Claude Avenue/Bridge Road Ramp Update

As you can see, the team have "broken through" the wall onto Bridge Road.

This shows the ramp is really progressing now and it will not be too much longer before we will all be able to make use of this additional access onto the Linear Way/Two Tunnels route. Perfect for the summer holidays.

by 
Sarah Moore

Linear Way/Two Tunnels route

Great to see work has started on the new ramp that is being put in to enable access from Bridge Road onto the Linear Way/Two Tunnels route.

Work will take approximately 6 weeks to complete and the area will be closed off to cyclists and pedestrians during the work.  The closures are effective on weekdays only, with a signed diversion from the entrance on St Kilda's Road to the bridge at Dartmouth Avenue.

We will keep you updated on progress and look forward to the ramp opening, providing an excellent safe route to school for a large number of children, as well as another access point for the lovely Linear Way shared path.

by Sarah Moore

Claude Avenue / Bridge Road

We are pleased to confirm that work is scheduled to start on the ramp from the Linear Way up to Bridge Road/Claude Avenue from 2nd  June.

The delay in this work was to enable alternative options to be sought to reduce the number of lorries having to access the path via the St Kilda's Road entrance.

The work will take approximately 6 weeks and the path itself will be closed for approximately 4 weeks.  Diversions will be in place for cyclists during this period.

If you have any questions or would like any further information, please contact us.

by
Sarah Moore

Inverness Road

We are following up a few incidents with cyclists being abusive to residents on this road.

We were concerned when this road was suggested as a route for cyclists that the road was too narrow and that this sort of conflict may take place.

We would ask that all cyclists that use this route respect the rights of residents privacy and give way as much as possible to residents carrying out their daily routines.

It should be remembered that politeness costs nothing and that fostering good relations is always a good thing.

We hope that now the new bridge is open and the path to Bellotts Road is now complete that there will be less contention on this road.

Claude Ave

The new ramp to bring cyclists and pedestrians from the Linear way to Claude Ave has been delayed until the end of May due to the need to gain proper access to the site for construction works further along the Linear Way.

There is also a need to get the correct landscaping works approved
by the planning department.

We will let you have further details as the become available.

New Toucan Crossing operational

The new Toucan crossing on the Lower Bristol Road opposite the former Herman Miller Building is now fully operational and allows both pedestrians an cyclists to cross the Lower Bristol Road in relative safety.

The installation of the new crossing has also included works to make several shared footpaths for both pedestrians and cyclists linking the Linear way to the Riverside Cycle route.

We will monitor the new crossing to ensure that it is being correctly used and also that the shared footpath is not being abused.

Bellotts Road (Linear Way)

We are pleased to see the  completion of the Linear Way at the bottom of Bellotts Road that with the new bridge at the top of Bellotts Road make this route complete.

We will be watching however to ensure that this route is safely used and have agreement that speed with be monitored.

This will hopefully reduce the impact of Cyclists on the very Narrow Inverness Road.

Linear Way

We have been receiving many complaints from residents about the amount of cyclists racing along the Linear Way.

It is a shame that we have this shared resource between cyclists and pedestrians and a few are spoiling the enjoyment of many walkers and Children that have played on the Linear way for years.

We have asked that signs are strategically placed along the Linear Way reminding cyclists that this is a shared resource and to respect other users by keeping their speed down.

Bellotts Road Bridge, (listed wall knocked down)

Although we are delighted to see the work going on to get the former metal bridge over the railway at Bellotts road back into use for both Cyclists and pedestrians we are concerned that the contractor has removed a listed wall at the site.

We have asked that this wall is reinstated as soon as possible and have asked the council how the removal of this wall was allowed to take place without planning permission.
We will update this article as soon as we hear back from the council with regards to how the contractor and council are going to proceed on this matter.


By Councillor Sharon Ball

Two Tunnels

Claude Ave

The trees on the embankment at the proposed new ramp location are due to felled next week which will lead onto the installation of the new ramp .

It is proposed that the ramp construction will commence at the end of January, During the construction of the ramp it will necessary to close the 2 Tunnels Greenway for a short period of time for safety measures.

A diversion will be in place and  endeavours will be made to keep this closure to a minimum period of time.

We will publish more information as and when it becomes available.

by Councillor Sharon Ball

Inverness Road residents

We had a very busy morning yesterday talking to local residents in Inverness Road and are now attempting to resolve some of the issues that were raised with us.

There is concern form some residents about the Linear Way that will soon be opened up via the old railway bridge about how the cyclists and pedestrians will respect the neighbouring houses.

Issues were also raised about graffiti and hedge cutting on the Linear Way and we are attempting to resolve these issues.

A matter of an empty house has been referred to the councils empty property section to resolve.

The matter of the lane from Bellotts Road to Brook Road has again been raised and we have asked for an investigation about having the graffiti removed from the buildings along this path.


By Councillor Sharon Ball

New Access Ramp

Cllrs Nigel Roberts & Sharon Ball with Sarah Moore at site of proposed ramp

We are pleased to confirm, although not in the position we requested, a new access ramp will be created leading from Bridge Road onto the Linear Park shared path below.  The ramp will be coming out next to number 5 Bridge Road.

We have also received confirmation that a safety railing that Councillor Sharon Ball has requested, will be installed on the footpath where the ramp will meet the existing pavement. This will prevent cyclists and pedestrians from coming straight off the ramp across the footpath and onto the road.

This work is scheduled to start shortly after Christmas, with a view to work being completed before the end of March 2014.

by
Sarah Moore

'The Great Pig Hunt',

Why not go along to an event for the whole family taking place on the Two Tunnels Greenway on Monday 26 August ( Bank Holiday ).

