Park and Ride

I love “Solsbury Hill” by Peter Gabriel – next time you’re looking for the courage to do something you really believe in whilst fearing the consequences give it a good listen. I know there are significant pros and cons to park and ride and many tourist hotspots are a nightmare for the private car user – what do you think about the tricky balance between countryside and progress this story raises? It tells us:

Perennially one of England’s most popular destinations, Bath is lauded for its fine Georgian architecture, natural hot springs and bucolic backdrop, which together have earned the city a place on Unesco’s world heritage list.

However, campaigners warn that Bath’s Unesco status could be at risk if a controversial park and ride development is given the go-ahead on Wednesdsay.

The city’s Conservative-led cabinet will meet this evening to discuss the proposed scheme, which has been earmarked for one of two sites in Bathampton Meadows, to the east of the city.

Protesters will march through the city from 4.30pm today in a last ditch attempt to see off the development, which critics claim will ruin the views from Solsbury Hill, a scenic spot that inspired the lyrics of Peter Gabriel.

“People are outraged about this and we’re expecting a big rally this evening,” said Christine Boyd, a leading campaigner for Bathampton Meadows Alliance. “Bathampton Meadows is part of Bath, it’s important to our world heritage city.”

Believing the development is a direct threat to Bath’s world heritage status, campaigners have sent an appeal to Unesco to intervene in the matter. The organisation has yet to respond.