Views of our Local Councillors

So far, we've received over 300 comments for residents and visitors to Bath who oppose BANES plans to build a P&R on Bathampton Meadows. Here are some examples:

"An absolute outrage that this land is being considered for this purpose when better sites are obviously available. This is not well thought out and is being railroaded for all the wrong reasons".

"Desecration of the water meadows in the interests of saving a few minutes travel time is political madness".

"I'm a resident of Farleigh Rise and frequently enjoy the view to the meadows from the Browns Folly woods, I stand by this protest to build a park and ride. In particular I'm concerned that due to flooding this would be a poor decision. Another factor which I have not seen elsewhere is the lighting issue required for the car park and the effect this will have on rare bat species that use part of the meadows and Limpley Stoke valley for migratory and foraging routes. Not all species of bat are tolerant of street lighting and avoid areas completely effectively severing supply routes for the species."

"I object due to the following: I question if it will achieve its aim to reduce traffic on London Road; impact on environment both nature reserve but esp flood plain - concreting area adjoining flood plain seems contrary to all advice increasing runoff especially as heavy rainfall becoming more frequent. Look at gloucester. Loss of green space and risk of future urban sprawl."

"A P+R on the Bathampton Meadows will not solve Bath's traffic problems. The city has no effective "ring road" because of it's geographical setting. Through traffic is a major problem and this proposal does not address this. If there must be an eastern P+R what about land alongside the railway towards Box?"

"A park and ride will not stop lorries or the number of school runs that take place which make up a large proportion of rush hour traffic. The proposed site will be adjacent to a nature reserve and an area of flood storage so the site is not suitable. A lot of the traffic is through traffic so will not use the Park and Ride. If the Park and Ride creates some additional capacity on the roads then this capacity will be filled immediately by surplus traffic that currently use longer routes."

"I feel the main problem is the through traffic and this park and ride will not lessen that problem. The destruction of the water meadows could cause flooding problems."

"If another park and ride is to be built, i believe there are more suitable places. The University acts as a park and ride on Saturdays, which is not fully utilised. The view from the surrounding hills is unsightly and damaging to the ecology in the valley."

"It would be a gross error of judgement to continue with the proposed park and ride plan for Bathampton meadows. The result would be the ruin of an outstanding area of natural beauty - destroying the landscape for the sake of cars., and it would not solve the problem, as the Batheaston bypass did not solve the problem it was built for. You will create further problems by this scheme. You need to seriously reconsider this idea beacause it is totally foolish, reckless and unacceptable."

"From Solsbury Hill it is plain that Bathampton/Batheaston/Bathford are separate communities and should remain so, separated by these ancient meadows. Why not have a proper sustainable transport plan..... subsidise bus travel and build cycle lanes that are safe to use?"

"This is an area of outstanding beauty. We have a duty to preserve it. In half term the traffic flow is fine. We don't need more cars and pollution in Bath (which this scheme will bring), we need better education for people who overuse their cars."

"All other park and rides make no difference whatsoever to the city congestion. Why destroy forever a beautiful meadow and natural reserve knowing there would be no benefit for traffic? More buses will just join the queues on the slip-road off the bypass and all the way to where the bus lane starts, actually making the main congested area WORSE. Leave the meadows alone; they are much more important as they are."

"There are times when the car has to take second place to the environment."

"Please do not sacrifice water meadows which can be seen for miles around to an ugly car park at the entrance to a World Heritage City!"

"This will be a travesty if it happens. The council have other options which they have made look unattractive financially by using a biased scoring system. They are not accounting for the fact that this scheme destroys the original purpose of the Bypass as it will involve traffic lights! Road calming in Batheaston will need to be extreme to prevent traffic from bypassing the bypass by using the London Road East! Charmy down is the right option and won't cost what they are stating. Transparent."

"As someone who travels in and out of Bath every day - at different times of the day - I SOMETIMES experience slight delay near the Batheaston by-pass roundabout at rush hour, or on Saturdays. This usually lasts no more than 3 minutes before the traffic is moving smoothly again! I - along with many others - am convinced there is no need whatsoever for a Park & Ride. This very minor problem could be resolved by better traffic light co-ordination, on the roudabout itself and on the London Road."

