Clevedon - public transport design proposals

We're inviting North Somerset residents, community groups and businesses to take part in an online survey to help shape plans for upgrading three roundabouts in Clevedon.

We want to hear people’s views on proposals to upgrade the roundabouts on Tickenham Road, Ettlingen Way, and Southern Way. The proposed upgrades would make bus travel faster, more reliable and more sustainable into the future, and improve infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists

The Clevedon proposals are part of North Somerset’s ambitious Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP), which is funded by the Department for Transport (DfT) to help make bus travel easier, faster and more reliable across North Somerset and the wider West of England.

The proposals

The three roundabouts have been identified as areas of congestion along the popular X5, X6, X7, X10 and B2 bus routes, which link Clevedon and surrounding areas to and from Bristol. These services currently carry nearly 50,000 bus passenger journeys every month – and that demand is expected to grow.

The proposed upgrades include enlarging the roundabouts, introducing new bus priority lanes, and improving crossings and pavements for pedestrians and cyclists.

The changes at the roundabouts would benefit bus passengers and help services.

At Tickenham Road roundabout, the changes will improve general traffic capacity, benefitting all road users.

A note on transport hubs: As part of BSIP, we will be upgrading some of our bus stops and creating new transport hubs to improve the waiting environment and connectivity for bus users in North Somerset. We will be inviting people to comment on plans for a hub in Clevedon at a later date.

Tickenham Road roundabout

• A significant increase to the size of the roundabout to improve general traffic capacity at this congestion point
• A bus lane on Tickenham Road on both the East and West side of the roundabout, to give buses priority
• Installing a pavement near the roundabout to improve pedestrian access and safety
• Keeping the current toucan crossing, but moving it to a safer location for school children and other pedestrians
• New planting on the roundabout
• Two zebra crossings for cyclists and pedestrians
• Maintaining surrounding trees

Southern Way roundabout

• Creating bus lanes on both approaches to the Tesco roundabout (while keeping the same number of lanes for other motorists)
• Widening the carriageway
• Improving crossing points for cyclists and pedestrians
• Maintaining surrounding trees.

Ettlingen Way roundabout

• Creating bus lanes on the northbound and eastbound approaches to the roundabout to allow buses to take priority over queuing vehicles
• Changing a car lane into a bus lane on Central Way
• Creating a new bus lane by widening the carriageway on Moor Lane
• Potentially changing the current, uncontrolled crossing to a controlled zebra crossing
• Maintaining surrounding trees.

Why are these upgrades needed?

• More effective bus infrastructure will result in more efficient bus services, which means more reliable, frequent, and more viable, bus services.
• The Tickenham Road, Ettlingen Way and Southern Way roundabouts have been identified as areas of congestion along the popular X5, X6, X7, X10 and B2 bus routes, which link Clevedon and surrounding areas to and from Bristol. These bus services currently carry nearly 50,000 bus passenger journeys every month – and that demand is only expected to grow.

• To achieve quicker, more frequent services that are commercially sustainable into the future, we need to make infrastructure improvements across our bus corridors. Saving minutes at congested areas results in large time savings along whole bus routes. This not only reduces journey time for bus passengers, but also means services can be maintained with fewer buses and drivers, at a reduced cost to the taxpayer.
• Improvements will also help to accelerate the decarbonisation of transport (which is why we are also working with bus operators to apply for funding to introduce new zero emissions buses) – a key priority for the council as part of its commitment to tackle the climate emergency.

If I take part, what happens next?

You now have until Thursday 29 February 2024 to share your feedback on the proposals. The views and comments received will help to directly shape a formal design for upgrades to the three Clevedon roundabouts, ensuring any changes put in place best meet the needs of the community.

About the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP)

BSIPs are regional initiatives, funded by the UK Government. They are specifically aimed at championing and strengthening bus services across the UK, to make them more frequent, faster, greener, affordable, accessible and reliable – and therefore, an attractive alternative to the car, for far more people.

The UK Government has made funding available through BSIP, through select local authorities, to deliver local schemes that support the use of public transport, while addressing localised issues. Plans are not solely based on bus use, but also on how pedestrians, mobility users, cyclists and motorists use the area. Its fundamental aim is to ensure commercial bus services can be self-sustaining, once BSIP funding comes to an end, without having to rely on ongoing local authority support.

Give your views on the proposals

We would like your views on the proposals for upgrading Clevedon’s Tickenham Road, Ettlingen Way, and Southern Way roundabouts. You have from Tuesday 16 January 2024 to Thursday 29 February 2024 to send your ideas and comments back to us. Simply click on the buttons on this page to take part.

You can also view these proposals in person, and give feedback, by: 

• Viewing a display of the plans at Clevedon Town Council offices (44 Old Street, Clevedon, BS21 6BU) or at Clevedon Library (37 Old Church Rd, Clevedon BS21 6NN), during the feedback period 
• Attending our forthcoming in-person information event, which will be held on Tuesday 30 January 2024, from 3.30pm to 7pm, at Clevedon Town Council, 44 Old Street, Clevedon, BS21 6BU.  There will also be an opportunity to ask questions and discuss the plans, by booking to join a slot, through Eventbrite:https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/clevedon-bsip-in-person-information-event-tickets-796838534507

Alternatively, you can request a paper ticket from Clevedon Library to attend a specific time slot. Please note, there are limited tickets available for this event, spread equally across the available time slots, and these will be available on a first come, first served, basis.

Do you need this questionnaire in a different format? Please email your request into bsip.engagement@n-somerset.gov.uk