Why?

Further to our post 'One small step...' we have more to report on the puzzling alterations to the bus stops in Newbridge Road.

Work has been carried out to the bus stop opposite Hartwells' Garage. A short length of existing kerb has been removed and replaced with a preformed kerb slightly higher in profile but with no disturbance to the carriageway, unlike the other recently extended bus stops.

Although the street surface has been marked out to indicate the location of an intrusion into the road, it would seem that as this bus stop is just before the pedestrian crossing, it was considered to be too dangerous both for road users and pedestrians to carry out these additional works.

If this limited amount of work is considered adequate to accommodate the lowered entrance platforms on buses, the other bus stops could have been treated in the same way, avoiding the need to block the traffic.

Without any other forthcoming explanation, are the earlier works a deliberate ploy by B&NES Council to cause congestion on this road in order to justify the BRT?

Scales of justice

It has been announced that two legal challenges regarding the BTP have been lodged; one against B&NES and the other against the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, the Rt. Hon. John Denham MP. We understand that B&NES has missed the deadline of 28 December 2010 to respond, however, the GoSW legal team requested an extension within the correct timeframe.

The Bath Chronicle has published a report which may be viewed by clicking here. More details to follow.

Seasonal greetings

We'd like to thank all our readers for their support and wish everyone a very happy holiday time and a successful 2010.

Is there anybody out there?

We are preparing for the public inquiry into the BTP compulsory purchase orders which will be held next year. This call goes out to anyone with experience or knowledge of this procedure. If you, or someone you know, falls into this category we would be most grateful if you could

e-mail us.

Thank you.

Public inquiry information

As outlined in the post below headed 'Fantastic news!' there is to be a public inquiry into all the compulsory purchase orders relating to the BTP. Some statutory objectors have received a letter from the DfT enclosing a booklet with information on the process. This document can be downloaded by clicking here.

One small step...

The bus stops in Newbridge Road have undergone some alterations to build a small slope extending approximately six feet into the road. Presumably to allow wheelchair users to be level with the bus floor.

However, when the X39 bus from Bristol pulls up at the newly created bus stop and lowers the entry platform for passengers to embark it comes below the surface of the new area.

Thus people have to step down to get into the bus.

This means that particular bus at that particular bus stop could lower its entry platform to the old existing kerb height with no need for the new construction. While the bus was stationary, traffic either passed it by crossing over the white hatched area in the centre of the road, or had to wait until oncoming traffic ceased or the bus pulled out.

This new structure has added to road congestion and cost money. Another own goal for B&NES?

Stop!

We were intrigued by the reader's comments on the traffic lights' synchronisation at the Newbridge Road junction (see post below); so one of our team went down there this morning and made the following notes:

"I observed the traffic lights at The Weston for ten minutes.

During that time the traffic going westwards along Newbridge Road was stopped three times by the lights changing to red for no reason whatsoever as there were no pedestrians using the crossing at that point.

It would seem that either B&NES have deliberately created this situation or the circuits have failed to operate in the correct manner."

Interesting.

Eagle eyed?

This week a reader e-mailed us with the following message:

"The traffic lights outside the Weston Inn used to allow traffic going along Newbridge Road towards Bristol unimpeded flow. Of course they turned red when a pedestrian pressed the button to cross but this is not a convenient crossing point for many pedestrians.

I have noticed that the default position is now red except for brief periods when traffic is allowed into Newbridge Rd. I can think of no good reason except to cause congestion (as this seems to be B&NES main role in life)."

We'd be interested in your observations on this and any other transport related experiences in Bath. Please e-mail
us with any information you may have.

Fantastic news!

Well okay it might be a bit early to crack open the champagne, but... the news just in from the Bath Chronicle is that there is to be a public inquiry into the BTP compulsory purchase orders. For the newspaper report click here.

Apparently the inquiry will be called in the next twenty-two weeks which means B&NES will miss their March 2010 deadline.

Thank you for all your support.

Oh dear!

It has come to our attention that the new Southgate development has done several things transport wise:

• It has diverted traffic eastwards passed the railway station along what was two lanes west bound. Now there is one lane each way controlled by lights.
  
• It has reduced road space by about an acre.
  
• It has put the bus station alongside the railway station which is now an 80p taxi ride away due to the newly created congestion.
  
• The upshot is that the new layout has significantly reduced the capacity of the road system to manage the traffic.
  
• To ensure a four minute maximum taxi wait, B&NES has licensed many more taxis to compensate for the number stuck in this traffic. Thus reducing the profitability of the taxis and condeming passengers to be held up in the created mess.
  
• In the future taxis and buses will be banned from Pulteney Bridge diverting them passed the station again.

Now where is that rapid transit bus going?

Pollution stalemate?

On the B&NES website is an area dedicated to the  environment and pollution where much is made of the alleged benefits of the proposed BTP.

Interestingly the accompanying questionnaire, which has to be returned by 15 January 2010, lists Windsor Bridge and Newbridge as congestion hot spots! So, installing numerous sets of traffic lights, ensuring that bendy buses come out onto the Windsor Bridge and cross Newbridge Road at its busiest point, and encouraging an extra 500+ cars towards the New Bridge (which is already a pinchpoint and cannot be enlarged as it’s a listed structure) near the P&R is going to help how?

CPO public inquiry?

We heard today that the decision on whether there will be a public inquiry into the compulsory purchase orders will be made next week. For background information please click here.

Spread the word...