The Parish Councils Airport Association (PCAA) has responded to the request for comments concerning the Scoping Opinion that determines the scope of an Environmental Impact Assessment for a future application for a proposed expansion of Bristol Airport to accommodate 15 million passengers per annum and associated works.
The response can be viewed using the link below, together with those of all the Parish Councils who responded to the consultation:
Response from Publow with Pensford Parish Council
(Objects)
Comment submitted date: Tue 17 Dec 2024
Publow with Pensford Parish Council response to application 24/P/2508/EA2
The following is Publow with Pensford Parish Council’s response to the request for comments concerning the Scoping Opinion that determines the scope of an Environmental Impact Assessment for a future application for a proposed expansion of the airport to accommodate 15 million passengers per annum and associated works
Scoping Report: Settlements:
The report states:
12.8.40. Residents living in close proximity to the Proposed Development include those located in/on Lulsgate Bottom, Oatfield, Downside, Cook’s Bridle Path and Winters Lane. It is these individuals that will be most likely affected by changes in noise, air quality, visual impacts, and traffic flows and diversions.
12.8.41. Settlements located to the west of the Proposed Development are also likely to experience noise impacts should there be a change in road traffic generation and aircraft movements. These include:
– Redhill (1.2km south of the Application Site);
– Wrington (2.4km south-west of the Application Site);
– Yatton (~5km west),
– Claverham (4.2km west of the Application Site);
– Congresbury (5.1km south-west of the Application Site);
– Brockley (2.1km north-west of the Application Site);
– Backwell (2.4km north-west of the Application Site);
– Nailsea (4.2km north-west of the Application Site); and
– Clevedon (8.8km west of the Application Site)
Publow with Pensford Parish has not been mentioned as a settlement close to the Airport. Although not within North Somerset, and located to the east of the airport this parish should be considered.
Publow with Pensford Parish is located within Bath and North East Somerset council area to the east of the airport. This parish is likely to experience increased noise and traffic impact from any airport expansion. Pensford village in particular already suffers from both aircraft noise and airport related road traffic movements.
The aircraft flight path and turning zone runs directly above Pensford village. Noise is particularly experienced during easterly wind conditions when planes take off to the east and climb/turn above our parish.
A considerable volume of airport traffic takes a short cut through the B3130 turning off the A37 at Belluton. This is a substandard, narrow road and unsuitable for any increase in traffic. The B3130 starts in Belluton, to the north of Pensford and runs from the A37 through to a point near Stanton Drew, (site of the second largest stone circle in England after Avebury), then through the villages of Chew Magna and Winford to the A38 just north of the airport.
The “Belluton Narrows” are difficult to navigate at the best of times and even existing levels of traffic can experience blockages here.
Any increase in traffic along the B3130 would present a health and safety risk to the numerous cyclists that use this road. Traffic travelling to the airport can be “impatient” and fast moving and often exceeds the speed limit. Cars often pass each other dangerously on this stretch of road.
Paragraph 2.4.4: This paragraph lists the major trunk roads in the vicinity but there is no mention of the A37. The substandard A37 at Pensford Hill is already very busy with heavy traffic and is regularly blocked due to being too narrow for heavy vehicles to pass each other. This section would potentially experience an increase in airport related through traffic arising from an increase in airport related vehicles arriving from the east and the south.
Paragraph 6.2.7: This paragraph states that a large proportion of airport-related traffic passes through the City of Bristol, North Somerset and parts of Somerset Council, using the A38. This omits to state that a large proportion of through traffic also passes though the Bath and North East Somerset villages of Pensford on the A37 and through the other Chew Valley villages on the B3130. While this is not the “official” through route, this is no deterrent to out of area traffic.
Paragraph 9.2.17. The description of the road network completely disregards the existence of A37 and B3013 which are likely to be directly affected by increased through traffic arising from any airport expansion.