A consultation on preliminary designs for the Cribbs Patchway MetroBus Extension (CPME) has been launched by South Gloucestershire Council.
The CPME is an extension of the North Fringe to Hengrove Package MetroBus route which, once complete, will connect to other MetroBus routes which are currently being built, including the South Bristol Link and Ashton Vale to Temple Meads.
The council is proposing that the CPME runs between Bristol Parkway Station and The Mall bus station, via Hatchet Road, Gipsy Patch Lane, through the former Rolls-Royce East Works site, along North Way, under the A38 via the existing underpass at the Combination Ground junction, and through the former Filton Airfield site (earmarked for redevelopment as part of the Cribbs Patchway New Neighbourhood).
A significant element of the CPME project is the replacement of the existing rail bridge at Gipsy Patch Lane. An SGC committee has already approved development of the replacement bridge, which will have a wider span and greater headroom, and provide one general traffic lane and one bus lane in each direction plus shared use paths for cyclists and pedestrians on both sides of the carriageway. The new bridge will be designed and constructed by Network Rail and is not included in the consultation.
Within the parish of Stoke Gifford, new bus lanes are proposed eastbound along Gipsy Patch Lane, from the railway bridge to the start of the dual carriageway on the approach to the Hatchet Road/Winterbourne Road roundabout, and south from this roundabout as far as the Sandringham Road/Ratcliffe Drive roundabout.
No new bus lanes are proposed along Hatchet Road or Gipsy Patch Lane in the opposite direction (travelling from Parkway to The Mall), except for a stretch that begins shortly before the railway bridge on Gipsy Patch Lane, nor in either direction along the section of Hatchet Road near the Co-op store (former Parkway Tavern).
The proposals require a strip of land to be taken from Meade Park (resulting in the loss of some trees), the removal of hedgerows on both sides of Hatchet Road south of Meade Park and the narrowing of grass verges and the removal of some trees and hedgerows on Gipsy Patch Lane.
Timescales mentioned in the consultation document foresee planning applications for some sections of the route being submitted in summer 2016, construction starting in 2018 and services operating from 2019.
An accompanying Frequently Asked Questions document acknowledges that there will be “some temporary disruption” during construction of the CPME, but states that work would not start until after the currently under-construction Stoke Gifford Transport Link (known locally as the Stoke Gifford By-Pass) opens in spring 2017.
Consultation material summarising the CPME proposals is available at www.southglos.gov.uk/CPMEconsult
The consultation includes information on the proposed bus priority measures for Hatchet Road, Gipsy Patch Lane, North Way and the San Andreas Roundabout near The Mall.
Cllr Brian Allinson, Chair of Planning, Transportation and Strategic Environment Committee, said:
“We are working with other local councils in the West of England area to improve public transport for the benefit of people who live and work in the region. The Cribbs Patchway MetroBus Extension will help to reduce congestion on our roads and improve connectivity for our existing and future communities, thanks to a network of express bus services which will provide fast and reliable journey times.”
During the consultation period, a series of public exhibitions are being held at local venues to provide everyone with a chance to view the consultation material and ask any questions. Exhibitions take place at the following times and locations:
- Monday 7th December, 1.30pm to 5.30pm, Little Stoke Community Hall, Little Stoke Lane, Little Stoke BS34 6HR
- Wednesday 16th December, 4pm to 8pm, Poplar Room, Stoke Gifford Trust Ground, North Road, Stoke Gifford BS34 8PE
All comments on the proposals must be received by the closing date of Friday 15th January 2016. You can have your say using response forms available on the consultation webpage, by emailing transport.policy@southglos.gov.uk or by writing to FREEPOST Plus RTCT-JXLE-EET, South Gloucestershire Council, Strategic Transport Policy Team, MetroBusExtension consultation, Civic Centre, High Street, Kingswood, Bristol BS15 9TR.
Alternatively, if you can’t make the exhibition dates you can also view the consultation materials at Bradley Stoke, Filton and Patchway libraries and the council’s One Stop Shop in Patchway. Visit www.southglos.gov.uk/libraries or www.southglos.gov.uk/ buildings/patchway-one-stop-shop for opening times.
