‘Dismay’ as Keynsham bypass bus lane plans retained

TRANSPORT chiefs are sticking with proposals for bus lanes on the Keynsham bypass despite “overwhelming” public opposition.

The West of England Combined Authority (WECA) has published its findings following its public consultation last summer.

Its proposals include 24-hour bus lanes on the A4 between Bath and Bristol and a reduced speed limit of 50mph.

WECA says the feedback received “has been taken on board” and, together with further technical analysis, has been used to make some initial design changes.

It adds: “These are not final, and nothing has been ruled in or out at this stage. The next phase of work will develop designs in greater detail, considering more of the feedback. Nothing is set in stone.”

WECA says that, overall, most residents in all areas other than Saltford support the project’s aim for better walking, wheeling and cycling networks.

Only the majority of Bristol residents support the aim of better public transport links through dedicated bus lanes. Despite this, Bristol residents were not supportive of making existing bus lanes 24 hours or new bus lanes in the Brislington area.

But the report adds: “The Bath & North East Somerset section will retain the bus lane along the Keynsham Bypass as well as the speed limit reduction due to the benefits to bus journey times and air quality/emissions respectively.”

The walking, wheeling and cycling path along the Keynsham bypass has been dropped due to the cost and the effect on biodiversity.

It has been replaced by a proposed segregated bi-directional cycle track and widened footways along Durley Hill to connect Keynsham to the segregated cycle track between Hicks Gate and Brislington Park and Ride.

The walking, wheeling and cycling infrastructure proposed on Keynsham’s Bath Road remains, connecting Keynsham to Saltford and Bath via the Bristol and Bath Railway Path.

Most respondents objected to proposals to add a bus lane between the Broadmead roundabout and Saltford. Yet it remains in WECA’s proposals.

In response to WECA, George Leach, Liberal Democrat councillor for Keynsham North, told the Voice: “I am dismayed that, despite overwhelming public responses in opposition to these plans, WECA and Mayor Dan Norris are continuing to move forward with the absurd plan to reduce the Keynsham bypass to a single lane in exchange for a bus service that only uses the bypass at best every nine minutes.

“Having attended a A4 Bath to Bristol engagement report briefing by WECA and challenged them on their lack of transparency and democratic accountability, I will continue to push for residents to have their voices heard.

“WECA have stated they will set up a community engagement body with an intention to have the first meeting in September 2024 but, as this body lacks any power, it risks being nothing more than a talking shop unless WECA confers some actual authority to it, which I would encourage them to do.

“WECA’s own engagement survey results significantly contradict the plans they intend to take forward and I am calling on Mayor Dan Norris to halt these plans in their current form and revise to reflect the feedback residents in Keynsham and across the wider A4 corridor have actually given.”

Saltford Parish Council, which has raised concerns about the proposals, said it was pleased WECA is no longer considering putting double yellow lines on the High Street, near its junction with The Shallows, or on the Manor Road parking bays near the junction with the Bath Road.

WECA is also no longer proposing to remove the A4 pedestrian island crossing near The Crown on the Bath Road or to introduce ‘shared paths’ on pavements at Manor Road and Grange Road.

At a meeting of WECA’s overview and scrutiny committee, it was acknowledged that many of the proposals were “extremely unpopular”.

Malcolm Parsons, interim delivery director for transport infrastructure at the combined authority, said: “We’re setting up a suite of local forums for members of the community to get more involved in the discussions.

“The challenge, rather than delivery of the scheme, would be disruption to the network and how we move people around while we’re doing those works.

But he added: “I am absolutely confident that we will get that scheme delivered, because actually it’s not that complicated. It’s quite simple.”

Work is not due to start until at least September next year and is scheduled to be completed by March 2027.

Voice reporter, with additional reporting by Alex Seabrook, Local Democracy Reporting Service