Full council to rule on bus-cycle scheme for Patchway
COUNCILLORS in South Gloucestershire will decide next month whether to turn one of the area’s busiest roads into a dedicated bus and cycle-only route.
They decided on Wednesday to introduce the experimental traffic measures on Highwood Road in Patchway for an 18-month trial.
But the move has been referred to South Gloucestershire’s full council for a final decision.
The dual carriageway was formerly a major route to The Mall and Cribbs Causeway but traffic now uses the new bypass at Hayes Way, built as part of the nearby Charlton Hayes development.
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Lib Dem Councillor Pat Hockey said: “These plans were agreed in 2002 after several workshops and exhibitions. At that time local people appeared to welcome the opportunity to put an end to traffic heading for The Mall cutting through Patchway.
“The general view was that the new development should be part of Patchway and not grow as a separate community. Shared facilities such as the library should bring the new and longer standing residents together.
“Instead of a busy intrusive road, a pleasant open area is planned for people to enjoy. The closure of Highwood Road to general traffic is a key part of achieving this. Local people now feel that these proposals will cause problems for them that far outweigh the benefits.
“For this reason the final decision has been referred for the full council to make in July.”
Comments
by Peter_Graham
Monday, June 25 2012, 11:28PM
“I live in Birch Close. I generally agree that stopping Highwood Road being the main route to the Mall is a good idea. However the present arrangements will close the only route from my home to the things in Patchway I use - the library, the dentist and optician, and Holy Family Church. I used to walk this route regularly but am a little less mobile than I used to be (I have a bad leg.) Driving round Coniston Road is not a happy alternative - my car gets shaken to pieces with the traffic calming humps and in the evening unhappy people have been known to throw stones at the cars and buses. Highwood Road at the moment is busy and well light so is safe. When it is only used by a very small number of buses in the evening ( less than 6 per hour) it will be very quiet, and in my opinion much less safe. I expect the linear park will become a place where people with antisocial habits will lurk making a reservoir of vandels in the district, and I think the area will become very messy with rubbish all over the place. If you walk round this area on Monday morning you can see signs of this type of behaviour already. Has Councillor Hockey ever lived in this area, or even visited it? I have lived here since 1974, and said these things when the closure of Highwood Road was first proposed. I suspect with careful road signs and planning the through traffic can be steered away from Highwood Road, but that it can be kept open so those of us who live here do not experience a deterioration in our neighbourhood.
P Graham (BS34 5SD)”
by lolly60
Monday, June 25 2012, 9:45AM
“I agree with what this Coucillor(i dont normally agree with her on most issues) has said the people of Patchway had every opertunity to say no to this idea at any one of the meetings that took place over the years ,i was at these meetings and yes there was a few of the locals (and a few not locals )that did object to the change ,but they didnt do anything about it then .I like most of my neighbours and other dont belive Coniston will be used as a rat run ,it doesn get used now as one so why would it be later on .You will never please everyone so what ever the SGC meeting outcome there will be no winners in this .”