"The proposed P&R scheme appears poorly thought through in terms of cost, alternatives, effectiveness and the long term impacts on the environment."

"Park and ride will not reduce congestion in Bath and will end up urbanize a greenfield site. A high proportion of vehicles on this route do not want to stop in Bath or are school journeys, neither of which will be effected by the scheme. I object to BANES wasting my taxpayers money on a scheme that lacks imagination and is ill thought out, not dealing with the real traffic issues of the city."

"It is astonishing that a Local Authority consider the destruction of ancient green fields that are so much a part of the heritage of the area; and this for a reason of questionable efficacity. The very soul of our nation is being destroyed by such thoughtless actions."

"Most people park their cars at home, why not find a solution that enables them to leave them there or somewhere close to home. First Bus is a very successful company which if supported properly could find the solution through much improved services from Chippenham, Corsham, Trowbridge, Melksham and BOA."

"While a park & ride might help the rat-run situation in Larkhall and other places, I agree that it will do nothing to improve London Rd, and moreover will be a hideous eye-sore on what is such beautiful countryside. I feel the only solution is less cars, through more bike and pedestrian awareness and better public transport."

"This will not help reduce congestion, and is a criminal destruction of our precious countryside."

"Why not synchronize the traffic lights from the A46 roundabout to The London Stores? It works at Heathrow - why not Bath? These plans are ridiculous - this is Bath not a major city - surely two park and rides are enough?"

"This Park and Ride proposal is not a solution to traffic problems in Bath. This will be a detrimental development that will ruin precious green belt land, consume a flood plain and destroy natural habitats for slow worms, newts & rare birds. Not to mention increasing pollution to the waterways, creating urban sprawl and destroying the visual amenity of the green belt. This will exacerbate traffic levels on the East side of Bath and NOT solve the wider transport/traffic problems that Bath faces".

"I strongly believe that the proposal will not alter Bath's congestion problems, and will have a detrimental effect on the local environment".

"The traffic calming through the Batheaston high street would have to be extreme to prevent traffic from using the high street instead of waiting at the traffic lights on the by pass. Surely putting traffic lights on the by pass negates the entire purpose of the by pass? So if you consider the original cost of the by pass and add this as a casualty to the cost of the Bathampton scheme then the Charmy Down scheme looks rather attractive".

"Quite aside from the destruction of greenbelt land, this project will have little or no impact on traffic coming into central Bath via London Road, much of which is either travelling in from places close enough that using this P&R would be pointless or is travelling through en route to the A36 and therefore not visiting Bath at all (in particular HGVs). This is a destructive, pointless project".

"Congestion should be controlled through tackling the traffic from schools. The money could be better spent providing school buses, rather than destroying ancient meadowsto make it easier for shoppers from out of bath".

"I oppose the concept of a park and ride East of Bath altogether (Meadows, Lambridge or Charmy Down) as I think it will not yeild any net environmental or economic benefit. I don't want my tax payers money spent on it.

Money would be better spent creating good cycle links across the area e.g. linking the A4, Batheaston and Bathford to the canal path".

"This will destroy a wonderful greenspace that is looked down on by many people, it is a wildlife haven that will suffer terribly. Park and Rides should be out of site as they have great visual impact, to allow this to go ahead would be criminal".

"This scheme would fail to achieve its stated aims while destroying an important area of green space".

"This site will be an environmental disaster with serious implications for flooding, wild life, air quality, noise and light pollution. It will not solve the traffic congestion. It will cause a blot on the beautiful valley and will have a detrimental affect on the quality of life of local residents who will have to look at a concrete and metal desert instead of the green meadows. This area must be left unscathed for future generations".

"Supressed demand will fill up any spare space from day one".

"The thin end of the wedge was the creation of the Batheaston bypass. If this goes ahead, further development of the area is almost certain within the foreseeable future. All the other Bath P & R's are to increase in size. No doubt Bathampton will in the future + who knows what else. P & R 's do not solve traffic problems!"

