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www.stokegiffordjournal.co.uk
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July/August 2021
News
F
ollowing the revelation in last month’s Journal magazine that officers at South Gloucestershire Council (SGC) are pushing for the temporary ‘shuttle’ traffic lights at Parkway Bridge to remain in place for a further 12 months, varying accounts have emerged of a further meeting held in late June to discuss the future of the controversial scheme. The single-lane traffic system was introduced at the bridge in June 2020 (during the first Covid-19 lockdown) to create extra space for people walking or cycling through the tunnel. With traffic levels increasing as lockdown measures are eased and the risk of virus transmission for non-motorised users passing under the bridge now seen as less of an issue, the three South Gloucestershire ward councillors for Stoke Gifford have unanimously called for the scheme to be removed.
After a meeting with SGC officers on 26th May, the local councillors reported that the officers had agreed to undertake a “complete appraisal of the traffic throughout the coming weeks to make an informed comparison to what was experienced preCovid”, to aid future decisions on the current measures. Following the latest meeting with the local councillors on 26th June, an SCG spokesperson told the Journal: “We are still conducting the appraisal, but so far we’ve seen that levels of traffic have remained manageable with no excessive queuing outside of short periods in the morning and evenings.” “However, we anticipate traffic levels will increase when current Covid-19 restrictions are due to be [further] eased in July. With that in mind, officers are starting to look at options to manage this, which will be presented to members.”
Readers’ letter on the Parkway Bridge shuttle lights
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Thank you for the update in the June issue of the Journal on the current state of play regarding plans for keeping Parkway Bridge traffic lights. I am writing to voice my and my husband’s utmost objections in continuing with perpetuating this nonsense. We live in close proximity to the bridge so have cause to travel under the bridge frequently, and I am wondering how many hours/days of our lives have been wasted sat in the traffic jams that are caused by these lights. We have many objections that I know that have been raised by many other people. First and foremost, where is the SCIENCE behind preventing the transmission of Covid when we know that the risk of passing it on outside, especially when you are briefly passing someone in the street, is virtually zero. There is no pandemic in this country now. The massive increase in pollution in the local area. Common sense must dictate
that this cannot be beneficial to the health of local people, no doubt accelerating respiratory diseases The massive increase in congestion. At times you can be forced to sit in a traffic jam that extends down to the roundabout at Tesco Express, frustrating and a waste of time, hindering people getting on with their business. The potential for emergency services’ vehicles being delayed. To say nothing, of course, of the massive waste of OUR money. It seems that the council have carried out a survey re: the proposals, and it seems that most people strongly disagree to keeping the lights. Also ward councillors are unanimous in calling for the scheme to be removed, so of course, all these objections are being ignored until another appraisal can be carried out so that perhaps South Glos Council can get the answer that they want. Yes, very democratic. A & N Farnish
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