The proposed bus lane on the Keynsham bypass has been abruptly halted after Labour candidate Helen Godwin informed the incumbent West of England metro mayor, Dan Norris, she wouldn’t pursue the plan if elected.
Dan Norris responded by scrapping the ongoing consultation and abandoning the controversial project, sparking outrage among local leaders in Keynsham and Bath who were shocked by the sudden decision. Bristol Live readers however, are glad to see the back of the plans.
There’s been fierce resistance from councillors in the past, with many voicing their opposition last summer to a bus lane they labelled as ‘extremely unpopular’. The prospect for such a lane along the A4 Keynsham bypass now seems well and truly sunk.
Helen Godwin, aiming for victory in the West of England Combined Authority metro mayor election on 1 May, has made her stance clear: “I’ve spoken to the current West of England mayor Dan Norris and subsequently he has withdrawn the consultation and suspended any further development of the scheme.”
Cllr Sarah Warren, the deputy leader of Bath and North East Somerset Council, has expressed her outrage over the handling of a recent decision. She has written to Mr Norris seeking clarification on why the announcement was made by a metro mayor election candidate via a Facebook post, rather than by the metro mayor himself at a meeting held just last week to discuss the plan.
Lcjohnny asks: “What would a bus lane on the Keynsham bypass achieve? It would not speed up the buses – it’s a dual carriageway. It could only be to frustrate other drivers stuck in a single lane queue next to an empty bus lane! Clear up the bottle-necks that slow buses in Brislington and Saltford first!”
Dbanderson agrees: “Sanity prevails! It’s busy at rush hour with two lanes. Reducing it to one would create havoc in both directions.”
Bboy says: “Someone listening to the majority for once, most of the time the bus lanes are empty whilst the majority of the traffic is clogged up in one lane.”
Muttsnuts agrees: “Common sense at last. We don’t need to cordon off half the road just for buses to use. You have a bus lane that is empty for 80% of the day but other traffic can’t use it. Hardly a good idea.”
Trivialpursuer adds: “It’s great to see Labour Party councillors, mayor and mayoral candidates listening to the views of the public and acting in response.”
Berklicker is happy with the news: “Motorists taking back control of the roads. Common sense prevails.”
BS8GR8 isn’t so sure: “Whatever the merits/demerits of the scheme, given the huge amount of money that has already been spent to install better bus lanes along the entire A4 route it would seem ridiculous for buses to then get delayed on the by-pass. This is a busy commuter route but the improvements to the railway line between Bristol and Bath, plus the bus lanes if implemented in full, should reduce car volumes and congestion.”
Biffothebear points out: “At peak times there are a maximum of five buses per hour in each direction and they only get delayed when there are road works elsewhere.”
Grockel1 writes: “And yet within the BCC area they are going full steam ahead with the A4018 (Passage Road/Wick Beck Road/Falcondale Road) bus lanes. It is chaos, in both directions, from the bridge over the railway through Crow Lane roundabout to Greystoke Avenue most of the day.”
How do you feel about the project being scrapped? Good news or do you feel the bus lane would have solved traffic issues? Have your say in our comments section.