Time Running Out for Two Tunnels Decision

The B&NES Council’s Cabinet member responsible for transport has been accused of putting the Two Tunnels shared path project at risk by delaying a decision on the Council’s support package, including £396,000 in capital funding.

Councillor Paul Crossley (Southdown), Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, has written to the Cabinet member responsible for this decision to urge him to approve the funding. Councillor Crossley said:

“This is an amazing project and it is right that the Council should support it. The Liberal Democrats want to see the tunnels brought back to life as a new cycle way into and out of the city.

“The delay in approving the Council package of involvement for the project is putting the whole scheme at risk. It’s time for the dithering to stop.”

The Council’s Safer and Stronger Communities Overview and Scrutiny Panel has also urged the Cabinet member to approve the funding. Councillor Roger Symonds (Combe Down) sits on the SSC Panel, commented:

“There have been repeated delays over giving the go ahead to this exciting new project. The blame for this lies firmly with the Council administration which has dithered, delayed and obfuscated and done anything to avoid giving positive support for the scheme.”

Organiser of the King Bladud’s Pigs exhibition (which raised £200,000 towards the Two Tunnels project) and former B&NES Councillor, Gitte Dawson added:

“The Two Tunnels is a wonderful project and I just hope it will finally come off! We've been two years talking to the Council. The Two Tunnels Steering Group, which I chair, has met 16 times since we got our £1m from the Lottery. And still we haven't put one spade in the ground!

“Right now, a £40,000 British Rail Residual Body grant is at risk. The grant will evaporate if we don't manage to at least dig out the buried entrance to the Devonshire Tunnel by 31st March. The lack of approval from the Council is holding everything up!”