Cllr Ed Plowden has been following up concerns about the ‘de-scoping’ of a southern entrance to Temple Island that could have helped ease the pressure on the current substandard walking and cycling route between Three Lamps junction and Temple Meads.
[https://democracy.bristol.gov.uk/documents/s62031/For%20publication%20-%20Full%20Completed%20-%20Member%20Forum%20questions%206th%20July.pdf]
His question at Bristol City Council Members Forum, and the response are reproduced in full below.
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Question(s) to the Mayor from Councillor Ed Plowden, Windmill Hill
Subject: Cycling and walking round Temple Meads
For many years the road lay out around Temple Meads has been a major block to people being able to cycle from South Bristol into the centre of the City, and those who are walking and who are brave enough to cycle have faced noisy, overcrowded and polluted conditions.
The regeneration of Temple Island is a strategic opportunity to address this and much needed provision for the site itself to encourage active travel to and from it. It was agreed when the Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone that the increasing densification of the area needed to be supported by first class Active Travel infrastructure as the current mode share needs to be rebalanced to accommodate all the additional activity locally.
We are very concerned at the removal of the Southern Entrance to Temple Island from the scope of the programme, and would consider that it would have been a common courtesy to inform local ward members.
Q1: On what grounds has this decision been made and what alternative options were considered?
Q2: If this is on cost grounds is there a possibility that other funds or other provision for walking and cycling could be applied to the site?
REPLY:
Question 1
The decision was made both on the cost implications to the project and the amount of land that was taken up for the southern entrance to work, due the gradient between the road and the Temple Island site.
With the L&G scheme now partially replacing a southern access with access from A4 to Temple Island (subject to planning), it was deemed unnecessary.
Question 2
The alternative options that were considered included the western and eastern entrances.
Walking and cycling will be fundamental parts of the master-planning.
As it comes forward we’ll look at opportunities on this site and in the area.