The Bath Transportation Package

Updated 11th June 2010 - Postponement of Public Inquiry

The Programme Officer for the Inquiry has issued the following statement:

"The Secretary of State for Transport has issued a Statement today, indicating that the Department for Transport (DfT) will play a full part in the Government's spending review, which is being undertaken in view of the urgent need to tackle the UK's record budget deficit. This spending review will be reporting in the Autumn and only once it has been completed will the DfT be in a position to identify those major investments that can be supported.

"Steps are therefore being taken to help avoid unnecessary expenditure, whilst the Government considers its transport priorities. The Statement makes it clear that Ministers will postpone decisions on scheme orders and public inquiries relating to schemes which require DfT funding, unless alternative funding sources are available. As the Bath Transportation Package requires DfT funding this means that the Public Inquiries, scheduled to commence on 1 September 2010, have today been postponed.

"In consequence, the Pre-Inquiry Meeting scheduled for Monday 14 June 2010 is also postponed.

"The Government will aim to provide a firm indication on the way forward later this year once the spending review is complete".

About the Bath Transportation Package

The Bath Transportation Package (BTP) is a £54 million scheme designed to tackle congestion in Bath and the surrounding area by improving public transport and enhancing pedestrian access for the benefit of residents, commuters and visitors. The BTP includes the following elements:

• Expanding the City's three existing Park & Rides and creating a new Park & Ride to the east of the City, thereby increasing Park & Ride capacity from 1,990 to 4,510 spaces. 

• Creating a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) route, including a 1.4km section of "off-street" dedicated bus route which will remove Park & Ride buses from congestion for a significant amount of their journey;

• Creating a more pedestrian and cyclist-friendly City Centre through the introduction of access changes on a number of streets and the expansion and enhancement of pedestrian areas;

• Improving nine bus routes to Showcase standard, including raised kerbs for better access, off-bus ticketing to speed up boarding and real-time electronic information for passengers;

• Introducing active traffic management with real-time information to direct drivers to locations where parking spaces are available.

The BTP formed the basis of a Major Scheme Business Case (MSBC) bid to the Department for Transport in 2006. ‘Programme Entry’ for the BTP was confirmed in October 2007, meaning that Government funding for the scheme was provisionally secured through its Major Transport Scheme funding process. 

The four planning applications for the Bath Transportation Package have now been approved. The application documents can be viewed here:

Bath Transportation Package Benefits

Bath Transportation Package will deliver:

• A reduction in number of cars entering the City by 1.5 million a year;

• A reduction of 5 million kilometres in car travel undertaken within the city each year;

• An increase in public transport journeys by 2.2million per annum;

• Annual emission savings of 1,500 tonnes of CO²; 

• Annual emission savings of 2.1 tonnes of NOx;

• Annual emission savings of 10.9 tonnes CO;

• An increase of 125%  in Park and Ride parking spaces;

• Avoidance of 321 accidents over the next 60 years, including 3 fatalities and 35 serious casualties;

• Improvements to the City Centre environment, through the introduction of vehicle access restriction on key streets.