Anger at A4 bus lane plan between Keynsham and Saltford

Some business owners and residents are angry at plans for a bus lane on part of a commuter road between two cities.

They said the one-way bus lane on the A4 between Keynsham and Saltford would slow traffic between Bath and Bristol.

Bath florist Tasha Nolan-Kemp said the plans were "absolutely ludicrous".

The combined authority said it had consulted widely over the proposals which are part of a wider £540m programme to improve public transport across the region.

The proposed bus lane would run towards Bath from the Broadmead roundabout in Keynsham to Pixash Lane in Saltford.

The West of England Combined Authority (Weca) said its proposals were available "very clearly on the consultation website", adding it held consultations, a survey and dropped 33,000 leaflets to locals along the A4 route.

But Mostufa Uddin, owner of Golden Moments on the A4 in Saltford, said he did not get a leaflet and no-one he knew in the village was questioned for the survey.

"The people who are going to be affected haven't been asked," he said.

The restaurant owner, who uses suppliers from Bristol, believes a new bus lane would increase traffic on the A4.

"We're worried that our food suppliers aren't even going to come here any more," he said.

Mr Uddin said the restaurant lost business during previous roadworks.

"It's going to be the same thing all over again. It's going to affect local businesses," he said.

Ms Nolan-Kemp, owner of Bath Spa Florists, uses the A4 most days to pick up flowers from a wholesaler in Brislington, Bristol.

She said the road changes would have a "big impact" on her business because it would take so much longer to drive back from Bristol.

"I can't go to the market on the bus to collect the entire stock for the day," she added.

Laura Murray, who lives on the outskirts of Keynsham on the A4, found out the bus lane would run directly in front of her house, where their only parking is.

She said the information was not on the leaflet she received or online.

"How can we give our opinion without the information? We haven't been consulted at all," she said.

The authority told residents 1,700 local people had been surveyed.

"Who are they? That's who they've based this whole ludicrous plan on," she added.

Ms Murray has launched a campaign group against the plans and said she was planning to take legal action.

Weca said it had been "upfront from the outset that some of the proposals won't be good for everyone - that traffic could be displaced in some areas, and there would be an impact on parking also".

"Nothing is set in stone, and this is still at an early stage with plans for further engagement with residents," a spokesperson added.

Weca said 5,000 residents had shared their views on the proposals.

They continued: "It is called "big choices" because there are tough decisions to make that will include trade-offs and compromises."

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