THE WEEK IN East Bristol & North East Somerset FREE Issue 515 7th March 2018 Read by over 40,000 people each week Emersons Green ‘the best location for Junction 18a’ The findings of a major Emersons Green. March) says the so-called This week the Cabinet study suggest that the best A report going to South Western Option is better Member for Transport Cllr option for an M4 Junction Gloucestershire Council’s than the Eastern Option at Colin Hunt said: “I have 18a and link road is near Cabinet next Monday (12th Pucklechurch. been campaigning for a new Junction 18A on the M4 for several decades now - it is desperately needed to take traffic off the ring road. “The final decision is up to Highways England, but South Gloucestershire Council can make a recommendation. On balance the Western Option creates more jobs, offers much greater economic growth, is better for the environment, will have a larger impact on congestion and is clearly the public favourite – all of these facts will be taken into account when we make our recommendation on March 12th.” Since before he was elected in 2010, Kingswood MP Chris Skidmore has also campaigned for a new Junction 18a as a solution to Continued on page 3 2 The Week in • Wednesday 7th March 2018 Emersons Green ‘the best location for Junction 18a’ Continued from page 1 were suggested – Option A Pucklechurch parish councillor increasing residential and running close to Parkfield Bob Symons & Gail Boyle commercial demands being Rank, with an Option B placed on Emersons Green, cutting across fields closer and he secured Government to Pucklechurch village. funding in 2016 to pay for a Either route would link to a feasibility study. new roundabout close to the It had always been widely B4465 at the Shortwood presumed that the junction Road/Siston Lane junction would be at Emersons and then continue to link up Green, so it came as a shock with the A4174 ring road. when it emerged during the During the public study last summer – and consultation which ran from exclusively reported in The August to October, around Week In at the time - that 800 people attended public Pucklechurch was also an exhibitions and 1,275 option, with a link road questionnaire responses running through the Green were received, together with Belt. Mr Skidmore said he more than 300 letters. could not and would not Analysis of the question- 6% indicated that they did Option and Eastern Option as a single carriageway. support an Eastern Option naires showed 51% suppor- not have a preference on A have strong business It would also have a and he and MP Luke Hall, ted the Western Option and which junction should be cases, Option B is dismissed significant adverse impact whose constituency inclu- 17% supported the Eastern taken forward. because it would not meet on heritage and the des Pucklechurch, collected Option. In addition, 26% Although the papers going future traffic need as it surrounding population. a 2,100-name petition indicated that they did not to Monday’s meeting say would only have been built Continued on page 4 against it. support either option, and that both the Western Two possible routes for the Eastern Option proposal Also in this week’s issue Keynsham CCTV improvements ‘within 6 weeks’ . page 7 The area recovers from snow and ice . page 15 More concerns over Douglas factory development . page 21 Transport campaigner attacked on train . page 24 The Week in • Wednesday 7th March 2018 3 Emersons Green ‘the best location for Junction 18a’ Continued from page 3 would be constructed to the economy. In comparison, the and said that galvanising so who took part in the This week Mr Skidmore north of the existing M4, Eastern Option would many people to campaign consultation. said: “I am delighted that our resulting in the need to generate 2,200 jobs and add against the Eastern Option The papers show that the campaigning has paid off realign the motorway, due to £174m to the economy. In had made a difference. Western Option costs have and that the Western Option the presence of Sainsbury’s addition, the Western Option However, they said they are decreased by £18m to at Emersons Green is being distribution centre and the has a lesser impact on the not out of the woods yet as £428m and the Eastern recommended. This will do Lyde Green housing environment and is projected Option A is still seen as Option A costs have dropped so much to relieve traffic development. The existing to be significantly better at viable. by £31m to £378m from congestion and boost jobs Folly Brook, Bristol & Bath alleviating congestion on the Councillor for Siston Ian those stated at the time of the locally. Science Park and Lyde A4174 ring road. Adams said that the consultation. “The Eastern Option at Green to Hicks Gate A4174 This week the chair and recommendation