Councils click into the future of planning
In town halls across the country, planning officers are racing to update their Local Plans — but this time, the process looks very different.
Transport: Bath awash with bus proposals to deter car use
A £54M programme to improve bus services in Bath gained initial government approval last week.
The Department for Transport announced it would contribute more than £48.5M, once the package was fully approved. The Bath Public Transport Package includes a bus rapid-transit route from an expanded Newbridge park-and-ride site, using a disused railway line via Bath Western Riverside to the city centre.
The council estimates 1.25M people will use this service each year. Other plans include extended park-and-ride sites, extending the Bristol to Bath Cycleway, and bus-priority measures.
The package was put together following consultation with residents and key stakeholders.
Transport minister Jim Fitzpatrick said: ‘These improvements will help make the bus a real alternative to the car in Bath.’
Bath and North East Somerset Council expects to prepare the final bid for the Government in late 2008.