The council says it will consider all comments received before the final designs are agreed and will respond to each issue raised in a consultation report “to be published in 2016”.
Further background information about the CPME and other MetroBus routes is available at www.travelwest.info/metrobus/extension and www.travelwest.info/metrobus
Images (from top): 1 Overview of the proposed CPME route. 2 Indicative artist’s impression of the proposals on Hatchet Road (looking north). 3 Indicative artist’s impression of proposals on Gipsy Patch Lane (looking east). 4 Indicative artist’s impression of the new railway bridge on Gipsy Patch Lane (looking west).
This article originally appeared in the December 2015 edition of the Bradley Stoke Journal news magazine, delivered FREE, EVERY MONTH, to 9,500 homes in Bradley Stoke, Little Stoke and Stoke Lodge. Phone 01454 300 400 to enquire about advertising or leaflet insertion.
I am against the Hatchet Road being used and I was absolutely stunned to hear that the people who were doing the Traffic Movement Survey did not conduct one in the evenings when nearly all the roads are gridlocked
The bridge looks brilliant as do the plans for this new road
why even use Hatchet Rd at all? if the metro was to come out the back of the Parkway station using Hunts Ground Rd it could connect with Great Stoke way and lead straight to the Winterbourne Rd/ Gypsy Patch lane. and not effect any gardens at all.
What gardens are effected It’s only council land
A meeting of Stoke Gifford Parish Council on 12th January 2106 resolved to object to the CPME scheme. Extract from the minutes:
The Chairman invited comments from residents. Following their initial observations about inaccuracy within the plans made available by SGC, BA stated that he must comment about the tone of the material produced by a local pressure group. He emphasised that there was NO misuse of the money [provided] by the government for Phase 1! He went on to share his opinion that the proposed plans for the Phase 2 Extension were too early. To do nothing in the longer term is probably not an option. Following a question BA confirmed that Phase 1 had always been planned to only go to the rear of the Parkway site. Members of the public then raised concerns about the height of proposed sound proof fences/walls along Hatchet Road. Concerns were also raised about the maintenance of crossing points, the perceived problems with shared use paths and whether all buses would use the Metrobus Lane. EB suggested that SGC’s attitude was negative. A resident from Lawford Avenue raised the anticipated plight of the Pill Box situated adjacent to the Gipsy Patch railway bridge which should not be allowed to disappear as others had! It was registered on Historic England’s PastScape. He asked for the Council’s support to have it preserved and moved safety. He provided contact details for the Clerk. In closing EB thanked members of the public for their detailed contributions then proposed that the Parish Council OBJECT to the Scheme. The proposal having been seconded by KC, the motion was carried by 10 votes to nil with two abstentions.
(BA = Cllr Brian Allinson; EB = Cllr Ernie Brown; KC = Cllr Keith Cranney)
This is NIMBYS at their best
And what area do you live in Happy ? it’s not Nimbys it’s concerned residents worried about the quality of life in the area, loss of trees, more Diesel/Nox from buses pumped out into the environment that runs through the estate, going around to the back of Parkway would be a better alternative and less impact on the local area.
Yes, the Pill Box should definitely be saved. There is another one which should also be saved. It is halfway up Filton Hill just within the boundary fence of Airbus on the land waiting to be redeveloped.
Additionally all the trees behind the boundary fence of the old RR East Works site along Gipsy Patch Lane (from the Rail Bridge to the A38) should be protected. The five near the Junction with the A38 have been growing there, to my knowledge, for the best part of 65 years.
@ Nick B
I live on Gypsy patch near to Hatchet road not that it’s anything to do with you where do you live
How on earth is anyone’s Quality of life going to be changed that much that is ridiculous
Oh Happy, have you really left us?? I can’t believe it!! Patchway’s loss is Stoke Gifford’s gain!! Is Lolly with you too?? We are bereft. Roy is gutted.
Statement on the SGC consultation page:
“We have analysed the consultation responses that we received and the main issues raised are available to view in the Cribbs Patchway MetroBus Extension Consultation Issues Report“