War of words over new Park and Ride. - News item.

Another news item from the Bristol Evening Post, this time about the M32 Park and Ride proposal.


WAR OF WORDS OVER NEW PARK-AND-RIDE


10:40 - 19 October 2007

Bristol City Council's plans for a new park-and-ride system for the M32 have sparked a political row in neighbouring South Gloucestershire.Last month the city council submitted a bid for a share of the £1.4 billion Transport Innovation Fund.

One of the schemes the city council hopes to fund is a park-and-ride scheme in Stapleton.

The Tory-led South Gloucestershire Council has given its backing to the scheme.

But Councillor Pat Hockey, the former executive member for transport on South Gloucestershire Council, accused the Tories of backtracking over their policies.

Mrs Hockey, a Liberal Democrat councillor, lost her position when the Tories gained control of the council in the May local elections.

She claimed the Tories had previously opposed plans for a park-and-ride site at Frenchay to serve the M32 because it would cause congestion in the area.

She said the new site for the park-and-ride would cause exactly the same problems with congestion.

She said: "We have seen no information on what has been done to find out what the impact of all the cars trying to get into a park-and-ride site in such a location would be. There has been no consultation.

"After campaigning for years against a park-and-ride site in the Hambrook-Frenchay area, the Conservative administration has now agreed to assist in delivering one just over the city boundary if the Government provides some of the funding.

"They haven't even asked for any funding to support bus services for people who might use it to travel into South Gloucestershire.

"I don't know whether this is sheer incompetence or deliberate secrecy. I certainly raised the key questions before they agreed to support the bid - but got no answers."

Councillor Brian Allinson, South Gloucestershire executive member for planning and transport, denied he had backtracked over policy.

He said: "Our position has not changed, we have consistently opposed the development of a park-and-ride in South Gloucestershire in the Hambrook area and we are delighted that Bristol City Council has now abandoned this proposal.

"The proposal for the Hambrook site was supported by the previous Liberal Democrat Bristol City Council administration and we welcome the decision by the new Labour council not to pursue it.

"We recognise that Bristol has serious traffic problems to address and that there is not a park-and-ride in the North of the City.

"Bristol is now progressing plans for a park-and-ride in Bristol on land owned by Bristol City Council and it is not for South Gloucestershire Council to try and veto our neighbour's schemes. This approach will only damage our credibility with Government, when we are determined to work together to ensure maximum investment in our local transport infrastructure."

He said South Gloucestershire Council was still pursuing building its own park-and-ride site near Bristol Parkway rail station. Plans for another park-and-ride scheme in Nibley, near Yate, have been put on hold.

Bristol City Council executive member for transport Mark Bradshaw said South Gloucestershire would be fully consulted about the new park-and-ride scheme.

He said: "We are determined to deal with the transport problems in Bristol and South Gloucestershire and park-and-ride clearly has a role to play in this.

"Residents in both our areas expect transport improvements to be delivered on the basis of a strong working relationship between our councils.

"Both South Gloucestershire and ourselves are determined to work together to deliver the improvements which are so badly needed.

"We are committed to a park-and-ride on the M32 corridor which is needed to alleviate traffic congestion into the City Centre.

"We are happy to work with South Gloucestershire and the Highways Agency to ensure that it is properly planned to ensure it brings maximum benefits to the travelling public, from both our areas."

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