'Road will destroy countryside'

A CONSERVATION watchdog has slammed plans to build a link road from the Clevedon motorway junction to Flax Bourton.The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) says the plan to create a link road from the motorway junction to the A370 at Flax Bourton would 'destroy the countryside'. The campaign group also said the road would ' open the way for excessive development in largely unspoiled areas.'The proposals are being put forward as part of the Greater Bristol Strategic Transport Study (GBSTS) which is looking at transport measures required in the former Avon area up to 2013.The new road, being put forward as part of a package of long-term measures, would eventually link up with a new ring round south of Bristol.North Somerset district's CPRE chairman Georgie Bigg said: "This development would take in the exceptionally beautiful area around Tyntesfield in Wraxall."Once the damage is done, it is permanent - the beauty of this area would be lost forever."Even the GBSTS itself reports that if these roads go ahead, there would be a potentially large adverse impact on landscape, together with adverse impacts on Sites of Special Scientific Interest and ancient woodlands."If we continue to build in the countryside we will change the face of North Somerset forever."These roads would cost an enormous amount of money which could be far more imaginatively and effectively used in improving public transport and the management of traffic on existing roads."Other plans being put forward as part of the study include creating a new stretch of road from Weston-super-Mare to the south of Bristol via the airport.It also recommends improvements to junction 19 at Portishead and a new crossing of the River Avon between Avonmouth and Portishead.The proposals have now gone forward to North Somerset Council for consideration.CPRE is now urging people with concerns about the road plans to write to their local MP, district councillors and town and parish councillors.