News / Transport
M32 park & ride plan scrapped after decades of dithering
Transport planners have scrapped a project to build a park and ride at junction one of the M32.
The project included installing new bus lanes on the M32, to encourage drivers to use the new park and ride but traffic modelling suggested drivers would instead just use residential roads as alternative routes, if there was less space on the motorway.
This would make residential areas more polluted and even slow down some bus routes, according to the West of England Combined Authority.
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An update on changes to the M32 was given on Monday to the overview and scrutiny committee, which includes councillors from the three councils in the West of England – Bristol, South Gloucestershire and Bath & North East Somerset.
Scrapping the scheme would avoid “damaging impacts” caused by the planned changes, according to Malcolm Parsons, interim delivery director for transport infrastructure at WECA.
This includes traffic spilling over into residential areas in north Bristol.
Parsons said: “Effectively, you would reduce the capacity of the M32 to move people into a park and ride scheme, when in reality the satellite navigation systems in people’s cars just means they’ll find another route.
“Our transport analysis and modelling show that vehicles would find their way through Frenchay, Fishponds and other routes, which led to poorer air quality in those areas.”
Buses would also be affected, as increased traffic on their routes could lead to delays and longer journey times.
Transport planners are now looking at alternative options to reduce congestion on the M32.
Parsons added: “We’re looking at wider solutions to be able to intercept private vehicles and bring them off the network, before they get onto the M32 or try to rat-run through some of our more suburban residential areas.”
Building a park and ride at the M32 has been discussed for at least two decades, and was previously backed by former Bristol mayor Marvin Rees and former South Gloucestershire Council leader Toby Savage.
But South Gloucestershire withdrew their support earlier this year. One issue of concern was the disruption to local roads close to junction one of the motorway.
Stephen Peacock, the new chief executive of the combined authority who was previously chief exec at Bristol City Council, said: “It’s a project that didn’t go ahead because the initial work demonstrated that the value for money and cost-benefits hadn’t been realised.
“But also, it was something that couldn’t happen without political support at both ends of it.”
Main photo: Patch de Salis
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