Plans for Lawrence Weston cycling centre and M32 park and ride boosted with £500k Government grant

A new cycling centre will be created in Lawrence Weston, the city council has said after receiving a £500,000 funding boost aimed at making Bristol a ‘zero emissions’ city.

Under the plans, Bristol’s Family Cycling Centre would relocate from Hengrove to a site near Henacre/Merriman’s Drive Open Space in Lawrence Weston.

The cycle skills training facility has been running in Hengrove since 2016, but the arrangement was always temporary and with the lease for the site coming to an end, Bristol City Council has been investigating potential new sites so its services can continue.

But news released yesterday on the Government funding points toward Lawrence Weston, with a spokesperson saying part of the money will be used for feasibility study to develop plans for the project at the site.

Two years ago a report from a consultation showed three-quarters of people asked said the cycling centre should be at Lawrence Weston.

The £500,000 grant, secured by Bristol City Council from the government’s Zero Emission Transport City funding pot, will also be put towards a new park ride for the M32.

Potential sites for the park and ride were first looked at in 2018, but last year the city council said it would not be built until after 2025 after being removed from plans for a Clean Air Zone.

In addition, the cash will see the introduction of more bike lanes, installation of 1,000 cycle hangars, increased electric charging units and an extra fleet of 250 electric buses for the city.

Bristol is one of just three cities across the country to be awarded Zero Emission Transport City funding.

West of England Metro Mayor Dan Norris said: “Working in close collaboration with Mayor Marvin Rees I am delighted that Bristol has won funding to become a Zero Emission Transport City.

“This is important to enable us to reach our ambitious net-zero targets and will mean more local people breathe cleaner air and live healthier lives.”

Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol, said: “As the first city in the UK to declare a climate emergency, I am delighted we are taking the lead in becoming a zero emission transport city.

“To build a sustainable transport network we need to fundamentally transform the ways we all move around the city and region. These proposals demonstrate our vision to help us achieve net zero by 2030.

“That we were invited to bid for this money by the Department for Transport is a real sign that our efforts to reduce emissions are recognised at a national level.

“We’re taking bold steps to reduce emissions and encourage a diverse transport mix including introducing a bus gate at Bristol Bridge, investing in cycling, expanding Park and Ride and agreeing a major bus deal with local operators.

“This money will provide the platform to move us onto the next phases of delivering sustainable and low-carbon transport networks that benefit everyone.”