We all know that there are thousands of houses being built just over the border in South Gloucestershire. I have been following this whole issue very carefully since it was first mooted in 2010. It is called the Cribbs Patchway New Neighbourhood - CPNN.

In many ways the development is well thought through, with schools, community spaces, shops and health facilities but it is the issue of traffic that causes most concern.

As part of the planning process we have opposed high rise developments on the site, blocked suggestions of opening up rat runs down Charlton Road and Fishpool Hill, and pushed for public transport provision from the start.

As part of this the rat runs have been dropped, key amenities added, and public transport improvements are a key part of the plans.

These include:

• Two new train stations (Henbury and Filton North)
• Better bus connections (down Charlton Road)
• Metro Bus connections
• Improved Cycling provision

It isn’t just suggestions from South Gloucestershire developers that we need to be wary of though. The problem though is the current Government and developers are both looking at whether the CPNN zone (which has approval for between 5500 and 8500 homes - depending on if key transport infrastructure is built) can taken even more housing. Figures such as 25,000 have been mooted in the press. 

I believe that this is far too much and will lead to grid lock in North Bristol. 

I am opposed to this flight of hallucinogenic fancy.