Statement of Reasons

Boyd Valley & Siston B4465 Shortwood Hill & Shortwood Road, Pucklechurch - Shared Use Path

Background

Pucklechurch community holds a longstanding wish to establish an accessible path that links the village with the extensive cycling, walking and equestrian facilities that lie beyond the B4465 Shortwood Hill and Shortwood Road. The road is heavily trafficked, narrow in parts and also constrained by hedges which makes it intimidating to travel along for anyone not using a vehicle. The provision of an off road path would remove this barrier for the many residents who would like to travel on foot, horseback or bicycle to Emersons Green. In particular it would improve a safer pedestrian – cycle route from Pucklechurch to Mangotsfield Secondary School. The path would also open up access to Bristol or Bath beyond Emersons Green, all of which offer places of work, leisure, shopping and services such as healthcare. Whilst there are less direct alternative routes available that are more lightly trafficked, they suffer the disadvantages of steep gradients, increased distance and no separation from vehicles. Implementation of this project is a priority outcome of the Pucklechurch Community Plan prepared by residents and published in 2011. The proposal is also consistent with the recent South Gloucesteshire Council Core Strategy; objectives stated in the Joint Local Transport Plan 3 and the 2006 South Gloucestershire Council local plan, policy T6, which lists the route proposed. These documents have helped to secure funding for design and to start some construction during 2014/15. Money has been won from a number of budgets including the Department for Transport Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF), the Councils allocation of Local Transport Plan settlement courtesy of support from Kings Forest Area Forum; along with funds raised through a property sale which amounts to a sum sufficient to design and build a first phase of the path, within council managed highway during 2014. By responding to this consultation the diverse range of users and those with directly affected property will help to inform the detail and suitability of the design for initial and later phases of the project. Not all of the route can be built with the current budget, though design and successful negotiation with landowners now will greatly assist the project when further funding is made available.

Purpose of the Scheme

• To encourage journeys on foot and by bicycle between the Bristol & Bath cycle network and the villages of Pucklechurch, Wick, Dyrham, Hinton, Abson & Doynton. • To provide more suitable access for horse riders between stables and bridleways around Siston, Pucklechurch, Cattybrook and Shortwood. • To assist in meeting the Councils equality duty. • To accord with the priority actions in Pucklechurch Community Plan 2011. • In support of policy T6 of the South Gloucestershire Council Local Plan 2006 and the proposed cycle and pedestrian route listed in the schedule to that policy. • To accord with the walking and cycling strategy contained within the Joint Local Transport Plan 3 2011 to 2026 and supplementary documents. • To address transport issues noted in the South Gloucestershire Council Core Strategy by enhancing travel choice.

Details of the current scheme proposal:

Phase 1 – Using available funding for 2014/15 To spend time constrained funding through commencement of construction works at the western end of the route where it can be contained wholly within the maintained highway.

Section A from existing cycle track to Shortwood Hill junction • Construction of new asphalt path within the verge alongside the B4465 Shortwood Hill from the existing termination of the Ring Road cycle track link, eastwards to Siston Lane. • Remove vehicle crash barrier and cut back vegetation to allow room for 2.5m wide shared use path up to Shortwood Hill junction. • Verge between shared use path and carriageway increasing from half a metre width to act as a buffer between vehicle traffic and path users. • Provision of drop crossing through the location of the traffic island at Shortwood Hill junction. • No amendments would be made to the existing pedestrian drop crossing of the main Shortwood Hill road immediately next to the junction.

Section B from Shortwood Hill junction to Shortwood Yard • The path is proposed to continue along an alignment set back from the carriageway until it is constrained by the adjacent hedge, at which point it will run alongside the road without a buffer zone to maximise visibility between path users and those emerging from property access points of Gingells Farm. • To connect the path into the existing access road for Shortwood Yard & Greengate Yard making use of the existing surface and minimise disturbance of well maintained grassed area and trees.

Interim Measures It is proposed to erect a sign indicating to both motorists and path users the termination point of Phase 1 as a temporary measure. It is considered that cycle symbol road markings may be appropriate at intervals on both sides of the carriageway to highlight the likely presence of cyclists to the point where a cyclist on the road would feel less intimidated at the outskirts of Pucklechurch.

Future phases Current funding is available until March 2015 and is not sufficient to construct phases 2 or 3. Phase 3 as proposed will also be reliant on reaching agreement with landowners and gaining planning consent.

Phase 2 – Utilising the highway verge to just beyond Horseshoe Cottage.

Section C from Greengate Yard to Siston Lane junction • To accommodate the path exit from the access road and continue along the verge from the eastern end will require cutting back of vegetation and felling of two trees. • It is proposed to continue the path with a 1m buffer zone to the driveway of property number 210 where the path would terminate for this phase of construction. • A buffer zone between the path and road will require cutting back of property boundary hedges to allow a path width that is sufficient. • The alternative of a wider path along this section may be considered to improve visibility as mentioned above, where there are property driveways. By paving right up to the carriageway there would be a reduction in the impact on boundary hedge plants.

Section D from Siston Lane junction to Horseshoe Cottage. • Construct an asphalt shared use path from the driveway of property number 210. • Reduce the width of the exit from Siston Lane to provide a drop crossing with improved visibility. • Reduce the central traffic island length at the junction so that the most appropriate crossing location may be utilised. • Cut back the boundary hedge of Bell House sufficiently to provide adequate visibility to crossing points. • Continue the asphalt path with a half metre buffer zone to the carriageway. • Reduce carriageway width to seven metres to enable the path construction outside Horseshoe Cottage with further boundary hedge cut back. • Make good the boundary drainage and steps to Horseshoe Cottage entrance. • Terminate the asphalt track at the field access at the eastern end of the garden of Horseshoe Cottage.

Phase 3 – Subject to planning consent and landowner agreement.

Section E across agricultural land to Back Lane • From the termination point of Phase 2, deviate the path alignment south, away from the carriageway and break through the existing hedge. • The track would continue behind the hedge across fields to the point where Back Lane meets Shortwood Road at the bottom of Policeman’s Hill. • Sympathetic buff coloured surfacing is the preferred option for this section which would be built within the Siston conservation area. • Provide a vehicle crossover for agricultural vehicle access to the field at the bottom of Policeman’s Hill and adjacent to Back Lane.

Drawing numbers and titles: T425-107-100 Overview of the scheme phases T425-107-101 Existing path to Shortwood Hill junction (Phase 1) T425-107-102 Shortwood Hill junction to Shortwood Yard (Phase 1) T425-107-103 Greengate Yard to Siston Lane junction (Phase 2) T425-107-104 Siston Lane to Horseshoe Cottage (Phase 2) T425-107-105 Horseshoe Cottage to Back Lane (Phase 3)

Timescale Works are planned to commence on Phase 1 before the end of 2014 with an expected duration of seven weeks, working outside peak traffic hours. Subsequent phases two & three cannot yet be programmed as they may only be progressed once further funding is secured, planning consent is given and landowner agreements being in place.