A decision on proposed changes to the Aztec West roundabout and the approach from Bradley Stoke Way are likely to be made in August, The Bradley Stoke Examiner has been told.

South Gloucestershire Council wants to add new bus lanes to the busy junction as part of the Greater Bristol Bus Network.

The authority has also proposed banning right turns from Bradley Stoke Way into Woodlands Lane to try and cut down traffic.

A South Gloucestershire Council spokeswoman said: “The bus priority scheme has undergone a period of consultation, and final proposals have been agreed with the Executive Member [for transport, Brian Allinson].

“Traffic Regulation Orders have also been advertised.

“The Executive Member is expected to make a decision in August whether the proposed Orders are accepted.”

The latest stage of plans to alter Aztec West roundabout to build more bus lanes reaches the next stage on Monday as the deadline looms for comments on the Traffic Regulation Order (TRO).

South Gloucestershire Council, following a consultation, had to advertise the changes in the local press and display plans at the leisure centre.

Once the TRO period has ended the comments gathered will be forwarded to the council’s traffic portfolio holder, Brian Allinson, and then considered by the authority.

They have the power to either give the scheme the green light or force changes which could mean another consultation.

If you want to have your say then you need to write to Dean Shepherd at South Gloucestershire Council’s Legal and Democratic Services Department quoting reference L3/DS/STOP/PT.3526.

The address is: South Gloucestershire Council, Castle Street, Thornbury, BS35 1HF – the deadline is Monday, 30 June 2008.

Obviously, you will either need to deliver comments by hand or make sure they are in the post as soon as possible.

The Traffic Regulation Order for changes to the Aztec West roundabout appeared in the Evening Post on Friday, 6 June 2008 – on page 52.

The final stage that the public can have their say on the changes has seen a lack of any real publicity apart from The Examiner and The Journal, a page 52 advert in the Post and information at the Library.

If you spot any further publicity please let us know – we are particularly interested to hear if any leaflets are sent to nearby residents or businesses. We’re on news@sadlybroke.com.

Complete details of the TRO and how you can have your say are in the previous post.

A final decision on changes to the Aztec West roundabout could be made after plans went on display at Bradley Stoke Library.

The Journal found out that the next phase of the work to get permission for the changes has got under way with advertisement of a draft Traffic Regulation Order.

This means at the end of this 21 day period all the latest responses will be gathered and passed on to South Gloucestershire Council’s traffic portfolio holder, Brian Allinson, and considered by the authority.

Changes at the roundabout include more bus lanes and a ban for right turns from Bradley Stoke Way into Woodlands Lane.

The changes are part of the Greater Bristol Bus Network planned by the four ex-Avon councils.

Residents can still lodge objections or observations – although amazingly the district council insists that this current stage is “not a consultation process”.

A spokeswoman told us: “Concerns have been taken on board following the consultation period and the next stage is to advertise the Traffic Regulation Orders. This is a legal process not a consultation process.”

So if you want to take part in the consultation feedback initiative you need to write to Dean Shepherd at South Gloucestershire Council’s Legal and Democratic Services Department quoting reference L3/DS/STOP/PT.3526.

The address is: Castle Street, Thornbury, BS35 1HF – letters need to be in before 30 June, 2008. Unfortunately there does not appear to be an email address that can be used.

Bootnote: The district council have confirmed that they are at the TRO stage. A spokeswoman said: “I can confirm that we are at the TRO stage, a public notice containing details of the two orders was published in the Evening Post on June 6th.”

Concerns over banning right-hand turns from Bradley Stoke Way into Woodlands Lane have been rejected by South Gloucestershire Council who say only 2% of motorists at the junction turn that way.

The authority revealed the figure in a reply to people who had entered thoughts or concerns over proposed changes to the Aztec West roundabout.

The council wants to make changes there to accommodate part of the Greater Bristol Bus Network but will also ban right turns into Woodlands Lane from the town to help improve traffic flow.

Of the 100 replies the council recieved, 12% raised concerns over the change but the council has rejected the worries saying it is “accepted” that motorists will use Pear Tree Road instead.

They also claim that the number diverted down here will be “very low”.

Elsewhere in the consultation reply, the council has rejected calls for a flyover, and rejected worries about merging lanes being dangerous saying “there is no evidence to suggest this causes accidents”.

We’ve included the full reply for you to download (PDF file, 240k) – click here to read it. We’d love to hear what you think about it – hit the comments below.

The consultation into changes at Aztec West roundabout received more than 100 replies, according to South Gloucestershire Council.

The proposal for the roundabout would see extra bus lanes added and some extra traffic lanes in a bid to relieve some of the congestion in the area.

Controversially, though, the council wants to ban right turns from Bradley Stoke Way into Woodlands Lane – a move criticised by readers of this website.

A spokesperson for the council said: “Over the next few weeks, the council will be considering the correspondence received and will respond to those who commented on the scheme before considering making any necessary amendments to the scheme.”

The proposed changes to the roundabout are part of the Greater Bristol Bus Network.

The last day for responses on the plan for new bus lanes at Aztec West roundabout is Monday – you’ve been telling us what you think of the proposals.

If the plan goes ahead the carriageway would be widened between Aztec West Business Park and Woodlands Lane.

A new bus lane would be built which would “allow buses to avoid the queues and delays that occur … during the weekday morning and evening peak periods”.

Right-hand turns from Bradley Stoke Way into Woodlands Lane would also be banned.

Here’s a selection of the comments posted over the past few weeks.

Matt said:

A bus lane? In Bradley Stoke? There’s not enough blooming roon for the cars that are there!! There are most definately living in cloud cuckoo land with that one!!

Andy said:

An extra lane between the Aztec West roundabout and Woodlands lane doesn’t seem too bad an idea – buses stopping at the bus-stop on that short stretch cause a great deal of problems sometimes.

Brian said:

As well as Bowsland Way. All that it will achieve is to change from two moderately blocked junctions to one very blocked one. It can be hard enough getting out of Bowsland Way in the morning without adding to the number of cars using it plus those having right of way at the roundabout from Pear Tree. Absolutely stupid idea.

Dougie said:

I agree with Andy’s original comment about no right turn out of woodland lane but see the problem this would cause. I feel a camera at these lights in all directions would ensure a better, fair traffice flow to all and would either stop or make peiople pay fr jumping the lights. I feel a bus lane would be a terrible idea as everywhere else one has been installed has seen more not less congestion.

Mike said:

Shouldn’t the road improvements be up and running, proven to work etc before any more house building is allowed? Any minor shunt causes gridlock due to the poor road design and lack of foresight by planners. Congestion will only get worse with the new shops by Tesco.