Here is my feedback/comments on the proposed expansion for the Portway Park and Ride so far. Many questions remain unanswered so I am not fully aware of the implications and therefore questions previously asked must be answered and local people/communities consulted because opinion on some issues have not been sought.
I have also added Bristol City Council's Consultation Principles/Process to the end of this e-mail because I do not believe all points have been met. However three questions were replied to the others were not answered and policy names given instead. The local Councillors for the Avonmouth Ward have also failed to respond to correspondence on the matter of the Park and Ride.
The current publicity and consultation exercise is intended to inform people (including local residents, businesses and existing users of the Portway P&R site and bus service) of the plans and provide an opportunity for them to comment and give their views on the details of the proposals. Over 5000 leaflets were distributed to homes and businesses within approximately 1km of the site, advertising posters and leaflets put on the 902 service buses, a large advertisement placed at the site and a small exhibition in Shirehampton Library. Responses are being assessed before the plans are finalised and submitted.
This means that the quote "views of local people in the Avonmouth, Shirehampton and Portway areas are now being sought" is misleading because you have done a 1KM radius. And business in the area, would that be local shops or the business's that are based in the Industrial area of the docks, M5 bridge area and Avonmouth industrial estate. The Portway Park and Ride does not serve these areas, in particular the Industrial estates where public transport is so badly needed. If you don't have a car or bike you are not going to walk. It is simply too far and air quality and safety in the area is not good.
The plan to expand the Portway Park & Ride facility was specifically included in the Park and Ride Action Plan in the Joint Local Transport Plan for Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire for 2006/7 to 2010/11, which received widespread publicity and consultation and was approved in March 2006. ..... The implementation of the expansion at Portway is part of the Integrated Transport Spending Programme for the period covered by the Plan.
To the public this is jargon. Talk about policy making and strategies people switch off. Ask many people what this means or if they were asked questions about it they'd most probably look blank because it was never put to them in plain English or they were not aware of it. And as far as people are concerned local Councils and Government make these decisions, local communities are not asked opinion because it is meant to be in their best interest. Did you make people aware in the local community that the Council changed their mind in 2002 and that the Bristol Local Plan was to be changed and as part of the alterations 'safeguard the allotment site next to the existing site on the Portway frontage, for an expansion to the Park and Ride facility'. No. And that means Bristol City Council went back on their word that they would not expand onto the allotments during public meetings held in 2001. It was also mentioned during those meetings that the P&R was expected to reach 1500 spaces eventually and this is mentioned in a statement entitled 'Avon's Legacy' and a petition presented in 1994 and other statements made by local community councils at later dates. So how many times can we expect the Council to change the goal posts?
Bristol City Council have to keep local communities informed on what is going on or being planned for their area in a better way. Communication needs to be straight forward and plain English. The local Councillors seem to lack involvement in the local community with enquiries being overlooked or ignored. The Avonmouth and Shirehampton Community Councils (for Shirehampton SCAF), you need to keep them updated on a regular basis and provide plain English documents not jargon. And you should also include the local community Newspapers to keep people informed. People read papers. And you would need to provide the information in plenty of time for print. After all no mention of the P&R consultation in the September or October issues and November issue is too late for The Shire for example.
Helen Holland in a radio interview this week talking about the Web Cast of Council Meetings is quoted as saying "This is your Council", broadcast to the people of Bristol. Is it really? You wouldn't think so.
As for the other questions raised. No reply. Therefore a fair assessment cannot be made because all the facts have not been laid out in plain English and the Council continue to hide behind clever marketing campaigns and hidden phrases.
The current site is not being used to capacity and has fallen below expectations. Those are words spoken or written about Portway Park and Ride by Bristol City Council.
Portway Park And Ride Predicted car usage.
Above are the predicted hourly flow rate cars using the Portway Park and Ride taken from an Environmental report dated 18th December 2000. What about rush hours morning and evening? May I suggest that this report be looked at again as five and a half years down line it is not hitting those figures and falling very short. Research was unproven at the time and in reality today comparisons need to be drawn. What went wrong and why is the question? That is what Bristol City Council should be asking themselves and how reliable is their research they have on the proposed expansion. Work on the mistakes made before moving onto an expansion that is yet unproven use. Forget about policy and grants for the moment, work on the mistakes that have been made so far and correct them.
