ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984 SOUTH GLOUCESTERSHIRE COUNCIL (A38 GLOUCESTER ROAD, PATCHWAY) (GREATER BRISTOL BUS NETWORK) (LITTLE STOKE TO HEMPTON LANE) (PROHIBITION AND RESTRICTION OF WAITING/LOADING) ORDER 20[10] S T A T E M E N T O F R E A S O N S Purpose of Scheme • Improve journey times for bus passengers travelling to Aztec West Business Park, Bradley Stoke, Almondsbury and Thornbury. • Improve existing on-carriageway northbound and southbound cycle facilities. • Improve pedestrian access to bus stops. • Reduce congestion for all traffic using the roundabout. Background The Greater Bristol Bus Network (GBBN) has been identified in the Joint Local Transport Plan (JLTP) for Bristol City, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and Bath and North East Somerset Councils. The aim of the GBBN is to provide an overall improvement to all aspects of bus services. Encouraging bus use is central to meeting targets linked to the four shared priorities of congestion, air quality, road safety and accessibility. In April 2008 South Gloucestershire Council consulted with the general public on a proposal to improve facilities for buses on the direct approaches to Aztec West Roundabout. One of the main bus services to benefit from these improvements was the number 73 that entered Aztec West Business Park at the morning and evening busy traffic periods. In February 2009, in order to improve the reliability of this service, it was decided this service would no longer enter the business park and would follow the normal route. A result of this was that the bus improvements scheme that was consulted upon was no longer viable. Following this traffic studies have been undertaken in the Aztec West area to determine where works can be undertaken to provide the greatest benefit to buses. These studies demonstrated that in peak periods northbound bus lane on the A38 Gloucester Road from the Little Stoke junction to Aztec West Roundabout can save the buses an average of 10 minutes. This represented the greatest benefit and is therefore being taken forward. A public consultation exercise was undertaken during September and October 2009 where significant numbers of objections were received to the different sections of the scheme. Therefore the scheme has been separated into two parts. This statement concerns the proposals from Little Stoke Junction to Hempton Lane. .