Emersons Green
Emersons Green is an urban residential area in the unitary authority of South Gloucestershire to the North of Bristol, England. It was developed from farming land during the 1990s and early 21st century, and sits within the historic village of Mangotsfield and near Downend. Emersons Green lies within the Unitary Authority of South Gloucestershire, and is part of the Parliamentary Constituency of Kingswood.
History
Coal was mined from the area during the 19th century.[1] To the south there is a quarry, which has been reactivated.
The area was selected for development as part of the Avon county Structure Plan in 1985. Formerly green belt land within Mangotsfield Parish and bordering Downend, it was proposed to develop the area that now constitutes Emersons Green Housing Development, Mangotsfield, with the green belt area being moved outwards. This area would also contain parts of the extensions to the A4174 Avon ring road. Confusion over its correct designation is caused by the development company (Flowers and Hayes) naming the construction site and sub-company Emersons green Village. This is standard practice to protect the holding company in the event of a business failure.
A Science and Technology park, in conjunction with Bristol University and University of the West of England, named 'SPark', has been built on an area of land adjacent to the M4 motorway and the A4174 ringroad.[2] Construction of the £300 million Bristol and Bath Science Park began in early 2010. A link road connecting the M4 to the Avon ring road (A4174) has now been considered a necessary addition to the area, to accommodate the increase in traffic due to the Science Park. SPark opened in September 2011[3] and is expected to create 6,000 new jobs within the science and technology sector, when it is completed in 2020.
Geography
150 hectares (370 acres) to the west and south of the A4174 contains housing and the retail park which includes the Sainsbury's supermarket. A business park was built in the late 1990s on an area of 31.5 hectares (78 acres) bordered by the M4, A4174 and Westerleigh Road.
Governance
An electoral ward with the same name exists. This ward is entirely within the civil parish of Mangotsfield Rural
Transport
Emersons Green is 6 miles (9.7 km) from the centre of Bristol and 10 miles (16 km) from Bath. Bristol Parkway is 4.5 miles (7.2 km) away and Temple Meads is 6 miles (9.7 km) away. Both have frequent service to London, the North and the West Country.
Emersons Green is served by the 48 and the 49 bus services, which run to and from Bristol city centre via Eastville and Fishponds, before splitting. The 48 operates via Downend, and the 49 operates via Staple Hill and Mangotsfield before both linking back up at Emersons Green. Buses run every fifteen minutes Monday to Saturday daytime, and every 30 minutes on evenings and Sundays. Also the 5 runs between here and Bristol City Centre via Bromley Heath, Downend, Oldbury Court, Fishponds, Stapleton, Eastville and Broadmead. The X18 also serves Emersons Green, operating between Kingswood and Aztec West operating a half-hourly service on weekdays during morning and evening peak times, there is no service during the daytime or at weekends. The 18 also serves the area, operating between there and Henbury, via Downend, Frenchay, UWE Frenchay Campus, Parkway Station, Little Stoke, Southmead Hospital, Westbury, Shirehampton and Lawrence Weston every 30 minutes Monday to Saturday daytime, although on evenings and Sundays services only run as far as Southmead Hospital. All services are operated by First Bristol.
The Bristol & Bath Railway Path which serves as a cycle track is nearby. There is also a route north along the ring road. Emerson's Green was built as a car-based suburb. It is bordered by the Avon Ring Road, which travels north to the M32 and south to the A4 and then the city centre. Traffic frequently becomes congested on the route during the morning rush hour.
Future
A new area of housing and business is planned for the Green Belt area east of the A4174 ring road. A park and ride is planned;[4] questions remain as to whether it will be developed on council land, or as previously agreed on developer-owned land.
References
- ^ "Emerson's Green Walks" (PDF). South Gloucestershire Council. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
- ^ "Location/Contact". Bristol and Bath Science Park. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
- ^ "Bristol and Bath Science Park opens". Retrieved 10 December 2015.
- ^ "New Bristol park and ride will link to rapid bus route". Bristol Post. 28 January 2013. Retrieved 10 December 2015.