Paul Crossley

The Council has got a large grant from Government for a variety of traffic measures  - mainly based around bus solutions. One element is causing controversy though and that is the plan to use a bit of disused rail line as a bus rapid transit route. In my view it is preferable that the bus routes should be on existing roads and this section of disused rail should be brought back to use as a pedestrian and cycle route connecting other cycle and pedestrian routes up. Providing good, safe walking and cycle routes for peopole for leisure and commuting has to be a better answer.

For immediate release: Wednesday, 16 July 2008

Liberal Democrats: questions raised over BRT scheme in Bath

Liberal Democrats are raising serious questions about the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) scheme which forms part of the £54m Bath Transport Package (BTP). There are doubts surrounding the information which has been given out to residents and the assumptions on which the BRT is based.

Newbridge Councillor Caroline Roberts says that the main questions relate to the segregated section of the BRT route which would run along the disused railway between the Upper and Lower Bristol Roads. Caroline commented:

"Residents who will be affected by the route are deeply concerned about the proposal and about the way the Cabinet member is handling it. These concerns prompted us to take a closer look at the proposals.

"Last month the Cabinet member decided to circulate a leaflet to residents in the Newbridge and Kingsmead area around the proposed segregated route. The leaflet shows three different routes: a ‘chosen route' and two other possibilities which have been ruled out. However this leaflet was put out prematurely, before feedback from Councillors and Don Foster MP could be incorporated, and it does not seem to tell the full story. It seems as though the Cabinet member is trying to stop any opposition to the BRT route by presenting a fait accompli."

Councillor Gerry Curran (Twerton) continued:

"We have asked questions about the supposed higher land costs and loss of parking spaces which have led to the other two routes being ruled out. There are doubts over the assessments leading to the figures used in the leaflet: for example, the leaflet claims 260 parking spaces would be lost along the Lower Bristol Road whereas in reality, the stretches of road in question are not commonly used for parking.

"If it is possible that a better value option could be found using the Lower Bristol Road why is the Cabinet determined to build a new road on the disused railway? The Lower Bristol Road option would run through Twerton and has the support of the ward Councillors for Twerton and Westmoreland; it would also make it easier for buses to access the depot."

Councillor Paul Crossley (Southdown) contends that the former railway land could, at some point in future, be used for a dedicated cycle and footpath. Paul said: "A dedicated cycle and footpath would not require compulsory purchases of local residents' gardens but would open up a new, safe, separate route into the city and help reduce CO2 emissions."

The Council also seems to be assuming that no variation is possible within the Bath Transport Package. City MP Don Foster has written to the Minister for Transport, Rosie Winterton MP, to seek clarification.

Commenting, Don said, "It is important that we clarify whether there is any flexibility in this plan. Many residents have suggestions and queries, but it seems that no-one knows what the boundaries are for altering the proposal.

"How much can we vary the Rapid Transit route, and to what degree can we alter funding within the package? It seems that the Council are totally unaware of the answers to these questions, and this has led to growing frustration among those who wish to suggest alterations to the proposal."

Reduce your food waste and win a £50 food voucher. Bath & North East Somerset Council is supporting the national Love Food Hate Waste campaign which has identified that as a nation we throw away 6.7 million tonnes of food every year and over ¾ of this is food that could have been eaten.

This waste has a huge impact on our pockets and also on the environment through the energy used in producing, storing and transporting our food as well as the costs in disposing of it.  It is also a crime against humanity to be throwing away so much when so many are without. The world currently produces enough food to feed a population of 8 billion. We don't feed everyone because the West wastes so much.

Not only that, food waste in our area is currently going to landfill and so is responsible for more carbon creation. So lets all make a pledge to reduce food waste by * Making a list before going shopping and sticking to it * Keeping the temperature of your fridge between 1 and 5 degrees centigrade to help food keep for longer * Cooking the right amount for the meal to be eaten * Making new meals from any left overs * Keeping a food waste diary for a week to see what you throw away.

Before the last election we had planned to start collecting food waste by the Spring of this year. Sadly the new Conservative administration has delayed and delayed. It may start next year but don't hold your breath!

More information is available at LoveFoodHateWaste . Last week after putting our peelings etc to the compost only 475 grams of food waste was put into my greencone food digester.

So how are we doing in our household on our carbon footprint.

Cars

- mine current mileage July 1 2008 46290 Jan 1 2008 45255 (previous totals 1330 : 1664 : 1579)

- my wife's car - July 1 2008 50366 Jan 1 2008 45786 (previous totals 7435 : 4877 : 5133)

car travel = 5615 miles = emissions from this at a small car rate are: 1.41 Tonnes of CO2 The cost to offset this CO2 will be £ 12.42

Flights = work - NONE : holiday - Maggie - flight to Egypt holiday in January. Paul and Maggie to Amsterdam in May = 1.05 tonnes CO2 at £9.31

House

electricity meter 81511.7  jan 1 to 83216.9 Jul 1 = 0.55 tonnes of CO2 = £4.83 BUT at the beginning of this year we swapped to GoodEnergy who are one of the UK suppliers who guarantee generating 100% renewable - so no charge.

gas meter 04315,83.2 to 05398,68.4 - 1082 KWh = .23 Tonne + £2.00

Therefore my carbon offset cost of house, travel for me and my wife for the first 6 months of 2008 are £23.73 Payment made to Climatecare. Certificate certificate_Jul08.pdf

Again I do not count travel for offeset when I have used public transport such as  train, taxi and bus or lift shared in another car.

For the next six months I will include lift share journeys made in private cars and also I will suggest to Climate Care that they need to include household water in the total.