Bristol to Bath Railway Path proposals: SPC informs WECA of its view (after end date)

SPC resolved the following at its October 2023 meeting (after the 1 October A4 Bath to Bristol consultation end date):

‘A4 BATH TO BRISTOL ‘BRISTOL TO BATH RAILWAY PATH’ RESPONSE TO WECA 

Further to additional information being made clearly available in the A4 Bath to Bristol consultation following SPC resolving its response at the September meeting, the Council resolved to submit to WECA a response based on information supplied about the section of Bristol to Bath Railway Path (B2B Path) through Saltford.  

The Council resolved to share with WECA that it strongly supported the sustainable travel and environmental benefits of the Bristol to Bath Railway Path (B2B Path), and the importance to the community of this travel route that is also a Site of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCI) adjacent to and within the Cotswolds AONB. In consideration of the consultation information, the Council did however wish to state to WECA the following points: 

  • That if a lighting scheme were to be placed on the B2B Path, that SPC would want a comprehensive wildlife survey to be carried out in advance to assess the impact on wildlife of any introduction of lighting at this location prior to the 2024 consultation. SPC was conscious of the impact such lighting could have on insects (including glow worms, moths, beetles and bush-crickets), bats and other fauna in the Saltford to Bath stretch of the path, and would wish to see this taken into account in any wildlife survey and proposed lighting scheme. 
  • If a lighting scheme were to be introduced, that it should be operational in the winter months only to reduce negative impacts on wildlife and for a time period for lighting during peak travel times rather than lighting being on 24/7. 
  • That if a lighting scheme were to be introduced, that the use of ‘motion sensing’ lighting be considered. 

SPC also resolved to request that should this matter be on the 2024 consultation, that WECA provide considerably more detail on the type of lighting scheme proposed so that the Council and Saltford’s residents could submit an informed response. 

This response was submitted to WECA following the consultation end date. Saltford Parish Council’s response to the WECA A4 Bath to Bristol consultation on 5 September was based on information available at the consultation website’s ‘Proposals’ page. The information sheet relating to the Bristol to Bath Railway Path (Saltford section) was not linked or shared from WECA’s consultation page under ‘Proposals’ ‘cycling and walking’.

Following the B2B Path information as shared on the ‘downloads’ page being identified on 19 September at the drop-in event, along with other new and more detailed information added by WECA on this date to its ‘Downloads’ and ‘FAQs’ consultation website pages, SPC decided to resolve a response at its October meeting. SPC also shared information about the B2B Path proposals on its social media at the time, so residents could be aware.

SPC has requested WECA take its B2B Path response into account, considering the information was not linked from its ‘proposals’ page. SPC’s concerns with regards to the consultation process, including matters such as this, have been raised as a formal complaint to WECA. Please see our news article ‘A4 Bath to Bristol Consultation: SPC submits formal complaint to WECA‘ for more information.

Saltford Parish Council has requested that an update following the 2023 consultation is provided at the February 2024 Keynsham Area Forum. It has also requested a ‘timeline’ for actions/events following the consultation to be made available for residents. SPC understands that the next consultation will take place in September 2024.

To sign up for updates from WECA about the project, visit the HaveYourSay ‘Get Involved’ page of the consultation website at https://b2b.haveyoursaywest.co.uk/index.php?contentid=30 (click on ‘Sign up for updates’ box to the bottom right of the page)

Image shows section of Bristol to Bath Railway Path (‘B2B Path) in Saltford