Cutting off Spike Island

✒ MR Crowther (Travel Bus gate plans to speed up metrobus service, Post, December 9) would appear in his prospective changes to Cumberland Road, to be blithely ignoring the fact that, along the length of this road are many domestic and commercial properties, for whom this road is the ONLY connection/outlet to the rest of Bristol, being, as they are, bordered on the opposite side by the Harbour, so have no alternative means of access, or egress!

Instead, he proposes basically to cut the road into two, with passage being only for his toytown “metro” buses, whose only apparent need is to get through to the Ashton Gate Park and Ride site without any hindrance from more normal (and important) traffic.

He appears to want to prevent traffic getting to and using the Bedminster Bridge, one of the few entrances to the city centre from the south and south-west.

What the inhabitants and businesses of Spike Island will be expected to do to cope with this hare-brained scheme is beyond imagination! Ferry across the harbour or walk for a some miles?

How will the businesses be expected to continue paying their business rates when they are unable to do their business?

The long delay in repairing the river wall that was supposed to support the railway, path and road is a disgrace.

Work could and should have commenced to stabilise and repair the collapse ages ago, instead, the site has been left to continue its collapse into the river.

Typical Bristol application of wait and see! It “might” get better and go away of its own accord, if ignored for long enough!

Meanwhile, we continue to “fiddle whilst Rome burns”! Davina Elaine Hockin Portishead