South Bristol LinkNews

How you can commentYou need to comment through the officialplanning process. Even if you have commentedon the scheme before, you will need to do soagain if you want your comments to beconsidered at this formal stage.

Most of the proposal is within North Somersetand some of it is within the boundaries ofBristol City so there are two identical planningapplications.

How long do I have to makemy comments?If your comments are not received by 21 August, 2013 then they may not be taken into account.

What happens next?The application will be decided by the councils’ planningcommittees. The date and time of the meetings will beposted on websites mentioned above later in the year.

Planning application submitted

If your comments relate tothe North Somerset area:

PLANNING APPLICATIONNUMBER: 13/P/1204/F2

WEBwww.n-somerset.gov.uk

POSTNorth Somerset CouncilDevelopment ManagementDevelopment and Environment Post Point 15Town Hall Weston-super-MareBS23 1UJ

If your comments relate to the Bristol City area:

PLANNING APPLICATIONNUMBER: 13/03108/F

WEBwww.bristol.gov.uk/page/planning-and-building-regulations/south-bristol-link

POSTBristol City CouncilDevelopment Management2nd Floor, Brunel HouseSt Georges RoadBristolBS1 5UY

Bristol City and North Somerset Councils have submitted a planning application for theSouth Bristol Link. This newsletter gives an overview of some of the information you canfind in the South Bristol Link planning application.

You can read all the documents andplans at:

� City Hall, Bristol

� Bishopsworth Library, Bristol

� Gatehouse Centre, Bristol

� Town Hall, Weston-super-Mare

� Castlewood, Clevedon

� Long Ashton Library

You can also view everything on Bristol Cityand North Somerset Councils’ websites.

July 2013

Why we need the South Bristol Link

South Bristol has the potential to attract much more investment into the area. Unfortunately, the traffic congestiondiscourages investment by businesses so is a barrier to employers locating in the area. This is almost exclusivelydue to the area’s lack of transport links compared to other parts of the region.

Our research shows that the link road will attract more businesses locally so there will be more local jobs.Another issue is the lack of effective public transport to the city centre, which the rapid transit network (MetroBus)will provide. There are health benefits too. By providing new cycle and pedestrian paths, we can encouragepeople to take exercise and adopt a more active life style, moving people to more sustainable ways of travelling.

The aim is to reduce congestion and get south Bristol moving. By improving travel choice and providing faster, morereliable public transport journeys, the reduction in congestion will contribute towards reducing pollution. It will maketravel to the airport quicker and easier, giving relief to unsuitable roads used as rat-runs such as Borrow Street inBarrow Gurney. For commuters it means more reliable journeys to work. For motorists it means less congestion onkey routes and for residents it means far greater accessibility to employment, shops and services.

South Bristol Link2

About the scheme

The South Bristol Link is a combined road and rapid transit bus route that travels between the A370 in LongAshton and Hengrove Park. It includes new cycle and pedestrian paths along the whole of the 4.5km route.

The scheme will transport passengers into south Bristol, linking the Long Ashton Park and Ride site to the newhospital, the Skills Academy, the shops at Imperial Park and the leisure centre at Hengrove Park.

The route will link into the wider rapid transit network with access to Bristol city centre and along the M32 toCribbs Causeway and Emerson’s Green in the north.

The SouthBristol Linkroute andMetroBusnetworklinks

Previousconsultations

Extensive consultation hastaken place with localresidents, businesses andcommunity groups. Inresponse to this consultationwe have changed the planssubstantially and thesechanges are included in theplanning application. Insome instances we have hadto strike a careful balancebetween competingrequirements. Overall thescheme provides significantsocio-economic and transportbenefits while ensuring thatthe way in which the schemeis designed minimises itseffects during constructionand operation.

Inevitably schemes of thisnature attract individuals,groups and organisationsthat are either for it or againstit. You can find out all aboutthe consultations that havetaken place in the CommunityInvolvement Statement andthe changes made as a resultof the consultation process.

