No bus lane on Hatchet Road, Stoke Gifford

The bus lane option is to be part of a new shuttle bus service linking Cribbs / Patchway with Bristol Parkway Station. It is understood that the people of Stoke Gifford and the surrounding area are not opposed to the MetroBus scheme itself but object specifically about the decision to go for the bus lane option. The bus lane option will hinder rather than relieve traffic flow from the Ratcliffe Drive roundabout to Bristol Parkway Station.

In these times of austerity it is more important than ever that our elected representatives secure value for money on all expenditure. The bus lane option has been costed at just over £2m and it is likely to cost significantly more (evidenced by experience of other MetroBus schemes in the Bristol area) before completion.

The preferred option of the Hatchet Road Action Group is to review and reduce the number of bus stops on Hatchet Road. Where they are deemed to be required then this should be done with a lay-by facility in all cases. This option, covering the length of Hatchet Road in both directions, would save over £1.25m when compared with the bus lane option. Furthermore it would facilitate better traffic flow for other buses and road users when buses are stationary for passengers to get on or off a bus.

A second important consideration is the environment. The lay-by option can be readily accommodated using small areas of available land near the sites of retained bus stops. We object to the unnecessary destruction of mature trees and hedgerows along both sides of Hatchet Road. This will adversely impact on wildlife in the area and eventually be replaced with the eyesore of fencing panels. We are also concerned at the potential intrusion for those people living in houses adjacent to Hatchet Road with the widening of the road bringing traffic closer to their homes. The lay-by option will allow traffic to move more freely and in turn reduce pollution, which would otherwise occur with traffic backed up by buses at bus stops.