Transport ‘Major step’ forward for reopening rail line
PREPARATIONS are being made to appoint contractors to carry out the work to construct the new Portishead railway line.
North Somerset Council says the next “major step” in bringing the reopening of the railway to fruition is to prepare the documents for the invitation to tender for the design and build contract and issue it to the market.
It is anticipated that the invitation to tender will be issued by June and a formal tender process is expected to be completed by December.
This will tie in with the decision on the Development and Consent Order currently under examination.
The design and build contract for the railway is due to be awarded to the successful contractor in January 2022.
The next steps for the reopening of the railway were rubber-stamped at a meeting of the council this week – including a decision to spend £7.39million on the technical work for the scheme in the coming financial year.
A council spokesman said: “This funding will progress technical work feeding into the Full Business Case, including completion of Development Consent Order process (DCO) and to commence the detailed design.”
The DCO seeks consent to start work on reopening the defunct section of the line from Portishead.
The order also seeks to gain environmental consent to undertake work to the existing freight railway through Avon Gorge and obtain powers for the compulsory acquisition of land.
Relaunching train services from Portishead with new stations at Portishead and Pill is a key part of the MetroWest programme of transport improvements across the region being led by the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) and North Somerset Council.
There has been a great deal of uncertainty about the scheme over the years, mainly due to the spiralling cost of the project.
Alongside the Portishead line, phase one of the project includes running half-hourly trains on the Severn Beach Line and to Keynsham and Bath Spa.
Work on construction of the Portishead to Bristol line was due to start in April 2022 with the first train expected out of Portishead in March 2024.
These dates are now being reconsidered due to the impacts of Covid19.
It is estimated the scheme will mean 181,000 fewer car trips in its opening year, increasing to 278,000 car trips by 2036.
Other benefits will mean 958,980 passenger trips by rail in the opening year increasing to 1,295,103 passenger trips by 2036.
The scheme will also bring more than 50,000 people within the immediate catchment area of the two new stations at Portishead and Pill and provide better access to employment and educational opportunities.
It is estimated that more than 500 permanent and temporary jobs will be created during the construction of the rail line and that the scheme will bring an additional £284million into the local economy during its first 10 years.
PARTS of Ashton Court Estate have been closed after ‘record numbers’ visiting the site has impacted the local wildlife.
This comes as one of the deer parks in the estate has been shut since last November due to overcrowding.
Bristol City Council announced the closure in a newsletter to residents this week.
It said that this winter Ashton Court Estate has experienced record numbers of visitors for the time of year and that the temporary conversation sites were necessary to protect the valuable species which inhabit the estate.
The council is asking visitors not to enter sections of the plateau, located near the Clifton Lodge car park, and added the temporary conservation sites will remain in place until further notice.
The newsletter said: “Usually, low visitor numbers would allow the ecology of the site to rest and recharge, however high footfall because of lockdown and unmonitored dogs are disrupting this recovery.
“In order to protect the valuable species which inhabit Ashton Court Estate, the parks and green spaces department has roped off sections of the plateau, located near the Clifton Lodge car park, as temporary conservation sites.
“These species include common spotted orchids, green-winged orchids and ground nesting skylarks, all of which are declining in numbers.
“The temporary conservation sites will remain in place until further notice. If you visit the site please do not enter the temporary conservation areas, keep to the mown and surfaced paths, and keep any dogs on a short lead around the plateau.”
Mayor Marvin Rees also wrote about Ashton Court in his blog earlier this week, saying visitors this spring can expect their trip to be
affected by essential conservation measures.
He wrote: “The estate is populated by breeding skylarks, a small brown bird which marks its territory with a spectacular flight display.
“They make their nests amongst the grass on the plateau at the top of the estate, near the Clifton Lodge car park. Nationally, skylark numbers have dropped by over 60 per cent in the last 40 years.
“Due to pressure from increasing visitor numbers and dogs roaming off the lead, the skylark population at the estate has declined in recent years.
