Scrap Filton Avenue bus lane, say transport campaigners
A TRANSPORT group is calling on South Gloucestershire Council to get rid of an unpopular bus lane.
The Transport for Greater Bristol Alliance believes that the Filton Avenue lane causes delays and congestion.
The campaign group believes the council should follow neighbouring Bristol City Council's lead after a stretch of bus lane in Westbury Road, near White Tree roundabout, was removed.
A spokesman for the organisation said: "Removing it would mean that two lanes of traffic could now approach the junction with Station Road, and both motorists and public transport users would benefit. This is because the bus companies would much prefer to take buses off Filton Avenue, and along Nutfield Grove though the Abbey Wood station car park and onto Station Road without using the congested junction, as it makes journey times more reliable."
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The group said a rail and bus interchange at Filton Abbey Wood station would make public transport more attractive to passengers. At the moment only one bus per hour departs from the station car park.
The spokesman added; "All the buses on Filton Avenue pass by 200m away from the car park, but the nearest bus stop for them is nearly 600m from the platforms. There are no houses fronting on to Nutfield Grove, where the buses would run, and the predominantly elderly residents further down Nutfield Grove would have a bus stop close to hand at Abbey Wood, instead of nearly half a mile away.
"This would also be the opportunity to move bus stops from the busy Filton Avenue junction where they present a traffic hazard."
Residents and shopkeepers say the lane is a waste of time and money.
South Gloucestershire Council spokeswoman Sarah Hudspith said the authority planned to look at improving bus access at the station.
"It is an aspiration of South Gloucestershire Council that more buses serve Filton Abbey Wood station in the future and we will be working with the bus operators to identify what measures may be required to allow this to happen," she said. "However, removal of the bus lane on Filton Avenue would not automatically result in buses calling at Filton Abbey Wood as suggested by TfGB. The bus lane on Filton Avenue was implemented as part of the Greater Bristol Bus Network in order to improve the reliability of services. The bus lane is supported by First Group."
Comments
by Chipnum
Thursday, October 18 2012, 1:56PM
“Looking at Google Maps this plan would only be workable if they build a bus link-road between Nutfield Rd and Emma-Chris Way, the latter being where the existing bus turn-around for Filton Abbey Wood station is located. This would then enable buses to avoid the junction by the King George V pub. It would also require the traffic signals at the junction of Emma-Chris Way and Station Road being modified to give a bus priority phase, enabling buses to turn right out of Emma-Chris Way towards the Abbey Wood Roundabout with minimal delay.
Nutfield Rd itself is a dead end, with housing and no room at the end for a bus turn-around. I am against diverting buses off their line of route to serve a facility located down a dead end only to have to double back to continue their route. This inconveniences the majority of passengers who are travelling beyond the diversion point.”
by frannie2011
Tuesday, October 09 2012, 6:54PM
“The bus lane on Filton Ave is a definite pain in the backside if you are a car driver but I am sure the bus passengers have welcomed it over recent weeks when the traffic has been so heavy. It took me an hour one day to drive from Northville Road to the George! As for the rest of it - well the bus companies seem to have deserted my end of Filton Avenue months ago so I can no longer get a bus to town as the nearest bus stop on any route is too far for me to walk. Until they get things right for EVERYONE traffic will continue to be an issue.
I have to say our Sth Glos Councillors dont do much to help either. Roadworks are imminent on the Millhouse roundabout as works start to widen the dual carriageway in readiness for the new hospital traffic. OK - so they havent got their 17'ft of land from Filton Town Council so they are going to make a point and do it anyway - and ****** the increased congestion for everyone in the meantime. Typical small mindedness of SGC once again!”
by BobMoone
Tuesday, October 09 2012, 6:39PM
“Cannot wait to hear the excuses from our three serving Labour SGLOS councillors for Filton(A Monk, I Scott R Hutchinson). This issue has been raised repeatedly at safer Filton meetings in recent years and not one of them has taken any action. They just ignore calls to sort it out.
Labours planning and transport spokes for SGlos and Filton, Roger Hutchinson seems to spend more time defending Stoke Gifford (park and no ride) and Patchway (Highwood) road problems these days. Wonder if he'll appear on TV to defend this bus lane?”