Portishead approved

[yorksrob]

Yep the Grantham Southern Relief Road. That’s been talked about for 50 years. It was certainly being put through feasibility etc in the 90s (I have family who lived very near its route). It was approved (consents and financially) 11 years ago. And still not open.

Trust me, road scheme do not get any preferential treatment !

Well, it was 2015 the Portishead reopening was mooted. They need to get on with it.

 

[Parham Wood]

I think the local authorities involved have a track record of abysmal project delivery which may explain a lot.

 

[Dr Day]

The Treasury isn't going to write a blank cheque, even if the scheme does have a strong business case (which we don't know it does - nothing is in the public domain about the case for Portishead independent of the other elements that made up Metrowest Phase 1 which have now already been delivered). They will need to know the actual committed cost, which a contractor isn't going to supply until they have a reasonable amount of design work done and confidence in things like ground conditions or the cost of materials. Which all takes time but has to be done to get a firm price the contractor is prepared to commit to. Operating costs probably aren't going in the right direction either.

Meanwhile on the benefits side on a commuter route COVID won't have helped, and 1 tph, whilst a good start, isn't that competitive with 3 buses an hour in the off peak when roads are less congested.

Very frustrating when so much local investment has gone in too, but not unsurprising.

 

[matt]

This is a good point to end the thread until there is some more updates on the project. If anyone would line to continue discussing the proposals then feel free to start a thread in our speculative discussion part of the forum