The Bradley Stoke Journal

Friday 11th July is the last day for the public to comment on the South Gloucestershire Core Strategy (Issues and Options). The document outlines plans for the future development of the district following proposals from the South West Regional Assembly (SWRA) which could result in the building of nearly 31,000 new homes within South Gloucestershire by 2026.

Several of the planned development areas are close to Bradley Stoke, with major schemes at Northfield (Filton) (2,200 dwellings), Harry Stoke (1,200 dwellings) and Wallscourt Farm (Abbey Wood) (900 dwellings).

An appendix to the plan [PDF, 2.9MB] also outlines two options for further development along the M32 corridor (marked by blue circles in the centre of the image above), in an area that stretches from the A4174 (Avon Ring Road) in the south to the B4057 (Winterbourne Road) near the Vantage Business Park in the north. The appendix suggests that between 2,700 and 3,300 dwellings could be built in this area.

Responses to the consultation may be made using an online questionnaire (registration required), by post or by email.

Commuters from Bradley Stoke are being encouraged to swap their car for two wheels for a day and cycle to work. People who take part will be treated to a free breakfast for their efforts, ranging from a full English to continental pastries and healthy juice drinks.

Free breakfasts will be available tomorrow (Weds 18th June 2008) from a marquee erected by the Avon Ring Road near the MoD roundabout between 7:30am and 9:30am. This location is convenient for commuters working at Sainsbury’s, the MOD, Hewlett Packard, UWE and other organisations located in the Abbey Wood area.

Simply turn up on the day and your breakfast will be waiting. The menu includes bacon rolls, pastries, croissants, cereal bars and fruit.

Related links:

• South Gloucestershire Council - Cycling
• Cycle West
• Bike Week 2008

South Gloucestershire Council (SGC) has quietly opened a second round of public consultation on the proposed bus priority scheme for the Aztec West roundabout.

Richard Lewis of consulting group Mouchel (working in partnership with SGC) told The Journal that the new consultation concerns the same scheme as before, “but revised following the public consultation”.

Respondents to the original consultation have told The Journal that they feel the exercise was “a waste of time”, as most of their comments were rubbished in the SGC responses, with many issues raised being rejected on the grounds that they were considered “outside the scope” of the proposed scheme.

Local Liberal Democrats have criticised the lack of publicity given to the original consultation, although they seem to be unaware that a mail drop was made to properties near the roundabout and an exhibition of the plans was held in the shopping centre of the Aztec West Business Park.

No mention of the original or current consultation can be seen on the Bradley Stoke Town Council website, which preferred to inform residents about “Rabbit Roundabout” during the period of the initial consultation.

Links to the consultation pages on the SGC website:

• Aztec West - Proposed Prohibited Right Turn Order (Greater Bristol Bus Network)
• Aztec West Roundabout - Bus Priority Scheme

Details of the proposals may also be viewed at Bradley Stoke Library.

Closing date for comments is Monday 30th June 2008.

[Postscript]: SGC has provided the following statement listing the changes that have been made since the first consultation:

The public consultation received a number of comments asking for improved facilities for cyclists and pedestrians. The scheme has been revised to include a new pedestrian/cycle refuge to assist crossing the Bradley Stoke Way exit of Aztec West Roundabout. We have also highlighted that cyclists are able to use bus lanes and that the pedestrian facilities are being upgraded at the Bradley Stoke Way/Woodlands Lane junction. The new information is explained on the Statement of Reasons on the public website.

Works on Patchway Railway Bridge that will require the closure of of the southbound lane of the B4057 for a period of approximately six months [see previous story in The Journal] have been delayed by one week. The restrictions were due to come into force today (19^th May), but signs at the bridge are now showing a start date of 26^th May.

A source at South Gloucestershire Council’s Highways Department confirmed the slippage, citing an overrun on work to re-route gas and electricity services.

South Gloucestershire Council (SGC) has announced that works on the Patchway Railway Bridge, due to start on 19^th May 2008, will require closure of the southbound lane of the B4057 (shown in red in the map above) for a period of approximately six months. The northbound lane will remain open to vehicles up to 7.5 tonnes only.

The bridge links the interchange on the A38 Gloucester Road with Patchway Roundabout, from which the Highwood Road dual carriageway leads on to The Mall and Cribbs Causeway.

The announcement on the SGC website states that:

Traffic diversions will be put in place for the duration of the works and details of the diversions can be found at www.southglos.gov.uk/patchwaybridge. Pedestrians will be able to cross the bridge safely on a separate footway. Bus services will continue as normal but will follow the same diversion routes as the traffic.

The bridge will need to be closed completely overnight for two periods of up to 15 days and also for two whole weekends. Exact closure dates are not yet known and signs will be erected on site to provide advance notice of when this will happen.

Traffic from Bradley Stoke and Little Stoke wishing to reach Patchway and The Mall will be directed southbound down the A38 before making a U-turn under the Rolls Royce flyover and heading back towards Patchway Roundabout. The M5 motorway route may be more convenient for some journeys.

The deadline for public comment on South Gloucestershire Council’s proposed bus priority scheme at the Aztec West roundabout is fast approaching. Comments, which may be sent by post or email, must arrive by midnight on Monday 28th April. For further details, see The Bradley Stoke Journal’s Public Consultations page.

South Gloucestershire Council (SGC) has announced improvements in the 312 bus service from Thornbury to Fishponds, with effect from Monday 21st April 2008.

The service, which passes along Braydon Avenue and the southern section of Brook Way, will be of interest to Bradley Stoke residents travelling to Bristol Parkway Station, Abbey Wood (MOD), U.W.E. Frenchay Campus and Frenchay Hospital.

There will be extra services during the peak period, plus earlier and later journeys in the mornings and evenings to extend the period over which the service operates.

The service is operated by Severnside Transport, with accessible buses for wheelchair users.

Links:

• New timetable for the 312 Thornbury to Fishponds bus service (on the SGC website).
• Table of all South Gloucestershire bus timetables.