FRENCHAY & Downend ward councillor Liz Brennan has been elected as the new leader of South Gloucestershire Council’s Conservative group.
Cllr Brennan, who had been the group’s deputy leader, made the step up after predecessor Sam Bromiley, who had led the group since 2023, resigned.
She was elected unanimously, with Boyd Valley councillor Ben Stokes becoming her deputy.
One of her top priorities is a call for a rethink on the decision to ban some turns at the Hambrook traffic lights on the Avon Ring Road.
Cllr Brennan wrote a letter to council leader Maggie Tyrrell and co-leader Ian Boulton in December raising “serious and ongoing concerns” about the current arrangements.
The council used powers known as an experimental traffic order to stop vehicles coming from the Bromley Heath roundabout from turning right towards Winterbourne, removed a bus lane and made access from Frenchay a left-turn only under an experimental traffic order in 2019.
They were brought in under the previous Tory council administration and government, originally on an 18-month trial basis to see if air quality improved, but remain in place to this day.
Cllr Brennan said: “While we acknowledge the historical reasons for the changes implemented at the junction, residents are now facing unacceptable challenges undertaking daily tasks such as commuting to work, accessing education, attending medical appointments and shopping.
“These issues are not minor inconveniences. They are significantly impacting well-being and economic productivity across our area.”
Cllr Brennan said a report from the government’s Joint Air Quality Unit (JAQU), assessing the effectiveness of the changes, was scheduled for delivery to the Council during 2025 and asked whether the report had been completed.
She called for right-turns at Hambrook to be restored and a “comprehensive review of the ring road to address congestion and ensure resilience”, particularly in light of plans for thousands of new homes near the A4174.
The issue was raised by Cllr Brennan at a council cabinet meeting on December 8.
A spokesperson for South Gloucestershire Council said: “We are currently waiting for a final report from the Joint Air Quality Unit (JAQU) around timescales for releasing us from the ministerial direction that requires the current measures to remain in place.
“In the meantime, we continue to gather data and have put additional monitoring in place to help us understand traffic movements both now and once the A432 bridge reopens.
“We will continue to monitor air quality levels around the junction, and JAQU have asked that a full calendar year of data be provided for assessment should any changes to the existing arrangements be proposed.
“Any long-term decisions on the future layout of the junction will take into account any new housing in the area.”