Residents in South Gloucestershire have been invited to have their say on the new plans to improve Bristol Parkway Station. A public engagement has opened from Monday (July 4) to allow residents to scrutinise the proposals.
South Gloucestershire Council has revealed its 'strategic masterplan' to help the station become a better gateway to the North Fringe of Bristol and the whole of the region. The council is working alongside Network Rail, Great Western Railway and West of England Combined Authority (WECA) to deliver its objectives.
The masterplan focuses on improving the facilities by bettering access for wheelchair and mobility scooter users and improving connections to bus services, which has been a primary concern for many residents who have not been able to easily access the station from parts of South Gloucestershire. It also aims to respond to the climate emergency and will be funded by the West of England Combined Authority & Local Enterprise Partnership through the Investment Fund.
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Bristol Parkway was first opened in 1972 by British Rail and was the first in a new generation of park and ride stations, home to a 600-space car park and offering a quick connection to London. It is the third most used railway station in the West of England authority after Bristol Temple Meads and Bath Spa.
The station underwent major redevelopment back in 2000 to install a new enclosed footbridge, lifts and a new multi-storey car park. In 2007 a fourth platform was opened by rail minister Tom Harris MP.
As demand for the station increased over the years, this led to increased on-street parking. A new car park costing £13million was installed in 2013 to mitigate these parking issues.
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The council first kickstarted the planning process with the wider community back in October 2021, first by building the evidence of the plans. Then later it met with key stakeholders, including local members, town and parish councils, landowners, employers and community groups at the start of 2022 to gauge the views of some of the community.
From Monday (July 4), members of the public are invited to read through the plans and have their say on the future of the station. The council has submitted all of the engagement materials on a consultation page and residents are invited to drop-in sessions this month.
These events are being held at St Michaels Centre, North Road, Stoke Gifford, BS34 8PD on Thursday, July, 15 and Wednesday 27 both between 2pm and 6.30pm. A third event will take place online on Wednesday, August 3 between 6pm to 7.30pm. You must register your interest with regeneration@southglos.gov.uk to receive a link.
The findings of the consultations will used to redraft the council's plan which will be published later this year.
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