Buses and bikes to rule Bath's roads

City bosses pledged to make Bath safer for pedestrians to try to sway opponents of their £58 million transport scheme.

They unveiled measures to improve bus and cycle facilities as plans went on display for the £16m Bus Rapid Transit and Bathampton Meadows park and ride.

Bath would get better bus services in the city centre and along the A4, A367 and A37.

A pedal bike and electric bike hire service would be created at park and ride sites.

And the council would build a depot so HGVs do not have to drive into the city centre – a scheme that has proved successful in Bristol.

Bath and North East Somerset Council also pledged to ban cars from some streets, promote the city car club and improve cycling facilities.

Rush hour traffic in central Bath will increase by 14 per cent in 10 years.

So cabinet member for transport, Cllr Charles Gerrish, said inaction was not an option.

"We have teamed up with two companies to devise a cycle hire system for Bath's park and ride sites," he said.

"This will encourage more people to travel by bike around the city and also visitors and staff to and from the Royal United Hospital, which would cut congestion from on-street parking around Weston.

"We have European funding to set up a depot for HGVs close to the ring road so their goods can be taken in by electric-powered and less polluting vehicles which will improve air quality and allow public transport to move around the city more freely."

The council hopes to submit the four planning applications key to the Bath Transport Package early next year.

Opponents have criticised the authority for refusing to consider alternative routes for the BRT, but Mr Gerrish and council leader Francine Haeberling said they had to stick to the original bid to get £54m Government funding.

"We have not settled for second best. We have looked at alternative options but they don't solve the problems and would have affected more businesses and homes," said Cllr Haeberling.

"The Department for Transport took a long time to look at these plans and make sure they met all their criteria, so we would not meet the criteria for funding if we changed them now."

Both councillors admitted that if any of the applications are refused, the whole package could collapse.

But they said funds would still be available if any parts of the proposal were called in for public enquiry, provided they were granted eventually.

"If we do nothing the situation will just get worse," said Mr Gerrish.

"Critics have said the park and ride is an outdated solution but we have to be realistic – those in more rural areas will always drive in and we need to intercept those cars before they get to the city centre."

They said the council would try to screen the park and ride from public view.

Bath and North East Somerset Council explains its plans at www.bathnes.gov.uk/stopgridlock, and they are on show at the Guildhall today from 9.30am-5pm.