South Bristol ring road plans

I read with interest your article in a recent edition of the Evening Post about the south Bristol road plans, and in particular, the comments on the proposed links between the Hicks Gate and Hartcliffe Way roundabout.

I have campaigned on this for a long time – as a Labour councillor in Keynsham. It is residents in my ward who are suffering from the overspill from the heavy congestion.

Commuters trying to avoid the congestion on the A4 into Bristol are using rat runs through Keynsham to reach the south of Bristol. Charlton Road in particular is being used as a rat run. The street, which starts in the town centre, is home to many residents of the town as well as being a route for children attending the local primary school. This road was intended for local journeys only – it wasn't designed for hundreds of cars an hour and hasn't been upgraded to handle this.

I believe the only way to alleviate these problems is the full completion of the ring road and so it is with great disappointment that I have heard that the West of England Partnership has not designated the Hartcliffe Way-Hicks Gate roundabout link as a priority.

I acknowledge that transport is a significant issue for the entire West of England area; however, the completion of this 'missing link' will benefit not only residents from B&NES, but Bristol and South Gloucestershire as well.

The current plans, which involve the construction working back from the A38/A370, will leave a gap in the route, causing yet more people to find a route around or through Keynsham.

All four councils need to think seriously about how they are going to tackle this issue.

It is essential to develop traffic management plans for south Bristol, which take on board not only the future plans for the ring road but the impact of the planned housing developments.

The A4174 cannot cope with the volume of traffic which is being generated, so what will it be like with another 1,000 residents' cars?

Adrian Inker Keynsham