Why not demolish the motorway for homes

ISN’T it ridiculous that tens of millions of pounds are going to be spent renovating the M32 motorway into Bristol?

As everybody can see, the use of motorcars for transport is rapidly being curtailed; not encouraged!

Only in the 1960s would anyone have thought it a good idea to run a six-lane highway straight through a beautiful ‘Capability Brown’ estate (Stoke Park) and then have it cleave Bristol in half as it marches on into town. It is an ugly, dirty, noisy construction as well, depressing for those who live anywhere near it. And what was it built for 50-odd years ago? Why, to allow people to drive to their jobs in central Bristol and drive home again, or drive into town to do their shopping.

These days the centre of Bristol is no longer a major location for industrial and office jobs. Most of the large companies have long since moved to the big industrial estates near the M4 and M5 motorways. People often work from home anyway.

Shopping has also fallen out of fashion. Look at how many of Broadmead’s shops have closed down recently – Marks and Spencer, Debenhams, etc. People are switching in droves to order their shopping online.

So I think the M32 should be demolished. Stoke Park should be restored to the way it was designed to be. Further into Bristol, tens of thousands of desperately needed homes with gardens could be built in its place. People could still get into town on buses, bikes or trains.

In fact, so much money would be raised by building housing along the former M32 corridor that some of it could be used to subsidise the already existing urban train, cycling and bus routes. Perhaps even trams. Just imagine how pretty and quiet Bristol would be without the tarmac monstrosity that is the M32.

Ernest B Skidmore

Bristol