of the If approved at Cabinet, the Pucklechurch was always a junctions would be vice-chair of Pucklechurch Western Option was “great report will be sent to terrible idea and I’m pleased improved. Parish Council, Bob Symons news”, adding: “I hope it Highways England and it is being dismissed It is estimated the Western and Gail Boyle, also will provide a lot of following their review following our petition.” Option will generate 5,700 welcomed the recommen- reassurance to residents that provided to the Department The Western Option junction jobs and add £449m to the dation of the Western Option at all levels their views and for Transport. If taken opinions have been taken forward, Highways England into consideration.” would then lead it, taking it THE WEEK IN And Boyd Valley councillor through subsequent busi- Steve Reade, who had ness case stages which Barrs Court, Bitton, Brislington, warned that the Eastern involve further data Cadbury Heath, Compton Dando, Option would be “a collection, survey work and Corston, Downend, Emersons complete and utter disaster design. Subject to funding Green, Fishponds, Hanham, for the communities of and consent, the junction and Hillfields, Keynsham, Kingswood, Pucklechurch, Shortwood link road could be built from Longwell Green, Mangotsfield, and Parkfield Rank”, also 2025. Marksbury, North Common, Oldland welcomed the recommen- Common, Pucklechurch, Saltford, dation and thanked everyone See also page 5 Staple Hill, Stockwood, St George, Warmley, Whitchurch, Wick, Willsbridge. 16,000 copies are distributed through retail outlets, libraries, pubs, community centres each week. Verified pick-up rate of 97%. Publisher Keynsham & Saltford Times Ltd, 8 Temple Court, Keynsham. BS31 1HA 0117 986 0381 www.theweekin.co.uk ISSN: 2052-9767 Managing Editor Stephen Rodgers [email protected] News Editor Becky Feather 07973 839936 Contributors Christine Rogers Advertising Jodie Deason and Tracy Broderick 0117 986 0381 [email protected] @theweekineditor No material in this publication, nor its associated website (www.theweekin.co.uk) may be reproduced without the written permission of Keynsham & Saltford Times Ltd. All rights reserved. Keynsham & Saltford Times Ltd. t/a The Week In is regulated by IMPRESS: The Independent Monitor for the Press CIC. As such, we adhere to the IMPRESS complaints procedure. A copy of this procedure can be found on our website or can be sent upon written request to the address above. 4 The Week in • Wednesday 7th March 2018 ‘There is a huge war still to be won’ New date for For the Webb family, who film screening live at Gingells Farm on The planned screening in Shortwood Hill, this Kingswood last Friday of week’s news that the Ken Loach’s film I, Cabinet is being asked to Daniel Blake, which the back the Western Option director had been due to for a new motorway attend, had to be junction and link road at Emersons Green does not cancelled because of the mean they feel the threat snow. to their home is being Organised in colla- lifted. boration with Kingswood The Eastern Option would Constituency Labour see a dual carriageway link Party and Cadbury Heath- from a new roundabout near based community group Edgar & Mary Webb with son Phil and grandsons Joseph & Jack the Shortwood Road/Siston Juice, which operates a Lane junction plough right pleased to hear that Option The Webb family have long moving speech which left foodbank, the screening through their land. And B is no longer on the table farmed land in the area and people in tears when she and visit have been although Option B has been but added: “We also feel the Edgar and Mary’s spoke about how devastated rescheduled for Friday 6th dropped, Option A remains consultation period and the grandsons Jack and Joseph the family are at the April at 7pm at a “strong business case”, past eight months since we hope to take over Gingells prospect of their farm being Kingswood Entertain- according to the report first heard about Junction Farm one day. At a packed forcibly taken from them ment Centre & Sports going to councillors. 18a has merely been the first public meeting in under a Compulsory Pur- Club in Regent Street. This week Mary Webb said skirmish and that we have a Pucklechurch last Septem- chase Order if the Eastern Everyone is welcome. her family were obviously huge war still to be won.” ber, Mrs Webb delivered a Option was to be chosen. The Week in • Wednesday 7th March 2018 5 6 The Week in • Wednesday 7th March 2018 Keynsham CCTV improvements in town ‘within six weeks’ Work is under way to link ness, which will assist us in CCTV has been installed at up CCTV in Keynsham to preventing and detecting Keynsham Station, it is the B&NES-wide network crime and reducing traffic “shocking” that there are no within the next six weeks.