"Why destroy yet more greenfield land to provide a possible short term solution to what is a very long term and complex problem - ie. congestion in Bath? Within a few years, at the most, the provision of this Park & Ride will have had no reduction on the number of cars travelling into or through the city. Reliable, cheap, regular public transport will be the only effective way forward in giving people a real and attractive alternative to their car usage".

"As the only serious congestion occurs in the morning rush hour, perhaps the money that would be saved by not building the P&R could be used to subsidise buses for more school transport, together with buses for commuters from Trowbridge, Bradford & Corsham. Possibly even subsidised rail fares when the new carriages arrive. And, of course, ban all heavy lorries passing through Bath".

"Surely preventing more vehicles rather than encouraging them is a better solution. Congestion charges would be a better option. Why ruin such a beautiful part of our landscape with a car park. Encouraging cars to a city that already has a problem is the wrong option".

"I think the light intrusion will be very bad at night and metal, reflecting sun , will be seen from all around the area. These ancient water meadows with wonderful wildlife must not be ruined by a scheme which will not alleviate the problem".

"Why have B&NES Council approved the construction of the huge parking facility at the new Southgate development while promoting a policy that cars are to be discouraged and should use Park & Rides away from the city centre? Surely mixed (hypocritical) messages that can't be justified? This is more than a simple traffic management issue".

"Stop the HGV and through traffic. A bypass is for a reason, to bypass a town or village. A flood plain is natures way of protecting from flooding. So why oh why do the local council think they should create a bypass then make an entrance and exit off it? Build a car park on a flood plain? Will the council insure the cars against flood damage or any other flooding that may occur further down stream?"

"Siting a Park and Ride so close to the city centre is sheer folly. I'm in favour in principle of a Park and Ride to the east of Bath, but it needs to be much further out (e.g. on the Charmy Down site already proposed), not mere yards from the hugely congested junction with the A46. To ruin the beautiful, peaceful Bathampton Meadows for ever for such a misguided scheme would be an act of vandalism".

"This proposal will be of no benefit whatsoever to the residents of Bathampton, Batheaston and Bathford, yet we will have to put up with the eyesore. Reopen the old train stations on the lines east of Bath - a far cheaper option, and a quicker journey too".

"The destruction of these meadows is based on a projection of greatly increased traffic through Bath. The recession has already caused car sales to dramatically drop, and environmental awareness is resulting in people decreasing their car journeys. In addition a lot of the through traffic is just that - journeys *through* Bath - as well as commercial traffic, none of which will make any use of a new Park and Ride. Better to increase train and bus routes into Bath and bicycles within Bath".

"This will definitely not solve Bath's congestion problems. We think you should stop and consider the consquences of such a illogical proposal."

"Will be detrimental to village life and the arguments do not support the view that it will ease congestion".

"Completely Ridiculous Idea!!!! Who runs this Idiot Council?"

"In 20 years' time when there is even more traffic how will you solve the problem having already taken green belt land for parking cars".

"I agree, the P&R is typical of the old fashioned, unimaginative thinking prevalent at BANES. The kind of thinking that means we stay living in an urban mess rather than the beautiful city people seem think think Bath is".

"Park and Ride schemes simply put cars on the road. Over short distances, a considerable amount of the total fuel consumed is used in simply starting the engine. What is needed instead is better public transport. At present I have little choice but to use my car on the back lanes, as the bus is always delayed in car traffic on the main road".

"Please consider other options - such as encouraging people to use public transport or to get on their bike!"

"This is a dreadful plan. This area is rural and not only visually will the part and ride have a negative impact it will be a sad loss of habitat for animal and may be start of a bigger development in the surrounding fields. It will make no difference to traffic congestion and the Council cannot land such a monstrosity without full and frank consultation".

"Ludicrous proposition to spoil these Meadows with a cheaper and less damaging site available at Charmy Down. B&NES Cllrs should reflect on their TEMPORARY custodianship of our beautiful World Heritage City".

"I do agree that something has to be done about the traffic in Bath but this is perhaps not the best way to go about it. A congestion charge would in my opinion be a better solution as would the reintroduction of a frequent and cheap electric tram service."

