But the two most contentious plans have been left out
The A4 Keynsham bypass and, inset, Helen Godwin, Labour’s metro mayor election candidate for 2025(Image: Bristol Post)
New plans to improve transport links between Bristol and Bath have been unveiled by the West of England’s metro mayor, along with another round of consultations to ask people from Totterdown and Brislington to Keynsham and Bath what they think of the proposals. The plans are the latest attempt to come up with a way of making bus travel faster and more reliable between the two main cities in the region, and form part of a wider project that has seen the metro mayor given £752 million to spend on transport and travel improvements.
There are some changes to the previous plans for what is known as the ‘A4 Bristol-Bath corridor’ that have been consulted on and debated about since 2023 when previous metro mayor Dan Norris put forward his ideas.
But the new metro mayor Helen Godwin, who took over in May this year, has left out some of the more contentious parts of the A4 plans – including a bus lane down the Keynsham bypass and the transformation of an old railway line through Brislington – and said they will be looked at separately.
The fresh consultation goes live on Tuesday, October 21, and will run to December 2, with people living or travelling along the route being asked to see what is proposed and have their say.
Helen Godwin said her new revised proposals have been rewritten based on the feedback from 5,000 or more residents from 2023 and 2024. She said the revised plans include 40 new and upgraded pedestrian crossings of the A4, with a particular focus on primary schools in and around the main road, including Holymead infant and primary, Wicklea Academy, Broomhill Junior and St Anne’s infant schools.
Other changes to the plans include extending the Bristol-Bath Railway Path by half a mile so it goes directly into the heart of Bath city centre, upgrades to 150 bus stops along the way, new two-way segregated cycle lanes on the A4 near St Brendan’s College on the edge of Brislington and Oasis Academy, new pedestrian connections around Bath Spa University and new bus lanes all the way from West Town Lane in Brislington to Emery Road.
But the metro mayor has left out of this new consultation the contentious plans for bus lanes the length of the Keynsham bypass, and mention of what to do with the old and empty North Somerset railway, from Tesco at Callington Road in Brislington to the Sainsbury’s at St Philips Causeway, which previous councils and metro mayors have proposed either using as a relief road for traffic, a designated bus lane, a light railway or a cycle track.
The disused North Somerset railway line through Brislington – which has been earmarked as a potential solution to the A4 corridor mass transit issue(Image: Bristol Post)
She said she and the council leaders in her WECA committee would take more time to think about those two, and that would be part of a future, separate consultation.
“Everyone who calls the West home knows that traffic is often a problem along the A4, particularly at rush hour,” said Helen Godwin. “These revised proposals are a result of listening to local people, including in Keynsham and Saltford earlier this year, and should help cut congestion and pollution.
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“I’ve said before and will say again that we need more carrots, and less sticks, so that people have more reliable, sustainable options for how to get around our region. School Streets are something I backed as a councillor and I continue to support school safety efforts as Mayor,” she said.
“While local council leaders and I think that these proposals are much stronger than previous plans, thanks to the input of residents, nothing is set in stone. We want people to have their say to help further develop these ideas, so that this investment can really make a difference that our communities can see and feel in and between Bath and Bristol,” she added.
Metro Mayor Helen Godwin (Image: PAUL GILLIS / Reach PLC)
The deputy leader of Bath & North East Somerset council said the new plans showed a ‘more balanced and thoughtful’ approach. “We welcome this fresh consultation and the improvements made to the A4 Bath to Bristol proposals following feedback from our communities,” said Cllr Sarah Warren.
“These updated plans reflect a more balanced and thoughtful approach to sustainable transport, with better walking, wheeling and cycling connections, safer routes for school children and significant upgrades to bus infrastructure.
“The proposed extension to the Bristol and Bath Railway Path into the heart of Bath and improving pedestrian access around Bath Spa University are important steps in making active travel a more attractive and accessible choice for residents. We’re pleased to see that concerns raised locally – such as around road closures and congestion – have been listened to and addressed,” she added.
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“I encourage everyone in Bath and North East Somerset to take part in this consultation. Your feedback is vital in shaping a transport network that works for all, reduces congestion and supports healthier, more connected communities,” she said.
Other changes to what was previously planned by the former Metro Mayor include traffic calming and new trees instead of a road closure on Talbot Road in Brislington, junction changes instead of a new bus lane on Newbridge Road in Bath, a better cycling route but a shorter bus lane than what was planned in Saltford, widening the road and putting in a bus gate on Hungerford Road, extending the hours for the bus lanes on the A4 in Arnos Vale between Brislington and Totterdown, but not having them run 24 hours a day, and not closing Osborne Road in Bath.
(Image: PAUL GILLIS / Reach PLC)
“Better transport links between Bristol and Bath is an important step on the way to boosting economic growth, social connectivity, and quality of life across the region,” said Cllr Tony Dyer (Green, Southville), the leader of Bristol City Council. “These proposals aim to make bus services like the X39 quicker and more reliable, while creating safer, more accessible and pleasant routes for walking, wheeling and cycling.
“I encourage everyone who lives, works or travels along the A4 to take part in the consultation and share their views. Your feedback will help shape a transport network that works better for all of us – reducing congestion, improving air quality, and supporting more sustainable ways to travel,” he added.