Memorandum from Bristol Visual & Environmental Group (SWT 94)

 

This group is a Bristol Amenity Society registered with the Civic Trust. It is represented on the Conservation Advisory Panel of the City of Bristol and consulted by the City on the current LDF core strategy. We have at no time been made aware of any opportunity to make a submission to the South West Select Committee on Transport and we wonder if local Amenity Societies are giving evidence, as they should be allowed to do. In Bristol, they have played a major part in making the case for sustainable transport rather than encouraging more and more traffic to come through the city. We would like the following to be put to your Committee:

 

A. STRATEGIC PLANS in the SOUTH WEST: AVON BARRAGE: We have proposed on several occasions that it is necessary to have a second crossing of the R. Avon at Avonmouth, and that this should be a Barrage with road and rail on top, to serve Portbury and Avonmouth Docks with rail connections and to allow local traffic to cross the Avon without miles of detour on to the M5. We suggested this before the M5 bridge was widened, some years ago, but we were told we had made the suggestion too late in the planning process. In the event a barrage could have saved millions of pounds and man hours as costs of widening escalated and delays on the motorway were prolonged. We can see how useful an alternative crossing would be as the M5 bridge is re-surfaced, or when closed for 6 hours because someone wants to jump into the river, and all the Motorway traffic is clogging up every road in Bristol. The barrage might even be able to pay for itself by generating electricity as well as connecting the two ports to the main rail system.

 

A2. We do think the potential of WATER TRANSPORT should be considered as an alternative to roads for regular bulk loads in the West. The South West of England is particularly suited to coastal shipping which could save much energy. Containers could be devised to suit water transport to many places in the West of England, Ireland and Wales as well as inland waterways. This needs to be considered along with a Severn Barrage and the potential must be safeguarded.

 

A3. Our priority in terms of expenditure and urgency would be the re-use of old railway lines extending the basis of a suburban rail system or to become part of a local network of light rail, etc. starting with the Portishead line. It seems crucial that there is a Transport Authority for Bristol & Avon Area.

 

A4. However, we do consider that it is necessary to complete what is supposed to be a ring road around the South of Bristol. It is crazy to complete 90% of it and leave the rest.

 

B. LOCAL TRANSPORT: For the past 20 years or more, successive City Councils have ignored the growing congestion in the City of Bristol and have failed to take simple steps to alleviate it (see below) and re-consider planning policies which daily increase density of development in the centre and inner areas of the city, rather than in the outer suburbs. The introduction of national and regional policies seems the only way to give Councillors the courage to take more resolute decisions.

 

B2. RESIDENTS' PARKING SCHEMES are needed. We consider that so long as commuters are allowed to dump their cars every day for free in inner city residential areas, no drivers will switch to public transport and few will use Park & Ride. Inner City Residents' Parking Schemes which charge commuters and service providers, like builders, significant amounts for parking, while residents pay far less, could provide revenue to police the schemes and subsidise public transport fares which are currently far too dear for the working public. The current situation which brings huge numbers of commuters unnecessarily into residential areas creates dangerous conditions, with cars "parked solid" over pavements and there is limited visibility at road junctions, while arguments between neighbours are frequent.

 

B3. STUDENTS, SCHOOL CHILDREN AND CARS: We have few parking problems in the summer when schools and universities close. The country has an obesity problem. So why are parents allowed to drive their fat children to the school door, often situated in a congested cul de sac of narrow roads and pavements where the children who walk to school are increasingly at risk? Drop off points should be compulsory some way from the schools. Universities in Bristol don't tell their students they don't need cars. City planners allow ever higher density in large numbers of flatlets in what were single family houses, creating student ghettos adding students' cars as well as refuse problems in many residential areas.

 

C. DAMAGE TO VIABILITY OF HISTORIC AREAS: The West Country is one of the most beautiful areas in England and the contribution from tourism is very high. Bristol itself has 35 Conservation Areas, mostly in the city centre and immediately around it, and these contain most of the 4000 Listed Buildings, many of which are lived in and well maintained by owner-occupiers. But these good custodians are being driven out by the lack of a place to park and the ever growing impact of unnecessary traffic and congestion in the historic areas, making it more dangerous for the children to walk to school and difficult to work from home. We are losing the quality of life in our cities and congestion is one of the main causes. This must be of major concern in the South West Region and should be of concern to the Westminster government.

 

 

October 2009