Challenges to ‘hugely unpopular’ plan for new bus lanes between Bristol and Bath

Transport chiefs have acknowledged the challenges with a “hugely unpopular” plan for new bus lanes on the main road between Bristol and Bath. The work includes building bus lanes along several roads running from the two city centres, including places such as Keynsham and Saltford.

The A4 corridor between Bristol and Bath often suffers from heavy rush hour congestion which can hold up buses, making journeys longer. The West of England Combined Authority plans to spend £89m building new bus lanes and cycle paths along the route.

An update on the Bristol-to-Bath plan was given to the review and scrutiny committee on Monday 22 July, which includes councilors from the three councils in the West of England – Bristol, South Gloucestershire and Bath and North East Somerset.

Read more: Major changes planned for Bristol – Bath corridor have left residents ‘in disbelief’

Read more: Rees-Mogg calls for WECA funding to be cut over controversial A4 bus lane plans

Liberal Democrat councilor Alison Streatfeild-James, chair of the committee, said: “I know there are difficulties with the A4 corridor from Bristol to Bath. Among local residents, many of these proposals are extremely unpopular. Because of the way they’re going and speeding, there’s no time to get the communications right.”

The project will be split into sections, with plans in Bristol easier to deliver than in Bath. Groundwork will not start until at least September next year and is due to be completed by March 2027. The budget has been revised downwards after initially being estimated to cost more.

Malcolm Parsons, acting director of delivery for transport infrastructure at the combined authority, said: “We recognize that engaging in the strategic corridor from Bath to Bristol has been a challenge. We’re creating a suite of local forums for community members to get more involved in discussions.

“We have already tweaked some of the designs based on feedback. The challenge, rather than the delivery of the scheme, would be the disruption to the network and how we move people around while doing those works. I’m absolutely confident we’ll get that scheme, because it’s actually not that complicated. It’s pretty simple.”

Last year, Jacob Rees-Mogg, former Tory MP for North East Somerset, urged the government to cut funding for the West of England, which was “crushing the driver with this appalling, ugly scheme in Saltford for a bus lane on the A4”. .