We aim to enable everyone to enjoy a safe, active, shared crossing over our beautiful canal.
Our proposal is located in Bathampton between King Edward’s School playing fields and Tyning Road, connecting walkers and cyclists with the canal, city and beyond. It would offer a much safer alternative to the existing, dangerous horseshoe bridge.
Proposed design seen from the towpath
We have set up an Association to bring forward a Planning Application for the new crossing. Our Application was registered on 2nd October 2018 with Reference 18/04394/FUL. Please visit the B&NES portal to view materials. We are hopeful of a decision in January 2019.
In order to inform our proposed design, we held a public consultation between 20th May and 20th July 2018. Our Proposals and Feedback page sets out consultation materials and results. Consultation results were combined with pre-planning advice from B&NES and the Canal & River Trust to get to the proposals currently in Planning.
Through voluntary work, reduced rates and cash donations we raised the equivalent of £18,000 to pay for the feasibility, pre-planning phase, outline bridge design and our community exhibition. Not included in this figure is the input of the three volunteer Trustees who give their time and skills for free. Read more about them in the blog.
We are delighted to say that we have raised the target we set ourselves to meet the costs associated with bringing forward our Planning application, subject to it being granted without further work needed.
Us raising this ‘community contribution’ has helped support the progress of the project. B&NES Highways team has indicated it will work with the community to explore available grants for the majority of the project cost and is putting progression moneys into the current draft council budget, due for approval at Full Council in early February 2019, to pay for detailed design and procurement. This with the support of Cllr Shelford whose support as Cabinet member for Transport we are very grateful for.
In the event of a successful planning application and attracting funding, the Trustees would look to work with the Parish Council and B&NES to deliver the new bridge.
Thank you for taking the time to visit our website.
The Trustees – Fiona Powell, Cheryl Cook and Terry Wagstaff