"I originally thought this was a good idea, but have now changed my mind after reading the case against it. We simply can't go on destroying our beautiful landscape for the car, there has to be another way".

"To build on/spoil this beautiful valley would be absolute sacrilege. I cannot believe that it is even open to discussion let alone a proposal from BANES. Green space is what keeps our country beautiful and it should be protected to the best of our ability".

"I have lived in Bath all my life and have lived in the areas surrounding Bathampton Meadows. I cannot believe this beautiful old valley could be destroyed both visually and environmentally for the sake of a big car park".

"This development will inevitably lead to further development in the valley as it becomes urbanised. The meadows represent a valuable green wedge in the environs of Bath which should be protected. This proposal weakens and threatens the wedge. In transport terms, any capacity freed up on London Rd will be taken up by others, for example people driving to the new parking provision in Southgate".

"This project will destroy Bathampton meadows and the personality of the village. Please visit the village on a nice day, and witness the amount of tourists, Bathonians and cyclists that enjoy the towpath and peaceful suroundings of this unspoiled area. This idea is about tourism and money. Not about the people who live in the city of Bath. Shame on you. To destroy Bath's beauty would deter future tourists anyway. Please do not "pave paradise and put up a parking lot" at Bathampton".

"There was a promise in 1994 that no access to the bypass would be permitted so as to protect the meadows from further development. Never trust political leaders".

"Oh B&NES councillors, where's your conscience? Tranquil walk along canal, ruined when Batheaston by-pass constructed. To ease traffic chaos this time the proposal is to cover a beautiful ancient flood plain with concrete and floodlights for all to see. Madness, have you not seen the meadows flood? Is light pollution not important? A P&R won't solve Bath's traffic chaos. Leave Bathampton Meadows alone so our children can enjoy and respect their local environment for years to come".

"Come on, there must be other solutions, this is ridiculous!"

"I totally agree with the 10 arguments against siting a park & ride on the Bathampton water meadows.

Covering a further large area of meadow with tarmac will do nothing to alleviate the run off storm/flood water".

"The Avon Valley is the green artery of Bath - once destroyed it will be gone for ever. Do not allow this to happen".

"I believe this is a short term solution that would lead to permanent damage, I would wholeheartedly agree if it was a brownfield site and I thought it would cut congestion. Money would be better spent on subsidising buses or improved cycleways".

"I do not wish the meadows to be used. They are a valuable area which should not be spoilt forever by a park and ride. Get the lorries off A36 and A4 diverted to the Chippenham route".

"An unresearched cop out by the Council to make use of funds proffered by a central Govt bribe".

"The thin end of the wedge driving into the Limpley Stoke valley, as well as a short-sighted attempt to be seen to do something about the traffic in Bath. This isn't going to help!"

"This will ruin the views of a beautiful valley which is tjhe first thing people see as they enter Bath".

"Neither the BRT nor a Park and Ride at Bathampton Medows will reduce congestion. Bath Council is clearly NOT genuinely trying to reduce traffic levels - if they were they would not be building an 800 space carpark in the centre of the city at the Southgate".

"The park and ride scheme will not improve traffic on the road as so much of the traffic is passing through Bath, also school runs and lorries. These people will not use it. The meadows also floods! It is a place of natural beauty and would be terrible to put a park and ride on it".

"What possible benefit will this ill conceived plan have on reducing the traffic conjection into Bath? Significant impact on 'green space' with no beneficial long term traffic management impact. How much is this costing? Ridiculous!"

"I feel that this will not ease the traffic conjestion in the area and will also destroy a valuable natural feature which currently provides a wonderful setting to the adjacent Heritge City of Bath."

"The Bathampton Meadows is one of the greatest reserves and assets to the Bath area and it is very, very important that it should remain this way, rather than be destroyed forever."

"Leave our historic water meadows alone".

"I do not belive that a park and ride will ease congestion in the city".

"It will be a disaster for our village and will not solve the traffic problem. We already have one expensive white elephant in the form of the Batheaston Bypass!"

"We strongly support the campaign against development of these meadows. How can the Dyson project be questioned on the grounds of a possible increase in flood risk when the Council is proposing to concrete over a flood plain for a 'park and ride' ?"