“Without urgent action, this species could be lost. To conserve this species locally they need to remain undisturbed at this time of year whilst they are beginning to nest.
“The plateau area is also home to an important population of greenwinged orchids, as well as hundreds of common spotted orchids. The green-winged orchids begin to flower from late April, whilst the common spotted orchids flower from the start of June.
“However, over the course of the winter and early spring the orchids are in danger of being damaged by the trampling and compaction of the soil from walkers. The orchids have been put at higher risk over lockdown by increased visitor numbers on the estate.”
Mr Rees also wrote about the deer park closure, saying it will remain closed for now and reopening will be reviewed after lockdown when footfall lessens.
He continued: “The situation at Ashton Court is just one example of the fine balance we have to get in protecting our city’s biodiversity as we face an ecological emergency, while also keeping our parks open for all to enjoy, as they were intended.
“We can all show our appreciation for this beloved green space by playing our part in protecting its unique ecology for years to come.”
MORE than £14million is set to be spent expanding a special school onto a controversial second site in Clevedon’s green belt.
Despite local opposition, North Somerset Council approved plans for its land in Brookfield Walk last year and wants to be ready to act if they get signed off by local government secretary Robert Jenrick.
The authority hopes to start building in September, with the first children with very profound needs and disabilities attending a year later, but was slammed as “negligent” for not immediately having a backup location available if the well used site in Clevedon is rejected.
The council this week voted to approve the £14.63million budget, allow finance boss Councillor Ash Cartman to approve any changes to it, and award the contract to Wilmott Dixon.
Cllr Catherine Gibbons, the executive member for children’s services, told the full council meeting on February 23: “I know for residents it’s been a difficult subject. Over 500 sites were looked at. This really was the best and only site.
“It is of course in the green belt and we’ve had to demonstrate special need, hence it sitting with the Secretary of State as we speak.
“I understand it’s very sad residents are losing it. The overall good outweighs the disadvantages for some. Sometimes it’s about the greater good for those who have the greatest need.”
But former council leader Nigel Ashton said: “I can’t support this at all. I understand the need for additional facilities but this site is just not suitable. It’s in a flood plain.
“Flooding in areas across the north of the district is getting much worse. It’s an important public space and local amenity. There’s a lot of opposition to it.”
Cllr Gibbons said she was sur
prised at Cllr Ashton’s objection given that his administration kickstarted the process in 2016.
Cllr Mark Canniford told the meeting he reviewed the decision after becoming the executive member for development and came to the same conclusion as his Conservative predecessor – that Brookfield Walk is the best location.
There is no space for Baytree to expand its Weston-super-Mare campus, so the council sought a second site. Brookfield Walk will offer better facilities and have space for up to 85 pupils.
The council granted planning permission in September despite more than 1,000 objections.
Papers for the council meeting say there is still a risk of a judicial review.
Clevedon ward member Cllr David Shopland said no one disputed the need for the special school, but maintained that Brookfield Walk was the wrong location.
He said it was “negligent” not to have a backup site immediately available.
Cllr Gibbons replied that the council had looked at other options, including not expanding the school or seeking another site, but that would cause delays and increase costs.
Currently many students with special needs travel outside North Somerset for their education. Expanding Baytree will allow them to be taught closer to home, reducing their carbon footprint and costs for the council.
Cllr Lisa Pilgrim voiced concerns about handing Cllr Cartman “carte blanche” to sign off changes to the budget.
The costs have already increased from an initial estimate of £12million.
But council leader Don Davies reiterated the need to act quickly if the project is signed off by the Secretary of State.
“Speed is of the essence,” he said. “We are making life extremely difficult for an awful lot of our very vulnerable young people.”
I understand it’s very sad residents are losing it. The overall good outweighs the disadvantages for some. Sometimes it’s about the greater good for those who have the greatest need Councillor Catherine Gibbons, executive member for children’s services