Things you may not know about the South Bristol Ring Road plans

1. You're not to call it a Ring Road. A Link, yes. A Transport Solution, yes. A Ring Road....heaven forbid!

2. It might not look like what the West of England Partnership are showing us:

3. However, it might very well look like this:

4. The consultation questionnaire, that's been out for months, doesn't mention what the options are.

5. So here they are:

Option 1: a road from Hengrove roundabout via Highridge Common to the A38 and NW to the A370 near Long Ashton P&R

Option 2: a road from Hengrove roundabout via Highridge Common to the A38 and SW to the A370 near Barrow Gurney

Option 3: a rapid transit route from Hengrove Park via Highridge Common to the A38 and Long Ashton P&R

Option 4: the same rapid transit - plus a road from the A38 to the A370 near Long Ashton P&R

Option 5: the same rapid transit - plus a road from the A38 to the A370 near Barrow Gurney

There's also a 'reference case' - pretty much what we have now, plus a whole range of other initiatives including new bus routes and two rapid transit routes from South Bristol into the centre. Snag - that's not an option!

6. Options 1 and 2 (which the questionnaire tells us 'may increase traffic on Kings Head Road') lead to around 10,000 extra vehicles/day - on Kings Head Road

7. Options 1 and 4 would raise traffic levels along Ashton Way, approaching the Cumberland Basin, by 7,000 vehicles/day - 20% above current levels.

8. The "moderate beneficial" economic impact on South Bristol allegedly arising from options 4 & 5 is attributed to a road (A38 to Hengrove) that won't actually exist under those options! Is this error simply ineptitude?

9. Options 1 & 2 are said to bring "significant reduction in journey times on inbound journeys in the morning peak", giving them a 'moderately beneficial' rating. That's until you look at the figures, which show journeys will actually take longer. In other words they're either grossly inept or they're lying.

10. Every option on offer will raise greenhouse gas emissions. It's become impossible to see where the promised 'deep cuts' might come from. Coast dwellers and grandchildren, despair!