"In their rush to be seen to be doing something, and their self-confessed desire not to lose credibility with Central Government, BANES are in danger of stumbling into another fiasco. Councillors - if you're listening - take a bit of stick now by dropping the whole idea, and gain credibility with Council Tax payers in the long run. If not - shame on you - your vandalism from Bathampton to Newbridge will be your legacy".

"The idea is crazy, particularly in the entrance/exit being onto the Batheaston Bypass. This will hold up traffic which will then start using Batheaston instead. It will ruin the valley, increase light pollution and destroy a wildlife conservation area".

"The council should invest this money on better and affordable ways of public transport from the near by towns and villages and on cycle routes. This would really reduce the traffic on London Road in the long term".

"Completely unsuitable scheme. Residents of Bathampton were canvassed many years ago on the 'Rugby Training Ground' scheme and were overwhelmingly against it - as they are for this".

"I strongly oppose the building of a Park & Ride facility on Bathampton Meadows. These meadows are part of our children's heritage. The impact of such a scheme on traffic congestion seems far from certain. The impact on our environment would be incalculable. There must be a better way".

"Massive green belt destruction, unproven benefits, expensive and ineffective, air, light and noise pollution & intrusion, negative impact on local businesses, ruined neighbourhoods, huge costs to tax payers, rushed, half baked planning, poor communication, uninformed decision making . The P&R and BRT will only cater for a small minority of the projected congestion, a very small drop in a large ocean, and will certainly add to traffic problems in city centre and elsewhere. A senseless proposal".

"Park and Rides encourage more car use as people drive to them instead of bussing the whole journey - The council cites increased car use as a reason for building another park and ride- surely they know by now traffic has to be managed - not encouraged to expand!"

"It is sacrilege to even consider building a P&R on the ancient meadows. This is important green belt land, located NEXT to a nature reserve! If Banes wants to reduce congestion, it needs to discourage car use, not encourage it. How can they call this a "sustainable" transport policy? Why doesn't Banes subsidise the buses? If they were cheaper (and more reliable), we'd all be more inclined to use them! What about improving cycling routes? At the moment, it is treacherous cycling into Bath".

"Bathampton Meadows is such a beautiful part of the surrounding area that it would be sacrilege to put a Park and Ride here. The whole purpose of greenbelt is to protect the countryside and have a distinction between built up areas."

"Bathampton Meadows site is too close to Bath, on the Green Belt, and would interfere with a long-standing flood-plain.It would destroy one of the most beautiful approaches to Bath and a prior Survey backed by B&NES in 2004 found it would have little effect on congestion in the area".

"This is going to do very little to stop congestion along the London Road. So much traffic heads into Bath to make contact with the A36 and Lower Bristol Road. The surrounding area will also have to put up with light pollution and loss of wildlife. What we'll all be left with is a concrete eye sore built on a flood plain!"

"This project will make very little difference to the level of congestion in Bath, and will sadly leave a eye sore on the landscape for generations".

"As well as the potential loss of a beautiful area I feel there has been insufficient testing done to prove the need. As a user it would seem when schools are in session the traffic chaos increases hugely. A park and ride will not resolve this problem. Ban trucks during the day? Introduce a Congestion charge? Why have we not heard of these thoughts?"

"I just feel the council are desperate for a park and ride on the east side of Bath and any available space will do - what a shame it would be to destroy a beautiful area of greenland to make space for a large, presumably floodlit at night, car park!"

"The one and only difference it will make is to spoil our village. I object in the strongest possible way".

"What sacrilege to build a park and ride on an area of outstanding natural beauty- especially since it will not solve the congestion problem on the eastern approach to Bath. Regular, reliable and affordable public transport- primarily buses -is what we need. Reduced bus fares are clearly needed. The argument that subsidies are not possible is wrong. Other councils subsidise their buses , and anyway subsidies are already rightly being used to allow elderly people to have free bus travel".

