Bath and North Somerset Council wish to use land which is privately owned. This is because it could facilitate the construction of a rail link. However, it may be awkward to move forward with the plan if the landowner remains reluctant to sell. Printing services within Bath might be used to promote park-and-ride if implementation is achieved.
Council leader Tim Warren argued:
"In Bath, we're talking about producing 11,000 jobs and these people have to get to work - get in and out - and the city's full up.”
Nevertheless, Steve Horler is yet to be convinced by the proposals and is not prepared to let his farm go. He runs a business on the site in question and he feels that Bathampton Meadows is an attractive place.
A conservation charity is also opposing the current vision of the council despite being aware of congestion in Bath. A National Trust spokesperson raised the issue of the potential environmental impact of the policy. The spokesperson expressed specific concern about the possible damage to a view from an Area of Natural Beauty in the Cotswolds.
The opposition to the park-and-ride idea may well have contributed to a pause in the planning process. Further consideration of the details of the policy is due to happen soon.