Leave the Park and Ride as it is. It is serving a purpose to those people who use it as a walk on site or use the 3 bus stops on the Portway in or out of the city. There was always a demand for a bus service along the Portway. After all the 99 and Badgerline bus services were withdrawn as late as 2000. Why should local people suffer because 'the Council got their figures and research wrong'
The question of research has not been answered. And I hate to make assumptions but you have left no choice. As with the current consultation form for the proposed expansion of the Portway Park and Ride it is closed yes or no answers and very little room for comment. Only specified questions were asked. There is nothing about work, shopping, school or why they use the Park and Ride or where they have travelled from or have they had to make a detour of their route to reach this P&R facility. Although on the consultation this is aimed locally and those who currently use it. It doesn't prove that it will be used by more people in their cars.
So even if using research provided by the Bristol Alliance for shopping and travel into the city for example, it is not aimed specifically at Portway Park and Ride. This is generalised research but does it take into account other continually changing social/consumer trends and how long ago was it done? And how do you know your catchment area for the Portway Park and Ride? Have you asked people in South Wales, Gloucester, Swindon, Hereford and Worcester for example. And with the M32 Park and Ride under heavy discussion again, has the knock on effect from that development been taken into account for the future? And why isn't the P&R being used for Bristol attractions and events in the city during the day? Demand is unproven. Until those questions are answered I cannot comment any further on that for the moment.
P&R isn't necessarily the solution because the traffic congestion is moved from one area to another which is true in this case because traffic has been diverted onto local roads. People are using routes that take them out of their way to their destination, but it has a role to play as long as they are placed on direct routes that the car user is travelling on and ideally directly off the motorway. No amount of extra signage is going to persuade a motorist off the motorway to use this Park and Ride and that is where the problem lies. It was put in the wrong place for its use.
The Severn Beach line provides a very good regular train service. Its fast, cheap and links in with the other trains. There was talk of a platform on the P&R for the train back in 2000 but nothing came of it. I have been told it is very unlikely to happen because there is no investment in trains and there are other issues with it as well. Also P&R and the train are run by different organisations. Ever heard of working together? Talk about shooting yourself in the foot! The station platform would have been a plus point.
Disabled people with shopping buggies are not able to use the Park and Ride (or any bus service for that matter) because there is no provision for them. As there is 'access to all', disabled people with Shopping buggies should be able to use the Park and Ride Service. I have family members and friends who have to use the shopping buggies door to door due to lack of mobility and disability, so that will have to be seriously considered as they cannot get into Bristol. Dial A Ride provide a limited service and although an excellent service is not as flexible for all.
And here is some hidden phrasing that has not been told. 'The future projects' and 'other City centre projects' apparently it refers to Castle Park and Bristol Arena projects but what others. I was told by a Council Officer at Shirehampton Library that "We may be looking at extending the opening hours of the Park and Ride". What extension would this be? Not midnight and gone surely if the Bristol Arena audience is included? In fact the Arena would be best served by the trains being next to Temple Meads Railway Station. And Christmas shopping hours extensions all year round instead? You have not advised the local community or the public about this and therefore you have not given people including me a say about this. Do not extend the opening hours. And any changes you must tell us, because that is not in the consultation and we have not had our say on opening hours. There are houses across the road from the site, we live here, it is our community, our lives. Until those questions are answered I cannot comment any further on that for the moment.
"The existing access points and bus circulation area will remain as at present" - This is open to speculation so what changes would/could happen and how would it affect the road layout in the area if changes are made in the future? I don't want the road layout to change, or the entrance to the Park and Ride moved to a more centrally based part of the site. No more traffic lights either. Don't want it to resemble a second Bath Road with more traffic congestion, even around the Park and ride site as well. Until those questions are answered I cannot comment any further on that for the moment.