"As a local resident I strongly disagree with the proposed siting of the park and ride. Not only do I doubt the systems ability to reduce the local traffic congestion issues, but this site is vital to the local wildlife (it is adjacent to the wildlife reserve) but it is also a FLOOD PLAIN. These meadows flood regularly, and it has been shown in recent years that man made drainage schemes fail with alarming regularity when placed under the pressures of modern 'deluge' style rainfall."

"Simply, P+R schemes are proven not to work with the effectiveness touted by planning departments. Too close to the city, not dealing with through traffic, may actually increase car use (to use the scheme). Pick which ever good reason you need to stop this idiocy. Let's not forget this is also a flood plain. It is there for a reason. Building of houses on FP's has been widely cited as key to the serious collateral damage in the midlands floods of 2007. No amount of man made drainage will suffice".

"Rubbish location for a Park and Ride that will do nothing to free up the London Road".

"The BRT won't work, will cost a fortune and will ruin the environment".

"Scrap the BRT. It is a highly destructive way to acheive very little. Keep green space green".

"The whole Bath package is ill advised, will cost a fortune and make no difference to traffic levels in Bath".

"This proposal will not ease Bath's traffic problems".

"To Bath council: Admitting you're wrong, and planning effectively to put it right is a respectable alternative to damaging Bathampton meadows for all future generations. Reading the minutes of the Sept 9th Bathnes Enterprise & Economic Development Overview & Scrutiny Panel makes me entirely amazed that such opposition to this scheme in the light of a viable alternative could be ignored".

"Looking across these lovely green meadows is an absolute joy and should be preserved. We are in danger of filling our green and pleasant land with too much concrete and turning Bath and the surrounding area into one large car-park!"

"I can't find any genuine evidence that the Bathampton Meadow park and ride will reduce congestion in Bath. Loss of the meadow would be criminal and senseless".

"It would be a crying shame to ruin such beautiful contryside and I believe other area's further out of Bath should be considered if another Park & ride is necessary".

"It is a ludicrous proposal to build a park and ride in an area of SSI. Such a scheme should be planned well away from the green belt surrounding the city - for the benefit of its inhabitants".

"I live just off London Rondon and I can't see how the creation of this park and ride will solve the congestion problems. I think a proper bypasss stopping through-traffic going through London road would be a better solution".

Views of citizens living outside Bath:

"We are losing our green spaces around Bath and Bristol at an alarming rate. There have to be better ways of reducing traffic congestion in our cities than destroying our landscape forever - like encouraging people to leave their cars at home by improving public transport/cycle paths." (Bristol)

"Can't believe this proposal is even being considered in such a nice area of countryside". (Bristol)

"Council documents on their own biodiversity action plan state that just 6% of the landscape of Bath and its environs are in a "natural or semi-natural state." This statement is made in the context of the need to actively protect biodiversity. I would ask the Council to live up to its commitment and be a Council we can be proud of." (Corsham, Wiltshire)

"As a frequent visitor to Batheaston, and an great admirer of Bath and the surroundings, I can only say one thing, SHAME ON YOU, if you ruin the beutiful nature for this poor reason!" (Egaa, Denmark)

"I am a frequent visitor to Batheaston and enjoy the open views over the meadows. I also feel that as these fields are often flooded, if they are concreted over, where is the water going to go? Surely the recent floods throughout the country have taught us something!" (Paulton, Somerset)

"In 7 years of living close to a Park and Ride I have used it twice. Why? Like most people my journeys are dual purpose. Personally, the park and ride route is restrictive and doesn't meet everyday needs. Secondly Park and Ride buses still have to sit in conjestion like every other vehicle unless specific bus lanes are introduced. Bus lanes increase conjestion and therefore vehicle emissions, causing greater environmental damage." (Newton Flotman, Norfolk)

"As a parallel, Norwich City has a P+R scheme. However on most days the P+R sites are nowhere near capacity and the city centre roads and car parks are full. During consultation a high percentage of car drivers tick the box to say they will use P+R but the reality is they would rather use their own vehicles to travel into the city centre." (Newton Flotman, Norfolk)

"I am a regular visitor to Bathampton and Batheaston and am astonished by the irresponsibility of a local authority that would even consider imposing a concrete structure on meadowlands in a flood plain and in proximity to a sensitive nature reserve!!" (Beckenham, Kent)

