragment the city's network of cycle routes and make cycleways too narrow.
But Tim Kent, the council's cabinet member for transport, insisted: "The scheme will bring back in substantial additional cycling provision, including extra bridges and extra cycle ways. It's a real boost for cycling in this city."
Comments
by Erinaceus
Tuesday, June 05 2012, 9:01PM
“Ed is a Bodhisattva who has postponed his chance of nirvana to spread peace, harmony and enlightenment among the people of Bristol. Flowers spring up in his footprints and he is surrounded by the sacred fragrance of the lotus flower”
by KBillies
Tuesday, June 05 2012, 8:51PM
“Ed is a lovely guy.
He is so gentle and sincere.
One day he will be a very good Councillor and even his opponents would not dispute that.”
by Erinaceus
Tuesday, June 05 2012, 6:56PM
“Ed Bramall! What a man! Not only did he row the Atlantic single-handed on a tea tray, he also climbed Everest wearing a diving suit and handcuffs!
We Bristolians should be proud to have such a paragon amongst us (other than the street in Clifton, obviously)
With acknowledgment to Katachua.”
by DM_Fishponds
Tuesday, June 05 2012, 6:27PM
“@Chipnum – "That would prevent the BRT from serving UWE on its way into town."
That is not the case. The bus stops are already on-campus causing buses to detour onto the UWE site. There would be little time lost for the buses to detour onto the UWE campus and then return to the A4174. It would certainly not warrant a £13 million dedicated junction on the M32.
You wrote, "The 'bus lane' (actually a 2+ lane) also is not best placed for buses wanting to join the M32 southbound, as it would require a manoevre across two or three lanes, where at peak times these are full of queuing traffic."
Perhaps you could explain if this is a design fault of the existing bus lane? There are plenty of examples of roundabouts with a bus lane in lane 1 giving buses priority to go right round the roundabout. Surely not beyond the wit of most transport planners and again avoiding a £13 million price tag.
The council want the dedicated bus junction on the M32 as an un-guaranteed first step towards the future 'pie-in-the-sky' park & ride. Another £13 million wasted on un-warranted traffic modifications.”
by Chipnum
Tuesday, June 05 2012, 5:44PM
“@ DM_Fishponds: "The BRT reluctantly concede that the newly constructed bus lane which already runs from Abbey Wood roundabout all the way to Junction 1 of the M32 could be used. This would not only save the allotments AND £13 million (the cost of the bus-only junction) but would allow the buses onto the M32 at Junction 1 rather than the proposed 1a."
That would prevent the BRT from serving UWE on its way into town. The 'bus lane' (actually a 2+ lane) also is not best placed for buses wanting to join the M32 southbound, as it would require a manoevre across two or three lanes, where at peak times these are full of queuing traffic. The 2+ lane will however be used by the BRT buses heading to Emmersons Green via the Science Park, a useful link from Parkway. So all is not lost.”
by KBillies
Tuesday, June 05 2012, 3:51PM
“Ed Bramall is a fine young man and a good candidate with good grace and social skills and I like him a lot.
Worth noting Trolls.”
by Erinaceus
Tuesday, June 05 2012, 2:18PM
“@Stompeh
Well said, mate!
Must say that I'm enjoying Katachua's replies, though ;)”
by DM_Fishponds
Tuesday, June 05 2012, 2:14PM
“@Kbillies – "Lets remember the people of Whitchurch Park chose Tim and any door knocked on has the locals singing his praises."
Unfortunately Kbillies 'facts' are not at all accurate:
Tim Kent on elections in Whitchurch Park: http://tinyurl.com/csttvqj
"I was first elected in 2006 taking the seat from Labour. I was reelected in 2010 winning by 59 votes in a ward which remains a close fight between the Lib Dems and Labour."
In 2011 the people of Whitchurch elected Helen Holland (Labour). Tim Kent's current term as a councilor ends next year (May 2013).
• Tim Kent (Liberal) won in 2010 by only 59 votes.
• Helen Holland (Labour) won in 2011 by 784 votes, receiving more than double the votes of the Liberal candidate!
So, in Whitchurch Park last year 51% voted Labour and only 24% voted LibDem!
Perhaps KBillies can 'spin' these statistics?
Let us hope that the people of Whitchurch Park are more intelligent than @KBillies thinks they are!”
by Stompeh
Tuesday, June 05 2012, 1:42PM
“@KBillies
It's really very irritating when you copy and paste the same comment on every article that has anything vaguely to do with transport...”
by katachua
Tuesday, June 05 2012, 1:32PM
“The people of Whitchurch Park are the finest sentient beings in the known Universe. Their wit, wisdom, and choice of councillor are famous throughout the Western Spiral Arm of the galaxy.
I would feel inadequate to live there and so I stay here in Bishopston - or Horfield (after meeting a member of the local consultation group, I am confused as to which).”