The Conservatives having railroaded through the Council their ill-conceived road scheme are now being challenged by Don Foster MP who has written to the Minister.
There are many ways this money would be better spent to ease congestion rather than building a two lane highway down the back of peoples gardens.
Don’s letter follows
Rt Hon John Denham MP
Secretary of State for Communities & Local Government
Communities & Local Government
Eland House
Re:
You may recall that I wrote to you earlier this year outlining my concerns over the proposed Bath Bus Rapid Transit route, which is part of the Bath Transportation Package. Having also written to your predecessor at DCLG, Hazel Blears, an Article 14 Holding Direction was placed on the planning application.
On the 5th August the proposed-BRT passed through Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Development Control Committee at the third attempt. At all three meetings of the committee that considered this proposal, huge numbers of residents turned out to watch proceedings (forcing the use of overflow rooms) and many spoke against the scheme. Residents who spoke were not just from the area of the city directly affected, but from all parts of
I still have huge concerns over how this application came to be, including the lack of stakeholder consultation and the fact that only a bear minimum of work was ever undertaken into alternative routes and proposals for the BRT.
Residents are also highly sceptical of the planning process, which saw the plans brought back twice to committee with only minor alterations on each occasion. They feel let down by the process, and think the Council was not interested in listening to their views.
I have also received much correspondence over letters to the Council, which were made public, from an official at the Department for Transport and the Government Office of the South West. These letters seemed to indicate that the BRT must be passed soon, or the Council would be at risk of losing government money for the Bath Transportation Package. There is strong feeling that this placed undue pressure on members of the Development Control Committee.
I would like to re-iterate my request that you look closely at this proposal, and seriously consider calling-in the application for a public inquiry. I hope that whichever decision you come to, you are able to demonstrate to residents that you have taken their concerns seriously.
Don Foster MP
Please reply to
Tel: 01225 338 973 Fax: 01225 463 630