Public transport top of the agenda

Multi-million-pound investment plans to revolutionise the way people get around Bath and North East Somerset are to be considered by the council’s cabinet.

The detailed proposals for investing in sustainable transport improvements follow a successful bid, led by the sub-region’s transport authority the West of England Combined Authority (WECA), to the government’s City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) fund.

WECA secured an unprecedented £540m for the sub-region but to unlock the government funding it must now submit a list of areas that will receive the funding.

Bath and North East Somerset Council’s cabinet is being asked to approve £129.39m of local transport schemes to be funded from the CRSTS money, matched by a £17.2m local contribution funded by the council, at a special meeting today.

WECA’S Joint Committee meeting tomorrow will seek final approval for the Weca-wide package of schemes, ahead of submission to the government.

Councillor Sarah Warren, deputy leader and cabinet member for climate and sustainable travel said: “We’re committed to decarbonise transport, reduce car use, tackle congestion, improve air quality and create healthier places across Bath and North East Somerset. This gamechanging investment means we can now put in place real and practical improvements to how people get around our area, particularly by bus, bike or by walking.”

Cabinet is being asked to approve the following for funds:

■ Improvements to public transport and cycling and walking infrastructure on the A4 corridor from Bath to Bristol, including upgrading the Bristol to Bath

Railway Path, creating a new transport hub at Hicks Gate and improving cycling and walking connections in and around Keynsham and Saltford.

■ Improvements to public transport and walking, cycling and the public realm on the A37 corridor between the Somer Valley and Bristol and the A367 corridor between the Somer Valley and Bath.

■ Improvements to public transport, walking and cycling infrastructure in Bath city centre to support delivery of the council’s improvement plans for Bath Quays and Milsom Quarter. This would include prioritisation of buses to improve journey times.

■ Walking and cycling improvements in Bath and Midsomer Norton, identified through the Local Cycling and Walking Investment Plan. Further investment in Liveable Neighbourhoods. The council is currently working with 15 local communities on the first phase of its Liveable Neighbourhoods programme.

If the report is approved the design of specific schemes will be developed following consultation with residents and businesses. The report also identifies that some funding would be for highways maintenance.

Councillor Warren added: “With transport accounting for 29 per cent of the district’s carbon emissions we need bold new thinking on transport if we’re to meet our 2030 net zero ambition.”

The council is also asking for views on transport schemes that will be needed to meet its goal of carbon neutrality for Bath and North East Somerset by 2030. More on the Journey to Net Zero can be found at: https://newsroom.bathnes.gov.uk/news/joinbath-north-east-somersets-journey-net-zero.

You can read the report to cabinet at: https://democracy.bathnes.gov.uk/ielistdocuments. aspx?mid=6138&x=1.