South Gloucestershire Council

Published: 13/08/2013

​The bid for a Cycle Ambition Grant was put in by the West of England, consisting of South Gloucestershire, Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, and North Somerset Councils. The proposals in the bid stretch across South Gloucestershire, Bath & North East Somerset and Bristol. The new funding means that the authorities together have every hope of smashing regional targets for increasing cycling by 76 per cent by 2016 and reducing carbon emissions by 16 per cent by 2020.

The government money will be matched by £3.3 million of local investment throughout the West of England area. Each area will see new schemes which will include cycle routes, better road management and other cycling friendly measures.

Three schemes make up the plan. They are:

1. City Promenade and River Crossings (Bristol)
2. Cribbs Causeway – Emersons Green Trunk Cycle Route (South Gloucestershire)
3. Seven Dials Cycle National Cycle Route Scheme (Bath) 

Colin Skellett, Chair of the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership said: “This funding will make a real difference to cyclists and pedestrians across the West of England. It will make commuting and cycling for leisure easier and safer in some of our most popular places. We also hope to see it encourage more people to choose cycling and join over 26,000 people who regularly cycle to work across the West of England.” 

Councillor Brian Allinson, Chair of the West of England Joint Transport Executive Committee said: "This is terrific news – even more investment in cycling and pedestrian facilities locally. This £11 million will build on the work of the Cycling City project and the funding we have through the Local Sustainable Transport Fund, links to MetroWest rail improvements at Temple Meads, and will support our MetroBus network by offering more sustainable travel choices.” 

In the centre of Bristol a major scheme will see better links along the length of the River Avon from the Avon Bridge all the way to the Temple Quay Enterprise Zone, making it easier for people to cross the river and cycle alongside it. Proposals running from the west to east include:

• Junction Lock Bridge: New segregated pedestrian and cycle paths

• Vauxhall Bridge: Ramped cycle access avoiding steps on the north side

• Chocolate Path and Cumberland Road: Widening, resurfacing and upgrading the shared cycle/pedestrian heritage path and a new segregated pedestrian and cycle path

• Gaol Ferry Bridge: A new cycle bridge alongside the existing bridge, which would become pedestrian only

• Commercial Road and Clarence Road: A new segregated pedestrian and cycle bridge

• Bedminster Bridges: New segregated/shared use pedestrian and cycle paths

• Commercial Road and Clarence Road: A new segregated from traffic, shared use pedestrian and cycle path

• Langton Street Bridge: New ramped access for cycles

• St Luke’s Road: A new segregated pedestrian and cycle path under the railway line

Meanwhile in South Gloucestershire the Hambrook sections of the Cribbs Causeway to Emersons Green Trunk Cycle Route will see a number of improvements:

• A new pedestrian and cycle crossing on the M32 Southbound Slip Road

• Cycle and pedestrian improvements at the signal junction on the Avon Ring Road

• Improving the existing footpath to a shared-surface foot and cycle way on the northbound Bristol Road

• Widening the carriageway to allow the creation of a new southbound cycle lane on Bristol Road

In Bath city centre a new set of contra-flow cycle routes around the Seven Dials shared space will join up existing on-road cycle routes.

With funding in place it is hoped that work will get underway on the various schemes as quickly as possible, subject to any planning requirements and providing a design which is sympathetic to the various areas and their heritage. All of the schemes are due for completion by December 2015.

It’s also been announced that all four Cycling Ambition cities can access a shared £1 million pot of funding from the Department of Health over two years. This money will be used to encourage walking amongst hard to reach and disadvantaged groups.