The loading bay for Tesco has been put to public consultation. You are welcome to write to the Highways team with your views (click on the picture to read the notice and address).
This needs to have public consultation because it changes the legal parking status of that patch of road on Bathwick Hill. The pedestrian refuge and other pavement works did not need public consultation as they were modifications to council/public property.
A loading bay is needed here (just below the canal bridge) to allow delivery lorries to unload safely to the Tesco Express which was given planning permission by an appeal inspector last year. Effectively the government inspector instructed the BathNES highway department to install the loading bay and upgrade the pedestrian crossing, regardless of their own professional views. I have spoken to a member of the highways team about this apparent contradiction and he told me about another authority he has worked for. Following a similar appeal the highway department was ordered to make safe a junction which they claimed couldn’t be done. The legal battle went to the House of Lords and cost the council millions in fees when Tesco finally won.
I am of the opinion that our highway safety department have done a good job in difficult circumstances with the pedestrian refuge, road markings and loading bay. Their solution isn’t perfect, but this is hardly surprising given their professional judgement against Tesco’s planning permission.
Representations must be made in writing to the council by 5th June. If there are objections, which we expect there will be, a report must be written for the cabinet member to decide. Cllr Gerrish (Con, Keynsham North) shall make the final decision mid-June, for the loading bay to be rejected or painted on soon after. There is no truth in the rumour that Tesco have successfully sued for damages against the council. The process has indeed taken a long time but no legal action has yet been taken by Tesco.
Unfortunately the zebra crossing we all want may take even longer. As Tesco did not provide enough money for providing a zebra crossing, the central refuge has been widened and given tactile paving, while the pavement has also been widened. As well as giving more room to wheelchair users and those pushing bikes or buggies, this pavement widening improves the view down Bathwick Hill from those waiting to cross. This is a vital requirement for a zebra crossing, that visibility is good. With these improvements, it will be possible to paint on the zebra stripes later, from council tax money. However, I was angry to discover that this scheme has not been listed for funding in the next financial year and have chased this up with the Conservative cabinet member responsible.
hello Nicholas
I am not sure when you wrote the piece about the loading bay but surely your comment
with regard to the pedestrian refuge (“I am of the opinion that our highway safety
department have done a good job in difficult circumstances with the pedestrian refuge…”)
is now out of date given the recent collisions and discussions that we have had?? whoever
designed the widen central refuge was completely deluded (and incompetent) to think that
this new design did not present serious problems. At a glance, anyone with half a brain
could see that buses, lorries and even cars coming down the hill at speed are far, far
too close to the edge of the kerbs on both sides.
how/why on earth have the council granted Tescos permission to open what will be a busy
shop without making them agree APPROPRIATE funds to provide a safe crossing?? the hill
will inevitably become much busier as a result of this store and pedestrians are at risk.
i really do hope that we should be able to do something about this before something fatal
happens yet again here. Tescos should not be allowed to open this store until proper safety
measures are in place.
regards
Claire Ingram
I have read your statement above. Your comments about the recent changes to the central refuge and the pavement being widened have not mentioned the fact that the road width is now much narrower and consequently there have been at least four incidents where vehicles have knocked the kerbing of both the central refuge and the pavement.
If you stand by the florist on Bathwick Hill and watch the 418 University bendy buses coming down the hill you will see that the driver has to head towards the pavement in order to avoid the central refuge. At which point will the Council take notice of this? Will it be when a pedestrian, standing on the pavement, gets hit? When a child stands too close to the edge of the kerb (this area is particularly busy with children at about 3.30pm when the Ralph Allen bus comes down the hill)?
A couple of years ago my neighbour was knocked down on Bathwick Hill and died the same day from a heart attack. A fatality from this dangerous stretch of road is absolutely awful, but once Tesco’s opens then the risk of another incident is just not acceptable. The Council must take responsibility for the safety of its roads if it chooses to give permission for a major retailer to come to our area.
Dear Claire and Jane,
Thank you for taking the time to write; I am well aware of the danger on this spot and remember the accident you mention in 2006. You are correct that with the widening of the pedestrian refuge the carriageways are narrower. It was thought that this would cause drivers to slow and take more care. With four of them hitting the kerb this is clearly not the case.
We need a zebra crossing here for pedestrians and to show motorists that they need to slow down and pay attention. One onth ago I emailed the Conservative cabinet member responsible asking why it wasn’t on the draft plan for this year. While he plan hasn’t yet been finalised, I still haven’t received a ply. I took it up with the Leader of the Council yesterday and hope hat she is able to give an answer.
You will probably know that planning permission was granted by a government inspector, against the wishes of BathNES council, at it was she who ruled on the sum to be paid by Tesco. I have writen to Tesco requesting more money as a gesture f good will, but I did not recieve an answer. In response to a written question of mine, the cabinet member confirmed that e would not seek to claim any more money from Tesco, which is why we have to wait for council tax funding. I am trying to impress the urgency of the situation. The petition for a zebra crossing is at http://www.ourcampaign.org.uk/bathwickcrossing
Hello Nicholas
Whilst I appreciate concerns that everyone has about changes in their local community, I don’t share the view that big bad Tesco must take responsibility for everything.
Everyone is responsible for their own actions – including the drivers Claire mentions who are coming down the hill ‘at speed’ (in a 30mph restricted zone in an area with many clear hazards!), councillors and council officers who must now deal promptly and effectively with a real situation (rather than the one they may have preferred) and the many residents who will use the store (even though they may have said they were against its opening).
The pedestrian crossing should definitely go ahead and was badly needed before Tesco came along. However, the Tesco store should be allowed to open without further delay. The company will be much more likely to exhibit goodwill when it’s part of the community.
Regards
Stephen Saunders
(a LibDem supporter and former party member, not in your ward but nearby… and definitely not a Tesco shareholder or employee!)