The network

In combination with the Ashton Vale to Temple Meads (AVTM) route, the SouthBristol Link will improve the journey time of the Airport Flyer and journeyreliability between the Airport and citycentre. Linking to the North Fringeto Hengrove route, residentswill be able to travel intothe city centre and tonorth Bristol moreeasily.

The South Bristol Linkcorridor will include aconnection with the AVTMguided bus route, which willlead into the Long Ashton Parkand Ride site. The scheme is oneof eight major transportschemes proposed for theWest of England thatincludes MetroBus,MetroWest rail, BathTransportPackage,WestonPackage,TempleQuarterTransportPackageand theM49 newjunction.

South Bristol Link 3

Cycling and pedestrians

The scheme will provide pedestrianand cycleways alongside the whole4.5km length of the South BristolLink, linking to the Malago Greenwayat one end and the Festival Way atthe other. This will give an easierand more attractive route thancurrently exists, encouraging moreactive and healthy journeys. Wherefootpaths cross the scheme,diversions, underpasses or crossingswill be provided.

The MetroBusnetwork

Under themicroscope

In the planning application youcan find out detailedinformation about:

� Air quality

� Noise

� Flood consequences

� Water quality

� Street lighting

� Ecology and natureconservation

� Landscaping

� Trees

� Economic benefits

� Ground conditions

� Historic environment

� Land use and soil

� Socio-economic

…and see detailed maps of

the whole route.

South Bristol Link4

MetroBus

There is a West of England vision to provide a rapid transit networkacross Bristol and the sub-region connecting key areas ofemployment, leisure and housing. This is to provide businesses withbetter links to the main transport network, including road and rail.

Called MetroBus, the network will offer fast, reliable andcomfortable journeys that provide a real alternative to the use ofprivate cars. The South Bristol Link is one part of this wider network.

Metrobus will use new, low-emission vehicles, high qualitypassenger facilities, information and interchanges and safe andsecure access to stops.

It will be given priority over other road users at traffic signals and itsown bus way in some locations.

Traffic and congestion

South Bristol Link is forecast to make a significant reduction totraffic on some residential streets in south Bristol, reducing ratrunning considerably. It reduces traffic through Barrow Gurney(Barrow Street and Yanley Lane) and Bedminster (West Street)including the Parson Street Gyratory system - site of one of theworst concentrations of nitrogen oxide emissions in south Bristol.Journey times between Cater Road and the M5 are expected toreduce. Reduction in traffic flows is forecast along someresidential streets, most notably along Whitchurch Road,Bishopsworth Road and Kings Head Lane. The South Bristol Linkwill attract traffic currently using the A3029 Winterstoke Road.

Overview of the scheme

The planning application consists of many largedocuments which provide detailed information onthe scheme and its impacts. Some general pointsare highlighted below:

� There will be a minor realignment of sections ofexisting highway at Highridge Green, KingGeorges Road and Whitchurch Lane.

� New junctions with the A370, Brookgate, A38,Highridge Green/Highridge Road, Queens Roadand Hareclive Road will be constructed.

� New bridges to cross Longmoor Brook, Colliter’sBrook and to pass under the Bristol to Tauntonrailway line will be built.

� The whole scheme will be landscaped and“greened” as much as possible with tree planting,native vegetation planting including woodland,hedgerow and trees, reinstated field boundariesand screening. Embankments will be seeded witha species rich grass where possible. There will bebulb planting within grassed verges for seasonalcolour.

� Street lighting will be chosen to minimise glareand light spill wherever possible.

� The scheme overall has been designed to includea number of features to support wildlifemovement and biodiversity, and to assist insoftening the appearance of the development inthe landscape.

Balancing benefits and impact

The Environmental Statement shows in detail thelikely impacts of the proposed South Bristol Link –thephysical impacts of new sections of road andalterations within the route corridor as well as theeffects of changes in traffic flow across the network.It also looks at the potential for future change to theenvironment, economy and quality of life, particularlywhen taken in combination with other MetroBusroutes.

