Traffic ruling is slammed (From Gazette Series)

Traffic ruling is slammed

RELIEF has turned to dismay in traffic-weary Easter Compton after a judge overturned a government decision banning cars and lorries from using the village to access a planned new sports stadium, housing development and industrial park.

The High Court decision to overrule the traffic ban leave the way clear for developers Redrow to press ahead with planning applications for the huge new development including a new 30,000 seat stadium and a "mini town" of 1,600 new homes on hundreds of acres of land between Easter Compton and Pilning.

There was relief earlier this year when Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott announced that following a public inquiry, all traffic except buses would be banned from using the overloaded Junction 17 of the M5 and the B4055 through the village to reach the Redrow land.

Residents and parish councillors predicted nightmare traffic conditions if Redrow won the green light for unrestricted use of an access point adjacent to Ellinghurst Farm in Marsh Common, Pilning.

Pilning and Severn Beach and Almondsbury parish councils registered common concern that the plan would cause congestion, noise and pollution and create an "unfriendly and stressful" environment along the B4055 through Easter Compton and Pilning. There would be increased danger for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists because the road was unsuitable for lorries - the very reason why a 7.5 tonne restriction was already in place.

But Redrow mounted a High Court challenge to the Government decision - which would have forced the company to construct alternative access points from the M49 from the A403 Avonmouth road - claiming the traffic ban was unjust in the light of still-valid planning consents granted by Gloucestershire County Council in 1957.

South Gloucestershire Pilning and Seven Beach ward councillor Peter Tyzack said: "This is clearly very bad news for the area. It will have a severe impact on Junction 17 and the local community if the all the traffic comes down that way.

"The time has come for South Gloucestershire to get together with Bristol city to look at the wider picture of traffic access to Severnside. For too long we have gone on ploughing our own separate furrows"

Almondsbury ward councillor and parish council chairman Shela Cook said: "People are going to be furious when the realise the possible implications of this. Junction 17 simply cannot cope as things stand and this is going to mean a lot more traffic through Easter Compton. These rulings are made hundreds of miles away and it makes you wish that they would come and see the situation on the ground.

"Even if the stadium scheme does not go through - and personally I don't think it will- Redrow will still want to develop that land for more housing or for commercial use."