The planning committee discussed the scheme for a big extension to the Newbridge park and ride and the creation of a rapid bus highway last night. The motion to approve failed – a sensible decision but then the motion to reject also failed – not a sensible decison and so the scheme has been deferred.

The problem is that the Conservative Cabinet has been intransigent about listening to viable alternatives put forward by the Liberal Democrats last autumn and have continued to press on with what is increasingly becoming obvious to all as a complete waste of money that will not deliver good outcomes for Bath residents, will not reduce congestion and will ruin a really nice green corridor which could be developed for cyclists and walkers. Instead we have a 1 mile highway to hell proposal.

The Conservative Cabinet has got itself too hooked onto the fact that it wants government money than really address the issue as to what the best solution is and has turned what was originally envisaged as a light rail route in along the old rail line into a two lane super road.