The authorities and project team behind the reopening of the Portishead line for passenger services (MetroWest Phase 1) is formally asking the general public for their views. This consultation period ends on the 3rd August.
The Department for Transport has provided funding to reopen stations at Portishead and Pill in four years’ time but we believe Ashton Gate should be reopened too.
Sitting on the Bristol to Portishead line, it is hoped that a station can be opened at Ashton Gate for the first time since the old station closed in 1964.
Proposed station location:
As the regeneration of the Ashton area has already begun with the £45m rebuild of the Ashton Gate Stadium the need for the Bristol-Portishead rail line to be re-opened is imperative.
Martin Griffiths, Chairman of Bristol Sport, the company responsible for the stadium rebuild, said “There is a real need for local people to have a viable local rail network.
“This link would support the people of Bristol enormously not least the surrounding businesses and communities of Southville, Ashton, Ashton Vale, Bower Ashton and the environs.”
By reopening the station it would improve transport links for fans and businesses alike.
Once the redevelopment of Ashton Gate Stadium is complete it will become not just a sporting hub but a conference and events facility too. By August 2016 it will be the largest conference and events venue in the south-west.
Re-introducing the Ashton Gate Station will link this rapidly developing part of Bristol with not just the city but the country as a whole.
Telling the project team that they must include the new Ashton Gate station in their project will make a massive and positive difference. We need to demonstrate that there is a real demand, and that the new station would be well-used for a variety of events such as:
- Visiting the new Ashton Gate stadium and conference centre;
- Passengers travelling to work locally at Babcocks, Imperial, UWE, Ashton Gate etc
- Those travelling to the area for leisure activities such as visiting Ashton Court and North Street theatres, restaurants and shops
It takes a few minutes to comment and the team must account for every submission. It’s all done online via a simple form. View the form and supporting information leaflet by clicking the link below:
http://travelwest.info/project/portishead-branch-line-consultation
Once there, click on the Consultation Questionnaire button to start the process. Use Q4 and Q26 (via ”Other Specific Elements’) in particular to make your comments.
