Rees will not support plans to turn former railway line into road

Marvin Rees has once again reiterated that only a fully segregated mass transit system can solve Bristol’s transport woes.

It comes as the mayor took the unusual step of strongly criticising WECA’s plans for the A4 between the Three Lamps junction in Totterdown and Bath.

Writing in his latest blog, Rees said that he cannot support the proposals to convert a former railway line into a road, does not support options that do not resolve the issues of the pressure on the Callington Road junction and does not back closing sections of the A4 to through traffic.

It is the latest spat between the elected Labour mayor of Bristol and the elected Labour mayor of the West of the England, Dan Norris.

As the regional transport authority, WECA are responsible for improving transport including buses, trains, walking and cycling on a regional level.

Unlike city mayors in London or Manchester, Rees does not hold the purse strings that can dramatically alter transport in Bristol.

Labour mayors Marvin Rees and Dan Norris do not always see eye to eye – photo: Bristol Beacon

Rees wrote: “On the A4 from Bristol towards Bath there is a pub named after a type of bus produced by the Bristol Commercial Vehicles company, the Lodekka. Once a recognisable part of public transport in England, they are a symbol of a bygone time of publicly owned buses in the city.

“We know that public transport in Bristol needs ambitious plans if it is to reduce congestion and accommodate the continued population growth expected both here and in the wider city region.

“The Lodekka pub stands where the factory used to be, in Brislington. We know this is one of the most congested routes in Bristol, and the junction with Callington Road is massively over capacity, causing huge delays for people travelling into the city for work, and local people trying to get around.”

The Lodekka pub in Brislington is on the site of the factory that made the famous Lodekka bus – photo: Martin Booth

Rees added: “The West of England Combined Authority (WECA) is now consulting on new options for a transport corridor along the A4 Bath Road. This includes options which my administration has already rejected.

“WECA were tasked to find a mass transit solution that does not use Bath Road apart from where there is space for fully segregated mass transit options. That has yet to happen.

“We will not support the Combined Authority’s proposals to convert any part of the old railway path in Brislington into a busy road. This is consistent with the position that I set out with party colleagues in 2021.

“Further, we do not support options that do not resolve the issues of the pressure on the Bath Road/Callington Road/West Town Lane junction. Nor can we back closing the A4 between Three Lamps Junction and Callington Road, and/or Brislington Village, to through traffic.

“We are however wholly committed to giving people an affordable, reliable alternative to their cars where possible and our plans for a fully segregated mass transit form a vital part of this.

“This consultation shows just how hard it is to find fully segregated routes, without a commitment to exploring underground sections where necessary for mass transit.”

To take part in the consultation, visit b2b.haveyoursaywest.co.uk

Campaigners hope that the Brislington Tramway – also known as the Brislington Greenway – could be opened up to the public as an active travel corridor – photo: Martin Booth

Main photo: Martin Booth

Read next:

• Major transformation plans unveiled for one of Bristol’s busiest roads
• New path could be built along route of former railway line
• Council has never proposed an underground system for Bristol, says transport chief

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