News / public transport
‘It needs to be a workable solution for everyone’
Businesses in Westbury-on-Trym have been left in the dark about proposed traffic alterations by Bristol City Council, argues the chair of Westbury-on-Trym Business Association (WOTBA), Amanda George. She, and other local businesses, are unimpressed by the council’s efforts to inform them of changes to the A4018 road through Westbury village.
‘”There has been no official notification to anyone in the affected area,” says Amanda.
Bristol County Council apparently informed WOTBA that information leaflets had been sent to 4,700 residential and 300 commercial addresses on 5 February outlining the changes. Despite these claims, local residents argue that information has not materialised.
“The local businesses are being badly treated by not even being officially informed about all this,” says Amanda, who owns the shop We Make Bristol on nearby Canford Lane. “There are still no signs of any leaflets at all having been delivered. Facebook is awash with residents, living directly on the effected routes, saying they have received absolutely nothing through the door.”
“If it wasn’t for social media no one would know anything about this.” She adds that: “There are many residents and businesses in the area who don’t use any form of social media so are still completely in the dark.”
Darren Jones, MP for Bristol North West, criticised the major proposals for the Westbury road network earlier this month, determining them “not fit for purpose”.
The proposed route changes to the A4018 through Westbury village would affect Wyck Beck Road, Passage Road, Falcondale Road, and Westbury Road. The impact of the route changes also threatens local trade, say businesses via social media. Statements made on BS9 Families Facebook Page argue: “This is going to kill the Village, as well as the Stoke Lane businesses.”
“No one disagrees that something needs to be done about the massive increase in traffic the city is about to get,” says Amanda, “but one thing everyone does all agree on is that it needs to be a workable solution for everyone.”
A series of consultations are taking place for local residents to express their thoughts. These are running at Henbury Library: Saturday, 23 February from 11.15am to 3.45pm and Wednesday, 27 February from 2.15pm to 6.45pm. The online consultation runs until Sunday, 10 March: www.bristol.gov.uk/a4018improvements
Read more: ‘Council has lost the plot’ over proposed Westbury-on-Trym road changes
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