A key cycling route in could be set to change as a new £1 million scheme aimed at making the path safer is considered. The Bristol & Bath Railway Path will get improvements between Teewell Hill, in Staple Hill, and Bitton Station.
Proposals put forward by South Gloucestershire Council include installing 20 CCTV cameras between the entrance of the Staple Hill tunnel and the former Mangotsfield station, with two further cameras at the Warmley Waiting Room. Two cameras would be pointing in each direction on 10 pillars.
The locations have been chosen after a rise in anti-social behaviour and criminal activity in that area. The cameras would cover entry and exit points of the railway path.
In addition, nine pinch points where the path narrows are planned to be removed to improve accessibility for those walking, wheeling (using mobility scooters, pushchairs or wheelchairs) and cycling. The locations are between Siston Common and Bitton Station.
The council, responding to frequently asked questions (FAQs), added that where the paths meet road crossings, obstructions will remain in order to ensure cyclists reduce speed when approaching. In locations where there could be a “significant conflict” between cyclists and pedestrians, signage and road marking will be utilised.
A consultation has been launched by the council in order to gain feedback from residents about the proposed changes, as well as additional plans on how to make the cycle path safer. One aspect being considered by the council is the erection of new lighting.
The council acknowledges that new lighting could enable people to make use of the path during darker mornings and evenings. However, the railway path is the only ‘dark corridor’ remaining in the ‘Bristol Urban Fringe’, meaning new lighting may disrupt wildlife and the area’s ecology.
The project has an allocated budget of £1 million for design and construction, which is being funded through the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority, through the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlements Fund.
The council says that once the Full Business Case is approved, construction is planned to take place between 2025 and 2027. During this time, sections of the path may be temporarily closed and diversions put in place. These potential closures will be communicated ahead of time.
South Gloucestershire Council said: “This scheme will bring many benefits to local people and users of the railway path now and into the future. The installation of CCTV will not only help reduce anti-social behaviour and help deter crime but will also make the railway path a more attractive route for walkers, wheelers and cyclists.
“Making the railway path safer means more people will use it for leisure purposes, their commute to work or to get to school. This will reduce the number of cars on our local roads and contribute to improved local air quality.
“We also want to support and encourage active and healthy lifestyles. Walking, wheeling and cycling have proven health benefits and are known to prevent long-term health conditions.
“In South Gloucestershire, traffic modelling has indicated a 26% increase in trips on our road network by 2036. This is estimated to result in an increase in average delays per vehicle of almost 40%. This will be worse along busy routes such as the A4174 Avon Ring Road so we are doing everything we can now to provide alternative, sustainable routes.”
The consultation will close on January 31, 2025.
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