In the 1970's Richard Cotterel (then an Euro MP) proposed an Avon Metro on the lines of the Tyne & Wear Metro. This would have comprised a central underground section and the use of parts of the BR track with lines to Yate, Bath, Weston-Super-Mare, Portishead, Severn Beach & the Henbury loop. This idea was never adopted largely due to cost and also Avon County Council was at that time committed to road building as the solution to traffic problems.
Some years later the project reappeared in the guise of 'Advanced transport for Avon' (ATA). This time it was planned as a surface system initially to run from Portishead through the city centre and on to Yate. It was intended to be financed by the capture of developer contributions, i.e. from the increase in property values brought about by the introduction of the light rail line. Richard Cotterel announced that it would be 'a gift to the people of Bristol', a phrase which was to haunt the project for many years. Problems arose right from the beginning. The Port of Bristol Authority was concerned about restrictions on the possible reuse of the Portishead line for freight operations to Portbury. Since the original proposals the Midland line to Yate had been converted into a cycle track so that the proposals to use it for light rail met with opposition from cyclists organisations. Further opposition came on the political front due to mistrust of the motives of a private company.
Despite this an Act of Parliament was obtained for the construction of the Portishead to Bristol section. By this time due to delays and the downturn in the economy any hope of developer contributions had vanished and it was realized that the more normal route of applying for a Section 56 grant would have to be used. Government policy was then that to qualify a system was needed and not just a single line so that it was decided to work on the Portishead line could not proceed until powers were available for the rest of the system. Studies started into a line to the new town of Bradley Stoke (then in the early stages of construction).
The next bill to be submitted was for the City Centre section. Opposition
from the City Council caused delays in the Bill being submitted. During
this period there were suggestions that the route through the centre, rather
than being the double track horseshoe as proposed would be better as a
single track circle round the central area. Proponents of this idea caused
a study to be commissioned. This study although it eventually came to the
conclusion that the 'horseshoe' was the best option (with the addition
of a spur to Bristol Bridge) contributed to the defeat of the Bill in the
House of Lords on the grounds that there was uncertainty as to the exact
route.
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commissioned.
There were also problems on the Bradley Stoke route especially into the
location of a Park + Ride site. Despite its partnership with ATA, Badgerline
Rapid Transit raised the idea of using GLT (guided light transit)
on a route from Hartcliffe to Henbury. The GLT is an articulated
bus which can be guided by a single rail and can operate from an overhead
supply when guided or from a diesel engine when not guided. Initially this
was proposed as complementing the light rail scheme but with the announcement
of a route to Bradley Stoke it soon appeared as a competitor and Badgerline
and ATA parted company. The GLT was brought over from Belgium on
a couple of occasions but no progress was made with the idea. Since then
some towns in France have adopted the idea although none is yet in operation.
The vehicle itself now looks more like a tram than a bus but it is not
clear whether there is any real merit in the idea.
The financial situation with ATA was getting worse and its desperate attempts to raise money to continue involved being caught out by unsavoury companies and undesirable publicity and it was eventually wound up. The demise was probably hastened by the announcement from Badgerline of the 'Avon Gorge Expressway' which was a proposal for a kerb guided busway (KGB or O-Bahn) on the Portishead line. This was to be a tidal flow system ( into Bristol in the morning and out in the evening with the rest available for freight trains from the Port of Bristol). The cost was estimated between £5m and £10m to be self funded.
With the demise of ATA Avon CC decided to press on on its own. It decided to concentrate on a first line comprising a route from Bradley Stoke connected through the centre to a South Bristol loop. The route to Bradley Stoke being largely settled (apart from the P+R) it concentrated on South Bristol and a route was decided on the result of studies commissioned. This was put out to public consultation which produced in general a positive response although there were three trouble spots where residents were concerned about the effects on their property.
By this time local government reorganization meant the end of Avon CC and its transport powers were split between four 'new' councils. The proposed LRT line came under Bristol City Council and South Gloucestershire CC. who decided, in the light of the financial tightness of the Government and the difficulties in getting Government money experienced by other cities, that they would concentrate on a route best able to raise private finance. To this end it was decided that only the Northern end of the Avon proposals should be considered (Bradley Stoke to City Centre). Expressions of interest were invited and out of the response three consortia were short listed (2 light rail 1 guided bus). The winning consortium (Pell Frischman) proposed a light rail system comprising joint running with local trains on the section from Temple Meads to Filton section which is to restored to a four track layout. Since their appointment studies have proceeded to finalize the business case. Reports in the press have indicated that they believe that 80% of the total cost (£100m) can be raised privately. The final report leading to an agreement being signed by the consortium and the two councils is expected shortly. Meanwhile a project executive (Bob Fowler) has been appointed and took up post on April 20th.
Note: The above has been written from memory and is therefore vague about dates. Any opinions stated are entirely mine. I intend to expand the history as time becomes available and I am able to check my records.
Brian Lomas
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