One man said Bath needed an ambitious plan to tackle its traffic problems in order to be worthy of its World Heritage status.
Patrick Rotheram, president of the Vineyards Residents’ Association, said it was good the city had a clean air zone and a council working on an action plan for transport delivery to Bath, because it is necessary in a city “suffocated” by traffic.
Mr Rotheram went on to say that in his opinion the problem with Bath is that there are no major roads suitable for traffic which can be displaced by creating low traffic neighborhoods.
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He goes on to say that: “The displacement of traffic from low-traffic neighborhoods could only be mitigated by a plan including traffic management and parking control to reduce the overall volume of traffic entering and passing through the city, improving transportation. audiences that drivers can transfer to, and better facilities for cycling and walking. “
The letter reads in full: “Your online report from the June 23 BANES Cabinet meeting on low traffic neighborhoods reported my comment that ‘introducing low traffic neighborhoods without a transport plan is like squeeze a balloon – reduce traffic in one area and it will burst elsewhere ”.
“There is, of course, more than that.
“It is clearly a good thing to remove through traffic from residential areas. However, low traffic neighborhoods depend on the existence of an adequate main road network to absorb the traffic displaced from these areas.
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“The problem in Bath is that the ‘main roads’ are mostly residential streets which already suffer from high levels of traffic congestion and air pollution.
“London Road and the road to the center are densely residential and particularly vulnerable to traffic movements as they have a number of air pollution“ hot spots ”.
“The Bath Clean Air Plan is already on the sidelines and increased traffic on this route could cause it to fail, resulting in fines for BANES by the central government.
“More traffic jams and longer journeys would increase carbon dioxide emissions.
“Unfortunately, cabinet members seem to deny the problem of shifting LTN traffic.
“Even the strongest advocates of low traffic neighborhoods claim only about a 15% reduction in ‘traffic evaporation’, and even that is questionable in Bath due to the hills, which deter walking and cycling. .
“Certainly, low traffic neighborhoods should reduce traffic in privileged areas. But why should they reduce overall traffic levels? In reality, most drivers will not give up their cars, but will simply find an alternate route through town.
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“Some may be deterred by the increase in congestion, but it hardly counts as a traffic reduction plan.
“The displacement of traffic from low-traffic neighborhoods could only be mitigated by a plan that included traffic management and parking control to reduce the overall volume of traffic entering and passing through the city, improving public transport to which drivers can. getting around and better facilities for cycling and walking.
“We are fortunate to live in a city which has been designated as a World Heritage Site (WPS). They are “places of outstanding universal value for all of humanity”.
“Bath, with its historic central area suffocated by traffic, hardly deserves its WHS designation. This long-standing problem can only be resolved with a comprehensive transport plan.
“The good news is that Bath now has a clean air zone, and BANES is working on a transport plan – the Bath Transport Delivery Action Plan – which aims to” reduce vehicle intrusion, especially in the center historical”.
“We can only hope that the plan will be ambitious enough to tackle the traffic jams plaguing the historic heart of Bath and reduce traffic through the city as a whole.
“This cabinet has a great opportunity, if only they seize it, to transform Bath into a place that truly deserves its status as a World Heritage Site.”
The council said the action plan for transport delivery in Bath will include a detailed, evidence-based study of what is possible in terms of the public transport system in Bath and what would work best for the city. .
This study will be developed alongside ongoing work at the regional level to assess an ambitious new public transport system that will revolutionize the way we travel in the West of England.
It is hoped that the plans will ultimately reduce traffic congestion, emissions and support cycling.
A second consultation on the plans is expected to take place this summer.
Bath and North East Somerset Council have been approached for comment.
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Source: www.somersetlive.co.uk
This notice was published: 2021-07-04 23:00:00
