Background

 

B&NES Council declared a Climate Emergency in March 2019 and this traffic project is part of their response by the creation of a cycle route called Scholars Way. This, the eastern section, aims to encourage people to cycle from Sainsburys Odd Down to Combe Down Primary School. Overall it will cost £2m and this element of it (the new crossing scheme) represents about £425,000.

 

There was a public consultation in 2022 and now the actual plans are only now just being published as TROs (Traffic Regulation Orders). The Traffic Order for the 'Bradford Rd parallel crossing' plans have been posted on street lamps in the neighbourhood, and it is hoped that this information will help better understand the changes proposed.

 

The official documents are here and you can get a bigger copy of the drawing and a notice saying what the reasons for the scheme are. 

 

The consultation drawings that have been posted are rather small and do not make clear the addition of certain important features of the scheme, like cycles sharing the pavement, and the addition of double yellow lines, making it seem like they are already here, which they are not.

 

Important note

The TRO for the adjacent scheme where the route continues into Combe Rd has not been published during the course of the consultation for this scheme.

 

Since the scheme of a parallel crossing and shared use path cannot be properly understood without knowing how the shared pathway ends at Combe Road, I have had to use the 2022 consultation diagram (below) and assume that the cycle path will start and end where it shows a 'new cycle symbol' and' shared use sign'. NB that diagram says Midford Rd but it means Bradford Rd.

 

 

Since all elements of the scheme work together it is not posible to understand or respond it properly without knowing how the cycle path ends. I will therefore be commenting that the inability to respond properly is a procedural deficiency and that the interlocking parts Mulberry to Crossing to Combe Rd must be re-published at the same time and reconsulted.

 

What can we do?

Now is the consultation period when anyone affected can comment or object. If you have any objections, or indeed want to give your support, just email TROs@bathnes.gov.uk, giving your name, address and quoting TRO25-16A. If you are objecting, you should say to which aspect, and give your reasons. Any feedback must be in by Thursday 26 June.

 

 

Whose website is this?

I am a resident of Bradford Rd and am greatly affected by the change since the new crossing occurs centimetres from the only entrance to my house.  This is a 'blind' exit, like all the others on the south of this part of Bradford Rd - when opening the gate we cannot see even running children as they approach, let alone cyclists.

 

So you should be aware that I have a particular and personal angle, but here I only present what I think will affect everyone and what the posted A4 drawing really does not make clear at all.

 

David Taylor
david@brafordrdcrossing.uk