Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Weca ‘still committed’ to M32 park and ride plan
THE West of England Mayoral Combined Authority has confirmed its commitment to building a new park and ride near the M32, but says it needs to come up with revised plans.
The site, likely to be built south of Junction 1, is seen as a crucial part of the area’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transport and ease traffic in the city centre.
Discussions have been ongoing for two decades as politicians and senior figures argue about where to build the park and ride. As costs continue to rise on the project, Bristol mayor Marvin Rees recently claimed South Gloucestershire Council is “no longer supporting” the project, which has been described as a key plan to reduce congestion.
But the council says that’s not true, and that it’s still keen to support ways to reduce congestion on the M32. The transport authority WECA, which is a big part of the park and ride talks, says it’s looking at how to reduce traffic in Frenchay, Fishponds and along the A38, and is working on new plans.
A West of England Mayoral Combined Authority spokesperson said: “The West of England Mayoral Combined Authority remains committed to creating a park and ride for people using the M32.
“Concerns have been raised about substantial traffic being pushed to other areas for example through Frenchay, Fishponds and the A38 resulting in poorer air quality. Therefore revised plans are being drawn up.”
During a member forum meeting on March 12, it emerged that transport planners are still working on an outline business case for the project, meaning construction is unlikely to begin for years. Last summer, the project was delayed by six months, with an outline business case promised by this month – although that hasn’t happened.
Bristol mayor Marvin Rees said: “I had been working with [previous South Gloucestershire council leader] Toby Savage for about a year and a half on delivering a park and ride on the M32. It’s one of the ways of taking pressure off our road network coming into the city.
“We made real progress. It was only a couple of weeks ago that I heard from South Gloucestershire, without even informing me, that they were no longer going to support the M32 park and ride.”
A spokesperson for South Gloucestershire Council said in response: “Although it is too early to make a decision on a potential scheme while technical work around the latest ideas is progressing, we recognise the urgency to find a solution that meets our joint aspirations to address the current situation.”
LOST or stolen pets could be reunited with their owners more quickly due to a new microchipping system.
Reforms set out by the Government aim to make microchip records easier to access, improve the accuracy of the information they contain, and standardise databases.
Ministers hope the move, which was welcomed by Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, will help deter pet theft across England. Environment minister Lord Douglas-Miller said: “Pets are treasured members of the family so it can be devastating for owners when they are lost or stolen.
“These vital reforms will simplify the microchipping system to make it quicker for vets, local authorities and police to access important information when they need it, helping to safeguard pets from theft and increase the likelihood of lost pets being returned home.”
Michael Webb, Battersea’s head of policy and public affairs, said: “These reforms, which we have been calling for for some time, will not only help rescues like Battersea reunite more pets in less time, but also hopefully better protect dogs and cats from theft.”
Microchipping for pet cats is due to become compulsory from June as part of a drive to crack down on pet theft.
The Government is also supporting other measures to prevent animal-related crime. It will be backing a law change sponsored by Conservative Southend West MP Anna Firth which aims to create a specific criminal offence of pet abduction via a Private Member’s Bill.