This free event invites families to walk or cycle along the Greenway in search of representations of the famous 'King Bladud's Pigs'.

The Great Pig Hunt is part of Pedal On UK, a UK wide cycle tour taking place between 16th August and 7th September. The ride, made up of Sustrans volunteers, celebrities and Olympic Gamesmakers aims to celebrate the many new walking and cycling routes added to the National Cycle Network - of which the Two Tunnels Greenway is one.

The Pedal On UK riders will stop for lunch at the Bloomfield Road open space around 1pm on the 26th August, and we're also inviting families to bring along their own picnic and have lunch with the riders.

The ride will then depart to Bristol, and should anyone wish to follow the riders to Bristol, they are welcome to do so.

More information can be found at www.pedalonuk.org/bath.

Linear Way

We are pleased that the council have followed up on our request and cut the grass along the Linear Way.

Apparently with the building of the new bridge at Millmead Road no one ha taken into account how to get onto the Linear Way with the grass cutting machinery that is rather large after the entrance was closed off by the new Bridge.

They have now used the route not site across Curo land that I suggested to them.

As it is always said more haste less speed, and I cant believe that members of the Two Tunnels steering group missed this one.

We have also requested that signs are put up reminding walkers that dogs should be on leads.

By Councillor Sharon Ball

Police on Wheels

As a change from the Norm it is good to see our local beat Policeman Adge Secker on two wheels.

Adge believes that this is better than riding around in a Police Car as he is in more direct contact with residents.

On another point that we would make is that the criminals cannot see him coming and with any luck he will be able to catch a few more.

By Councillor Sharon Ball

Claude Ave Connection to Linear way brought forward.

Some good news that has come out of the Liberal Democrat administration on Bath & North East Somerset Council is that the Claude Ave ramp has moved ahead of other matters on the Linear Way and will be completed by the end of March 2014.

This means that Cyclists and Children going to the local School at Lymore Terrace will be able to use the Linear way and come off at Claude Ave.

It is really good news for the many Children who come from the Twerton and Oldfield Park area that they will now have a safer route to School.


Many thanks to the Council and Sustrans for making this possible.

Come to the Two Tunnels Opening Party!

Cllr Sharon Ball with Norman Baker MP at Tunnel Entrance

This Saturday is the day when the Two Tunnels Greenway finally opens to the public with a big free public festival. 

It has been seven years in coming! The Festival will take place at Bloomfield Open Space off Bloomfield Road in Bear Flat, Saturday 6^th April from 11 to 5 - more detail below. 

A big thank you to all of those involved in the project.

 

Two Tunnels Opening Festival

Saturday 6th April 2013
Bloomfield Open Space - off Bloomfield Road, Bear Flat, Bath

FESTIVAL all day from 11.00 to 17.00

GRAND OPENING at 12:30

with Olympic gold medallist Amy Williams, Somerset and Dorset railway firemen

and children from Oldfield Park school

at the entrance to the Devonshire Tunnel

FRESH AIR MILES RIDE

13-mail loop

Registration from 11 am at the Sustrans tent or online

First riders from 1 pm

LIVE MUSIC ALL DAY

Bath Samba Band

Bath Guitar School Band

One Mississippi Two

Widcombe Choir

Swamp Donkey

Ross Kirk

Rosa Gray Band

Middle Stump

Dudlow Joe

FOOD AND DRINK
AND MUCH MORE FROM 11 TO 5:

Return of King Bladud’s Pigs

Matti Hemmings pro BMX – clinics and displays

Live projections – Suited & Booted

Win a bike from Green Park Bike Station

Somerset and Dorset Railway Display run by the ex-firemen

Pink Milkfloat Printing Press

Free bike check-ups

Wheels for All

Local Community Stalls

Interesting local sales stalls

Claude Avenue/Bridge Road

Following my blog on Friday, I have emailed BANES cabinet members to ask that the old toilet block by the bridge at Bridge Road and Claude Avenue is demolished and a ramp is put down from the open area to the Linear Park footpath below.

This will assist in preventing rubbish being dumped by the side of it and also inside of it.  It would also create a safer cycling/walking route to school for parents and students at Oldfield Park Junior School.

I will keep you updated on progress of this request.

by
Sarah Moore

Part of Bellotts Road to be Closed

Part of Bellotts Road will be closed for 1 day on 6th April due to a cycling event taking place.

A Notice issued by Bath & North East Somerset Council is below.

(BELLOTTS ROAD, BATH) (TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF USE BY VEHICLES) ORDER 2013

Notice is hereby given that the Bath and North East Somerset Council  in pursuance of the provisions of section 14 of the Road Traffic  Regulation Act 1984 as amended intends to make an order the  effect of which will be to close temporarily to vehicles that length  of Bellotts Road, Bath, extending from its junction with Lyndhurst  Road, in a northerly direction for a distance of approximately 200 metres.

This order is required because of a cycling event to be held on or  near the road and will be operative from the 6th April 2013   for a maximum period of one day. However, the restriction may  not be effected for the whole of the period but it is anticipated  that the road will be restricted as and when traffic signs are in  position and only for so long as is necessary for the event to  take place which it is anticipated will be for a period of ONE DAY  between 1 pm and 5 pm. ALTERNATIVE ROUTE – Ringwood Road, Millmead Road,  Dartmouth Avenue, Lymore Avenue, The Hollow, Lansdown View,  Jews Lane, A36 Lower Bristol Road, Bellotts Road (unaffected part).

Two Tunnels

For those of you who are interested in the Two Tunnels project and want to know what is happening at Linear Way now and in the future I have attached a link to the latest Newsletter.

http://www.twotunnels.org.uk/docs/TT_Nov_12_Newsletterv2.pdf

by Cllr Sharon Ball