Today SPC has been made aware of B&NES’s Creating Sustainable Communities Programme and welcomes B&NES Council’s inclusion and consideration of key suggestions made by Saltford Parish Council in its response to the ‘Journey to Net Zero’ consultation, which SPC responded to in September 2024.
B&NES Council ran a series of public consultations in July and August 2024 to gather community feedback on the transport-related challenges facing our area and others. In July 2024 Saltford Parish Council (SPC) raised awareness of B&NES Council’s Strategic Transport consultations ‘Creating Sustainable Communities in North East Somerset: The Journey to Net Zero’ and ‘Active Travel Masterplan’.
At its September 2024 meeting, SPC resolved responses to both consultations. Please view SPC’s article ‘Proposals for ‘Quiet Routes’ and ‘Quick Routes’ on residential roads – SPC responds to two B&NES Strategic Transport consultations’, which includes a summary of SPC’s views as well as copies of its full responses.
The adopted strategy – following public consultation responses – brings together what B&NES Council learned from these consultations to form a plan for the future. The Creating Sustainable Communities Programme page on the B&NES Council website links to details of the local issues that have been identified, many by SPC for the ‘Keynsham and Saltford’ section of the strategy, and how B&NES Council could plan to address them.
Below, SPC has copied its responses to the ‘Journey to Net Zero’ consultation, specifically Question 1 ‘Do you feel that there are additional issues or barriers affecting your travel needs which either result in you not being able to access the facilities and services that you need, or prevent you from using sustainable transport to do so? Please answer with reference to location where possible‘. These SPC responses are then followed by a copy of information in B&NES Council’s ‘Creating Sustainable Communities: The Journey to Net Zero’ final document.
This demonstrates the impact that SPC has had on B&NES Council’s strategic transport plans for the village, and B&NES Council’s consideration of points raised by SPC, as follows:
- SPC consultation response: Lack of safe pedestrian island refuge (or other pedestrian friendly crossing points) on the A4 Bath Rd in Saltford, specifically at the A4 junction with Uplands Road (near https://what3words.com/hologram.rashers.asked ) and importantly near the Bristol bound ‘The Shallows’ bus stop around the A4 junction with The Glen (in the area around https://what3words.com/belief.computer.heartache ). Lack of safe crossing points on this busy road prevents bus use, particularly by more vulnerable residents.
B&NES ‘The Journey to Net Zero’ final document: 2.2.80 Saltford Village Centre – Measures to reduce the impact of the A4 on the centre of Saltford are being considered through the Bath to Bristol Strategic Corridor (BBSC) programme which would provide…. new/improved crossings for those walking, wheeling and cycling to support access from communities and railway stations. This includes improved crossing points at the A4 junction with Uplands Road and around the A4 junction with The Glen to enable safer access for those walking and wheeling to buses.
2. SPC consultation response: Lack of bus shelter at the Bath bound ‘The Shallows’ bus stop (https://what3words.com/deflated.royally.ridge ). Currently users are exposed to the elements and stand close to the busy A4, discouraging bus use for those who access the A4 from this side of the village. Upgrade all bus stops to have shelters and digital update signs for users.
B&NES ‘The Journey to Net Zero’ final document: 2.2.129 In response to the need for better bus shelters, the plan includes the installation of new, modern shelters, including along the main A4 corridor, such as the Shallows bus stop. These new shelters will feature enhanced amenities, including digital real time passenger information services. This technology will provide passengers with up-to-date information on bus arrival times, helping them plan their journeys more efficiently and reducing uncertainty and waiting times. By upgrading these facilities, we can provide a more comfortable and convenient waiting environment, encouraging more people to use public transport. Better shelters will protect passengers from adverse weather, offer seating for those who need it, and create a more pleasant waiting experience. These improvements are expected to increase bus patronage by making public transport a more attractive option, thereby reducing car usage and contributing to lower traffic congestion and improved air quality.
3. SPC consultation response: ‘Pavement parking’ on pavements adjacent to the A4 Bath Road (around pavements at https://what3words.com/patch.escalates.modules ), particularly on the pavement outside residential properties opposite the speed camera on the hill in Saltford. Regular all four wheels on the pavement parking entirely prevents those in wheelchairs/mobility scooters access to/from bus stops, and makes it dangerous for those who are more vulnerable as having to step into the busy highway. Barriers or a continuity of the current fencing (at https://what3words.com/profited.hamsters.ranked ) is recommended to ensure safe access and to prevent potential accidents and fatalities.