"I think its disgusting to build such a thing in such a beautiful place." (Hunstanton, Norfolk)

"This is a wonderful part of the Batheaston landscape and there is no justifiable reason to destroy it. Good luck to the local residents." (Islington, London)

"Please do not destroy more natural landscape." (Maryculter, Aberdeenshire)

"This would be appalling." (Walford, Ross-on-Wye)

"This is disgraceful. Those fields are ancient, history will be lost. Shame." (Sidney, Australia)

"I agree that the proposal is unlikely to solve Bath's traffic congestion, but will cost the loss of an irreplaceable resource". (Avoncliff, Wilts)

"If you need another car park then you build it on a brown field site and not a green meadow. As a visitor to Bath and a non resident, a car park in this location will detract from the beauty of the entire bath area". (Painswick, Gloucs)

"I can't believe that, yet again, local government seems to think that it is appropriate to target beautiful "green belt" areas. This is insane!" (Bradford-on-Avon, Wilts)

"I used to live in Bath and was there when the bypass was built more than 10years ago. The road solved nothing and marred the landscape.

So, I am totally opposed to the proposed development because:

- again it will not reduce congestion

- it will ruin even more of this beautiful valley." (London)

"A cheap, frequent and reliable public transport system would be far more effective in reducing cars in the centre of Bath." (Radstock, Somerset)

"As a visitor to Batheaston and Bathampton I have experienced the traffic problems and in no way can see how this proposal will alleviate the traffic problems. Are you going to stop the cars and trucks going along the London Road into Bath because I cannot see how else the buses will be able to have a through route into the city on this narrow road" (Aberdeen, Grampian).

""They paved paradise and put up a parking lot. Don't it always seem to go that we don't know what we've got till its gone". Please BANES, wake up and stop this meaningless sprawl on this old meadow, a beauty spot of ecological and social significance to the local animal and human population. Please don't contribute to the mad destruction of our planet and quality of life. Whoever is pushing this through is not serving the public interest. Please stop it. Thank you." (Bisopston, Bristol)

"Please try to conserve this area for the benefit of the community and the preservation of wildlife". (Siddington, Cirencester)

"I am appalled that this site of natural beauty is destined to become yet another blight on our remaining English landscape. LEAVE IT ALONE for us to enjoy". (Southend, Essex)

"The batheaston bypass has done nothing to reduce traffic congestion on the east side of bath. it has simply produced more cars, more car noise and more pollution. it has also wrecked the environment. bath doesn't need another park and ride. it needs a functional train operator that could easily handle commuters north/south and east/west (there are two lines). in bath itself what is needed is an electric tram system to cure the city of its congestion. if we were germans or dutch we would have one". (Saitama, Japan)

"As a regular visitor to Bathampton, it would be a massive disaster if a park and ride was built on the meadows. I was under the impression that this had already been turned down - so why is it even being considered!!!!!!" (Aylesbury, Bucks)

"As a regular visitor to Batheaston, I feel it would be a travesty to loose this area of natural beauty to yet another park & ride scheme, which in my opinion would not only devastate the landscape, but would be useless and a complete waste of time and money. Please spare it from the diggers!!" (Grotton, Lancashire)

"Please don't spoil a most wonderful piece of English country". (Gamlingay, Beds)

"Building new roads, park & rides, & houses on green field sites is environmental madness. Effective (cheap & frequent) public transport is the answer to reducing traffic. If this is not always feasible then brown field sites & not beautiful pastures (on a flood plain!!) should be sought. The landscape in this area has already been spoilt by the BathEaston by-pass. Surely we should be seeking to keep what makes Bath a very special place - it's architecture and the scenery that surrounds it!" (Trowbridge, Wilts)

"For Gods sake please stop tipping concrete over our countryside. This will still be here in hundreds of years to come. This is Bath, a most beautiful city. Leave it alone, please." (Shepton Mallet, Somerset)

"Shame to lose such an unspoilt part of the area!" (Swansea, West Glamorgan)

Click on our Petition link to view more comments from residents and visitors.