Campaign groups for better public transport have welcomed the news from the Somerset, Kingswood and Bristol Transport Infrastructure Alliance that the chancellor has allocated £1.8bn towards the construction of a comprehensive tram system in the region.
The plans will be published in full later this month which will see commuters able to take the tram from places as far afield as Axbridge, Clevedon and Thornbury to work in Bristol and to visit the attractions of the city such as the derelict former Royal Mail sorting office site on Cattle Market Road.
The Mayor of Sandford in North Somerset said it would mean cyclists and dog walkers would have to share the Strawberry Line path with trams although a new tunnel at Shute Shelve running parallel to the existing one would keep them apart at so called pinch points. Cllr Fibber said: “Finally it will solve the problem of cyclists who wear too much lycra which causes fashion conflicts with dog walkers wearing a range of blue or grey fleeces even in summer. It does jar the eye.”
Friends of Bristol Airport Silverzone’s car park society said the plans would have a detrimental effect on the facility. A spokesman said: “Fewer people will have their cars taken for burn ups while they are sunning themselves in Spain only to return and find they have an extra 500 miles on the car’s clock and no tyre tread left.”
The trams will run from Axbridge Square up the High Street in one direction and in the other will circle the Reservoir at Cheddar allowing passengers to see the only man made lake visible from space at close quarters.
The secretary of the Axbridge Chamber of commerce Harry Mottram said: “the best news is tickets will be held at 1939 levels of 1d a ride and a season ticket available for just 1/6d.”
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