Weston-super-Mare could see a cash injection of
£20million to improve transport links in and around the
town.
We are currently preparing a bid to the Department for
Transport (DfT) for funding to provide improved facilities for
cyclists and pedestrians and better transport links.
The aim is to make it easier for residents and visitors to get
into, out of and around the town. You can tell us what you think of
the
Weston Package using our online e-Consult facility.
The package of measures includes:
- improvements to junction 21 of the M5 to reduce queuing off the
motorway
- building a link road to the airfield development site between
the A371 and Winterstoke Road
- a possible park and ride site serving the town centre
- a new bridge over the railway line to help buses and other
traffic get to the town centre from the new airfield
development
- improvements to the A370 including widening Marchfields Way to
allow two-way traffic
- better facilities at Worle Station including a new car park on
the south side, bus stops on both sides, extended and/or new bus
services to the station, improved cycle and motorcycle facilities
and improved passenger facilities.
The planned work is in response to the amount of housing
development in the area which has seen the number of new homes grow
rapidly without a similar increase in the number of local jobs,
leading to extra pressure on roads and public transport.
If the bid is successful it is hoped the money from the DfT will
not only fund the much-needed transport improvements, but also lead
to increased investment in the area from businesses.
"If we are to attract new employers they need to see that
transport links are getting better and keeping pace with the
development," said executive member for strategic planning and
economic development, Cllr Elfan Ap Rees.
"With this in mind we want the Government to support our plans
to improve the transport infrastructure by building more capacity
into junction 21, together with new bus routes and improvements to
Worle Station.
"We also need the Government to recognise that their plans to
build a further 9,000-plus dwellings in Weston will put further
pressure on our transport network.
"As a consequence, we have made it clear that we shall need
Government funding, as well as developer contributions, to support
the work to improve transport links. That is what this bid is all
about."
The bid will be considered by our Strategic Planning and
Economic Development Policy and Scrutiny Panel at its meeting on
Monday, 1 September. It will then go to the Executive in December
for final approval before being submitted to the DfT in
January.
If successful, it is hoped work on the package of measures will
start in 2011 and be completed by 2015.
The planned work is part of a major investment in transport
taking place to tackle congestion in the West of England - the area
covered by Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol City, South
Gloucestershire and North Somerset councils.
