WECA has published its ‘Engagement Report’ following the A4 Bath to Bristol Consultation held between August and October 2023. See https://b2b.haveyoursaywest.co.uk/
SPC strongly opposed bus lanes on the Keynsham Bypass. WECA is looking to proceed with consultation on proposals for bus lanes on the bypass and some other actions at this location, see p.17 on WECA’s Engagement Report. SPC notes that WECA has carried out ‘analysis on traffic modelling’ since the consultation last year, and modelling on air quality and carbon emissions, should bus lanes be introduced on the Keynsham Bypass. SPC is keen to view this information, especially in relation to air quality in Saltford and travel flow impact for all vehicles (e.g. travel times for all road users, including buses), and will look to WECA to share this information in due course prior to a Full Business Case being consulted on in early 2025.
SPC raised concerns about several of the proposals in WECA’s consultation for Saltford. SPC is pleased to see on p.18 of the Engagement Report that WECA is no longer looking to remove parking availability on High St (Double Yellow Lines proposed near High Street’s junction with The Shallows, near the Bird in Hand) or Manor Road (removal of parking availability on one side of the road, including the removal of the parking bay near Manor Road’s junction with the A4 Bath Road). WECA is also no longer looking to introduce ‘shared paths’ on pavements at Manor Road and Grange Road.
The parking bay on Manor Road (near the A4 Bath Rd junction) will remain, following WECA proposals to remove it and ban all parking on this side of the road. The pavement will also remain as is, rather than being turned into a ‘shared path’ for use by those on wheels and by pedestrians.
SPC also welcomes that WECA is also no longer proposing to remove the A4 pedestrian island crossing near The Crown on the A4 Bath Road (as was shown on an image used during the consultation period).
The pedestrian island crossing near The Crown (opposite the bus stops in the centre of Saltford) will remain. SPC awaits further information on proposals for a bus lane (towards Bristol) near this location, as included in the consultation last autumn.
Aspects of SPC’s consultation response that the Parish Council hopes to receive further information from WECA about include consultation proposals for a section of bus lane from the Broadmead Roundabout to Saltford (towards Bath); a section of bus lane from Tyning Rd to Rodney Rd (towards Bristol); new cycling and walking routes from High St to the A4 via Norman Road (including raised hatching areas); and upgraded traffic signals by Saltford Motors.
SPC has signed up to attend the A4 Bath to Bristol Community Forum (see p.19 on WECA’s Engagement Report for details on how to do similar). The WECA team overseeing the A4 Bath to Bristol project have responded to confirm that SPC will be invited to attend. SPC has requested that agendas and minutes from the Forum are shared publicly so that all residents interested can be kept informed of discussions, and awaits a response on this. WECA has stated that they intend that the first forum will take place in September.
SPC has also requested that the WECA team sends update those who requested to receive information via email (sign-up option on WECA’s https://b2b.haveyoursaywest.co.uk/ page), including information about the Engagement Report and any future newsletters, etc. SPC has raised concerns to WECA about its communications with SPC and Saltford residents who signed up for updates, following the consultation last year.
Looking forward, WECA has stated in its report that ‘it should be noted the scheme is not set in stone as both Bristol and B&NES sections move into the next stages of design and further consultation‘. A full business case, including some modelling, will be presented in due course. P.18 states ‘During the Full Business Case stage the detailed design will be developed, and this will be presented at public consultation where the public will again be asked to have their say‘. SPC will respond to the next WECA consultation on proposals, due early 2025. Residents are welcome to attend and speak at SPC’s meetings prior to the Council resolving a view.
SPC strongly objected to many of WECA’s consultation proposals. SPC’s view on the WECA proposals made remain, unless otherwise resolved by SPC in the future based on new information.
A summary of SPC’s views and copy of its full response to WECA is on this website under ‘News’ in its ‘SPC strongly objects to A4 Bath to Bristol Consultation Proposals’ article, please visit https://www.saltfordparishcouncil.gov.uk/spc-strongly-objects-to-a4-bath-to-bristol-consultation-proposals/
Further information from WECA about their consultation proposals in or close to Saltford can be found in the Engagement Report’s appendix pages, including both statistics and comments stemming from consultation responses. Of particular interest to Saltford residents may include sections about the Keynsham Bypass on p.221 and for the Saltford area (Broadmead Roundabout to the Globe) on p.222. Saltford residents may also be interested in the information from pages 112, p.131, p. 157, p.171, p.178, p.183 and p.238 which focus on elements of the consultation that SPC responded to.
Further to its consultation response, SPC also made a formal complaint to WECA about aspects of its A4 Bath to Bristol Consultation. Please see SPC’s news article ‘WECA A4 Bath to Bristol Consultation: SPC raises formal complaint’ at https://www.saltfordparishcouncil.gov.uk/weca-a4-bath-to-bristol-consultation-spc-raises-formal-complaint/
Information about the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) can be found on their website at https://www.westofengland-ca.gov.uk/about-us/
WECA’s email address for the A4 Bath to Bristol Consultation is: BathtoBristol@westofengland-ca.gov.uk
