Patchway Insists: No New Houses Until Relief Road is Built

3.33.11pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 10th Sep 2007

Despite a persistent campaign by local Lib Dems, developers have insisted that the first phase of the massive new housing development at Northfield must go ahead before the new the Relief Road for Patchway is built.

Liberal Democrat Councillor for Patchway, Jan Woodley, fought hard at the Public Inquiry last year to convince the Government Inspector that the traffic was already so bad in Patchway that this was totally unacceptable.

Local campaigner Emma Bone, now believes there is an opportunity for the funding for both the road and for the land for new community centre being made available before the houses are built from a new Regional Infrastructure Fund.

Emma Bone commented:

"South Gloucestershire Council needs to be quick off the mark and be ready to apply for funding as soon as the details of the scheme are announced in the autumn. Whether we like it or not the Government has designated the Greater Bristol Area as a New Growth Point so we must make sure we don't miss out on any of the benefits that go with it.

Although the Minister supported S.Glos. Council in refusing to grant consent for Bovis Homes' planning application for the old airfield at Patchway, it is still likely to be the first of the huge new developments proposed for the Bristol area to go ahead. Patchway residents already have to suffer unacceptable traffic jams. They also need a proper town centre with new community facilities before hundreds of new residents arrive."

At their meeting on Monday Councillor Pat Hockey, Lib Dem Spokesperson for Planning and Transport, urged S. Glos. Council's Cabinet members to get all the information on the Regional Infrastructure Fund, so that they could be first in the queue with a bid.