NORTH WEST BRISTOL AT RISK

Thought you would like to see the text of Cllr Jon Rogers letter of the 17 September 09 to his opposite number in South Gloucestershire, he says,

Councillor Brian Allinson
South Gloucestershire Council
Castle Street
Thornbury
BS35 1HF

Reply to Councillor Dr Jon Rogers
Telephone 0117 92 23932

Email jon.rogers@bristol.gov.uk

Date Thursday 17 September 2009

Dear Brian,

Tankers Using Hallen Depot

I am writing formally to request that South Gloucestershire Council extend the weight limit on Hallen Road to the boundary with Bristol.

This request follows discussions between our respective officers, and reflects current thinking on safety and the balance of road safety risks across our two authorities.

I won't rehearse the history, save to say that following a Bristol Full Council statement in April 2009 by Mr D Little, I reported that the Director of City Development would discuss the situation with his equivalent in South Gloucestershire Council with a view to finding a joint solution to the problem.

Our respective officers confirmed that extending the weight limit to the bridge boundary would allow tankers using the depot to travel along Hallen Road in either direction to rejoin the motorway network, rather than forcing them to travel only through Henbury, Lawrence Weston and Shirehampton. However this solution would still prevent any other heavy goods vehicles from accessing this route.

I am aware, following our two discussions on the topic, that there remains some resistance to any such safety changes amongst South Gloucester councillors, and would welcome your help in resolving this issue.

We have also spoken with the airport, to explore whether they may have any contribution to solving the problem.

Yours sincerely,



Councillor Dr Jon Rogers
Cabinet Member for Transport and Sustainability

It is likely that this letter was handed to Brian Allinson at their meeting on Friday 18 September. As yet no minutes available, will keep you posted.

NORTH WEST BRISTOL AT RISK

Have you seen the letter in today's Bristol Evening Post, "Hypocritical councils must work together", and Cllr John Rogers online comment at, www.thisisbristol.co.uk/letters.

"The specific challenges around the bridge at the edge of Hallen are well know to me, and I used the opportunity of the last WoEP Joint Transport Committee meeting to talk with my opposite number Cllr Brian Allinson in South Gloucestershire.

I have since met with residents in Henbury and agreed to write formally to Cllr Allinson asking that we together address this anomaly as soon as possible".

Maybe, just maybe, with Cllr Rogers support and Bristol City Council officers support, we can begin to make some progress. Certainly residents in Bristol's, Avonmouth, Henbury, Kingsweston and Westbury on Trym wards, are encouraged that at last the Council appears to be supporting the Campaign.