The results of a public consultation on proposed capacity improvements at a major roundabout on the border between Bradley Stoke and Stoke Gifford will not be released until just one week before a funding decision is made on the £2.3m scheme, the Journal can reveal.
The consultation on the proposed work at Great Stoke Roundabout (a.k.a. Rabbit Roundabout) took place in February and March 2019 and it was stated that a feedback report would be prepared and published ahead of a decision being made by South Gloucestershire councillors on “proceeding with the scheme and seeking funding from the West of England Combined Authority (Weca)”.
The consultation documents also stated that, subject to receiving funding, “construction could commence in autumn 2019 and … take one year to complete”, which raised concerns the work might run concurrently with planned road closures on Gipsy Patch Lane from early 2020 in connection with the scheme to replace the railway bridge.
However, the response to a recent enquiry submitted by the Journal has revealed that the Weca funding application has already been made, raising questions about South Gloucestershire Council’s (SGC’s) commitment to genuine community engagement.
In response to our enquiry, an SGC spokesperson said:
“Earlier this year, the West of England Combined Authority (Weca) approved an outline business case for a preferred scheme to increase vehicle capacity and reduce queuing times at Great Stoke Roundabout in Stoke Gifford. We ran a public consultation, including several drop-in sessions during February and March 2019, and invited people to fill in a questionnaire about the proposed scheme.”
“Following this feedback, a full business case has been submitted to Weca and we are expecting a decision on the future funding of this scheme in October. The results of the public consultation will be published a week prior to the Weca decision.”
“Following the funding decision from Weca, we will be in a position to confirm a start date for the main work and the traffic management which will be in place during the scheme.”
“If funding is approved and we progress the scheme, we will do everything we can to minimise disruption to residents and all road users and will take into consideration other road improvement schemes in the area.”
• More info: www.southglos.gov.uk/greatstokeroundabout
Photos – Top: Great Stoke Roundabout (viewed from south side). Above: Wooden pegs in the roadside verge near Great Stoke Roundabout (September 2019), which are believed to mark the boundary of proposed works.
This article originally appeared in the September 2019 issue of the Bradley Stoke Journal magazine (on page 3). The magazine is delivered FREE, EVERY MONTH (except August), to ALL 8,700 homes in Bradley Stoke. Phone 01454 300 400 to enquire about advertising or leaflet insertion.