B&NES ‘The Journey to Net Zero’ final document: 2.2.80 Additional interventions might include: Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs) – meaning an area in which, during specified controlled times, every length of street within a CPZ is subject to either a restriction on waiting, or is a permitted parking place. At each entry point to the CPZ area, vehicular traffic signs indicate the boundary of the CPZ and the times of restriction; Haphazard and pavement parking can reduce the benefits afforded by schemes set out within this section, such as liveable neighbourhood style interventions, by obstructing walking and wheeling. Coupling CPZ schemes with liveable neighbourhoods is likely to be important in ensuring their success. CPZ schemes should incorporate Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle (ULEV) car club provision to provide access to cars for those who need them occasionally. Ahead of implementation, such schemes always consider the impact on residents, tradespeople and businesses in the area, involve Equalities Impact Assessment, and include full consultation on detailed design with local residents and businesses; Pavements and Footpaths – Working with Keynsham Town Council and Saltford Parish Council to identify and implement improvements to existing pavements and footpaths. This will also focus on assessing the need for new footpaths and pavements to ensure better connectivity to key services and facilities; Working alongside the community to identify potential measures to address the issue of vehicles regularly parking on the pavements in Saltford.
4. SPC consultation response: No option to travel by railway from Saltford. Current option is to travel by bus to Keynsham and walk, or travel to Bath by bus. Many residents have expressed that they would welcome the option to travel by railway. Engagement with SPC during the development of a feasibility studies and prior to any public consultation(s) on a re-opened Saltford station is requested to help assist the success and acceptance by the community of a re-opened Saltford station.
B&NES ‘The Journey to Net Zero’ final document: 2.4.1 Table 2-2 below sets out a table summarising potential transport interventions for Keynsham and Saltford. Rail is an attractive option for long distance public transport. Feasibility study into a potential rail station at Saltford
5. SPC consultation response: Lack of a defined segregation between cyclists and pedestrians on the shared cycle/pedestrian path between Saltford and Keynsham adjacent to the A4 Bath Road. Improvements required include defined segregation a via a central painted line and pavement signage on the Saltford to Keynsham shared footpath/cycle path would make this safer for all users. It would specifically encourage and benefit young people to use forms of ‘active travel’ to Wellsway School to/from Saltford by increasing safer use. In short stretches of the pavement where the path it is not currently wide enough to facilitate segregation, its shared use, and thus the need for added caution, should be clearly marked.
B&NES ‘The Journey to Net Zero’ final document: 2.2.80 Saltford Village Centre – Measures to reduce the impact of the A4 on the centre of Saltford are being considered through the Bath to Bristol Strategic Corridor (BBSC) programme which would provide a continuous, direct, high quality strategic cycle route between Bristol and Bath segregated from general traffic and buses, in accordance with LTN 01/20, as well as new/improved crossings for those walking, wheeling and cycling to support access from communities and railway stations.
If or when any of these suggestions will be implemented – and in what form exactly – is yet to be seen, but SPC values its views being integrated into B&NES Council’s strategic transport document.
‘Active Travel Masterplan’ – B&NES listens to SPC again
A 20-year vision aimed at making walking, wheeling and cycling the natural choice for many journeys across the district has been formally adopted by Bath & North East Somerset Council.
The Active Travel Masterplan, a comprehensive plan that outlines the existing and future network of active travel, demonstrates a key step towards achieving the council’s goal of becoming net zero by 2030.
As previously shared, SPC welcomes B&NES Council listening to the Parish Council’s requests to improve Active Travel.
The recently published Transport Action Plan interactive map at Transport Action Map lists schemes in Saltford. All schemes included were requested by Saltford Parish Council:
20mph Speed Limit Introduction – Courtenay Road/Manor Road (AKA the ‘lanes’ – also requested by SPC at its September 2023 meeting)
Manor Road, closure of stretch of road to south of Montague Road (AKA Manor Road ‘lane’, as recently resurfaced as also requested by SPC)
Install a central pedestrian refuge on Bath Road (hill) A4 Saltford to facilitate safer crossing (In progress – B&NES has assigned funds and installed dropped kerbs and lining – now awaiting island installation).
Options Assessment of Saltford Railway Station (In progress – requested as recorded in SPC’s minutes in recent years).
Further to the above, SPC has requested a lower speed limit and vehicle width restriction on Longwood Lane, and a weight limit on High Street and nearby roads in the Conservation Area, for safety reasons and to aid Active Travel. Watch this space!
Image shows bus stop in Saltford without a bus shelter or digital information