Why BANES’ plans to build a P&R on Bathampton Meadows will not reduce traffic congestion in Bath

Traffic data collected from 1986-2001 indicated that London Road has operated at full capacity for a long time. When a road is used at full capacity, measures to reduce traffic volume are countered by other traffic taking its place (known as 'suppressed demand'). This traffic is currently using less desirable routes (e.g. the Mill Lane toll bridge and longer routes that avoid the city centre) or avoiding peak hours by travelling at less desirable times. This traffic will more than fill the negligible capacity created on the London Road by providing a P&R. Additionally, P&R facilities are often used by people who previously made whole journeys by public transport but choose to ‘drive, park and ride’ (taking advantage of the low cost P&R services in comparison to regular bus services). The solution is self-defeating.

BANES’ proposal attempts to cater for predicted growth in car traffic. The solutions offered are short term and will fail as the growth in traffic outstrips their capacity. They are not sustainable.  BANES’ own figures suggest that, in the time it takes to plan, construct and open the proposed Bath P&R East (approximately three years), the growth in traffic would already have exceeded any reduction in congestion that the P&R site might bring. The Council would then presumably embark on building another P&R in three years time? And then another? Clearly, this solution is not sustainable.

We have already seen this happen. The original P&R sites have been open for around 5 years and the Council now wants to double them in size. What will the periphery of Bath look like in another 10 or 20 years time? Outlying villages will be consumed by car parks. Within a few short-sighted years, landscape that hasn’t changed for thousands of years will be lost for all future generations. The strategy for reducing traffic from the city centre by building out of town parking is further compromised by the construction of 860 new parking spaces in the city centre, associated with the Southgate development. The new city centre parking provision will offset any congestion benefit from the expansion of out-of-town P&R.

Park and Rides are an out-moded form of traffic management, proven to have a minimal impact on reducing congestion.  As Henrietta Sherwin, Vice Chair of the South West Campaign to Protect Rural England states:

"Park and Rides were conceived in the early 1970s before transport policy had moved towards demand management and trying to restrict car traffic; they are an out of date policy and no substitute for the development of an integrated public transport network particularly with an ageing population. Park and Rides were initially sold as a green transport intervention until it was discovered that they can undermine existing public transport and actually create car mileage. Should limited resources be spent to encourage car access to Bath? Park and Rides are expensive and have a considerable environmental impact but a very marginal congestion benefit."

Henrietta is a member of staff at the Centre for Transport & Society, University of the West of England

An Alternative Proposal: Sustainable Solutions

Proposed sustainable solutions are based on tackling the root causes of congestion. They are based on the observations of residents and visitors. They are based on sound reasoning.

1. Reduction of school-related traffic

  Issue: School-related traffic is responsible for a significant proportion of peak-hour traffic congestion

  Vision: Commuting during school holiday periods is much easier. Every day should be like this

  Solutions: Better, school-specific supervised bus services; Establishment of supervised walking-trains;

  Provision of proper cycle routes that serve schools, as promoted by SUSTRANS     

  Construction of out-of-town P&R sites does not address the issue of school-related traffic

2. Reduction of commuter traffic

  Issue: Commuter traffic at peak hours congests roads. Limited alternative transport available

  Vision: Implementation of sustainable alternatives that discourage unnecessary car use & encourage use of public transport

  Solutions: More frequent, reliable and cheaper public transport services from outlying villages and towns;

Connections that offer multi-modal solutions; Improved cycle network and related infrastructure

   Construction of out-of town P&R offers negligible congestion reduction, compromised by attracting traffic into any

  space created, and current public transport users preferring to drive, park and ride

3. Reduction of local traffic

  Issue: Car use for relatively short journeys is common practice for many local residents

  Vision: A community that is less car dependent. Changed attitudes. Provision of transport alternatives

  Solutions: Frequent, reliable and cheaper public transport services; Promotion of sustainable transport modes, e.g.

  provision of cycle routes; City planning and spatial provision of services that decrease car dependency

   Construction of out-of-town P&R sites does not address the issue of local (intra-city) traffic

4. Reduction of peak-hour HGV traffic

  Issue: HGVs contribute to peak-hour congestion

  Vision: Roads are cleared of HGV-related congestion during peak traffic hours

  Solution: Restricted movement of HGVs during peak-hour traffic flow

   Construction of out-of-town P&R sites does not address the issue of HGV traffic

5. Reduction of peak-hour through traffic

  Issue: Through traffic contributes significantly to peak-hour traffic flow

  Vision: Through traffic is reduced during peak travel periods

  Solution: Provision of viable alternatives to car use (improved and economic public services); Economic disincentives

  to travelling through the city during peak periods (e.g. congestion charging)

   Construction of out-of-town P&R sites does not address the issue of through traffic