As with most projects, there are a number ofadverse impacts, most occurring during theconstruction phase, such as noise and disturbance.But we need to tackle the poor transport network insouth Bristol, which results in severe trafficcongestion and is a barrier to economic growth.Many of the potential negative impacts can be offsetcompletely by design and good constructionmanagement. When considered in the balance, thewider benefits of the South Bristol Link are found tooutweigh any remaining disadvantages of thescheme.

Economic benefits

The South Bristol Link will unlock approximately2,500 jobs in south Bristol. It puts 1000 residentswithin a 20-minute MetroBus journey of centralBristol improving access to work opportunities innorth Bristol. It also provides additional links toBristol Airport and significantly reduces publictransport journey time to the airport.

South Bristol Link 5

A few specificsIn the following pages are some more specific details about some of the different areas of the scheme

shown as maps. You can find out much more in the planning application itself. See the front cover of this newsletter for details.

View from Ashton Court oncescheme is built – Year 1

South Bristol Link6

King Georges Road

Brookgate junction and Colliters Brook

Hareclive Road junction (signal controlled)

Single carriageway in each direction(speed limit to be 30mph)

Metrobus stops

MetroBus stops

Existing driveways Verges

Pond

Verge parking tobe formalised

Traffic signalcontrolled junction

Proposed cycle route passesthrough exsisting tunnel with

improved drainage

Maintenanceaccess for Network

Rail and theenvironmentAgency.

South Bristol Linkpasses beneath

railway Pond

RAILW

AY

South Bristol Link 7

New cycleway/footpathalong whole route

Queens Road junction (signal controlledwith pedestrian crossing phase)

Bat passageunder bridge

Colliter’s Brook

PROW diversion passesbeneath bridge

Bus priority atsignals

Crossing points

Landscapeproposals relating

to Viridorrestorationmasterplan

Habitat creation through the reuse of brash andfelled lumber to create new habitats foramphibians, reptiles and invertebrates

Single carrigeway (one lanein each direction) with a buslane in each direction on theleft hand side each way.Speed limit to be 40mph)

Planting and retainedtrees dependant upon

route of localised diversionof Colliter’s Brook

South Bristol Link8

Reserved corridor

Highridge Common area

Central reserve withtrees and groundcover

shrub planting

Single carriageway (one lane in eachdirection). Speed limit to be 30mph

More formal arrangements of planting on north side of mound

Cycleway/footpath

Pedestriancrossing points

Pedestrian crossing point

Signal controlledcrossing point

Community Centre

Footpath

Gateway to HighridgeCommon

Uncontrolled crossingpoint with dropped kerb

Proposed exchange land forthe Common. Turfs from

Highridge Common will betranslocated to the species

poor area of the field

South Bristol Link 9

Hareclive Road junction(signal controlled)

Proposedlandscaping of thereserved corridor

MetroBus stops

MetroBus stops

Single carriageway(one lane in each

direction with 4 metrecentral reserve)

Cycleway/footpath

Footpath

Uncontrolled crossingpoints to HighridgeCommon with centralisland dropped kerbs

Highridge Road junction(signal controlled)

Gateway toHighridge Common

South Bristol Link10

Lime kiln roundabout

Single carrigeway (one lanein each direction) with a buslane in each direction on theleft hand side each way.Speed limit to be 40mph)

Pond to assist withdrainage

Accommodation trackfor Castle Farm

Pond to assist withdrainage

A38

A38

MetroBus stops

South Bristol Link 11

Single carrigeway (one lanein each direction). Speed

limit to be 30mph)

Lime kilns restoredand retained within

roundabout

New cycleway/footpath

Access tofields

Gateway toHighridge Common

A38 signalisedroundabout junction

As the lead council promoting the South Bristol Link with our partners in Bristol City,we believe that the scheme will create jobs, encourage investment and help theeconomic growth of the whole region. We want to provide more reliable publictransport for the people of North Somerset who work in Bristol and we want to

reduce the time it takes to get to Bristol Airport.

Cllr Nigel C Ashton Leader of North Somerset Council

"

"Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire

councils working together to improve your local transport