"...... a new amenity building with facilities for passengers and staff will be provided soon after the expansion is completed". - Where would this be placed on the site, one or two storey building, what facilities will be provided and office space? (Can't see it marked on the leaflet plans). This is not in the consultation there is no question asked about it and its not marked on the map. The building should not be more than one storey and should not encourage people to hang around the area. It should only be used by people using the service. And what are the facilities? I cannot reply about that. Any building should be on the current site not extended site. Until those questions are answered I cannot comment any further on that for the moment.
"The bus service frequency and route will be unchanged for the time being although local enhancements are under investigation" - Again what would be the proposed changes, how soon would they be implemented and what are the local enhancements under investigation? What enhancements would be made?. One thing could be added as enhancements. The bus serves the Avonmouth/Severnside/Docks area for the workers in the area. It is so badly needed especially those who don't have cars or bikes and only access is walking. Would solve a lot of job centre problems with interviews and getting to business's in the area for the unemployed. Other than that until those questions are answered I cannot comment any further on that for the moment.
You do need to note that there is a lot of traffic going ito Avonmouth during rush hour and out again during evening rush hour with people travelling to and from work in the area. Not all traffic is aimed for the city centre, they go elsewhwere too. Westbury-On-Trym, Clifton, across the Cumberland Basin. So traffic is going in the wrong direction for this Park and Ride and car drivers will continue to use their cars to get to and from work. And remember an awful lot of lorries and vans go back and forth the Avonmouth area for work.
Car parking on the allotment site I assume will be the flatter ground in that area, so how much increase in levelling off the land be? I assume the raised part of the allotment will have more trees and landscaping - what would this be and involve? (after all we don't want storage units and work area problems that we initially had the last time.) Any work vehicles have to be parked on the park and ride site and not the road side. Again not in the consultation leaflet question. Locals need to have a say. Until those questions are answered I cannot comment any further on that for the moment.
Lighting for the additional parking spaces, will this be screened off by landscaping too as lighting will be at a lower level.? This is because the lighting at the Sports Ground along the Portway is distracting, bright and annoying and assume the P&R expansion if it went ahead would be at that low level. Again locals would need to be consulted as its not explained or been asked for opinion in the consultation. Until those questions are answered I cannot comment any further on that for the moment.
The central reservation on the Portway by the Park and Ride, that is not what I would call landscaping, I call it a mess. Bristol City Council need to get their act together on their landscaping issues.
The 57 bus (local) was withdrawn without warning for example and Park & Ride users should not be left high and dry without a service because 'the Council got it wrong' and it struggles to stay open or even close. Whenever the Government grants run out what happens then? How will it be financed? Until those questions are answered I cannot comment any further on that for the moment. An example is the @Bristol 'Wild Walk' and IMAX cinema. Both closed. (I was very surprised) The managers said "They were no longer financially viable. They blamed a lack of Government funding for the decision to close" This could happen to the Portway Park and Ride after all Politics is a very tricky area and Political Party's have their own agendas on public transport. A change of Government in the future could mean a lack of funding and what then? Bristol City Council have to be 100% certain on this. It has to be solid but going by the past track record it is unlikely.
Leave the Park and Ride as it is. Wait for Cabot Circus to open, work on the mistakes and weakness' of this Park and Ride first. Re-asses everything six months after Cabot Circus opens and then see what is happening. Any research carried out has to targeted to the Portway Park and Ride area and it's unproven catchment area as well as locals in the area. It should not be generalised and pot shot information given by people who won't be using the Portway Park and Ride because they don't live in the area or are not even in the catchment area for use.
And with this proposed Park and Ride expansion the Avonmouth Ward has not seen re-investment back into the local communities to provide social facilities for all to use. (After all we have lost the Swimming Baths, Robin Cousins Sport Centre, Youth Clubs and other facilities) What do we get back as a community?
Various Councils, P&R operators, bus operators, train operators, other organisations are all working on ways to persuade car drivers to leave their car at home. That means walking out your front door, down the road to your bus stop or local train service platform. (Note no P&R use). Maybe Public Transport needs to be nationalised, but until all these organisations own agendas, red tape, budgets and profits are cleared away from the table and the question of teamwork and communicating together to solve the public transport problem and congestion is put in front of them, it just won't be solved. You will continue to pull things apart and achieve very little in the process of problem solving.
