Barbara Janke's thoughts for February

Improving Bristol’s transport system is something most people in the city are keen to see.  There have been a few enquiries about Whiteladies Road and the work currently being carried out there.  This is due to a bid submitted by the council a number of years ago for a programme of radial bus routes - known as the Showcase bus routes plan.   Finance was agreed around 2003 and a major investment programme in public transport began.  Other routes, which many of you will no doubt be aware of, have already been installed on Gloucester Road and Fishponds Road, as well as others to the south of the city. 

These Showcase routes are the implementation of the first part of a public transport scheme to see an integrated public transport system for the city that  should in turn reduce traffic congestion due to car use on the main roads in and out of the city. 

I appreciate the fact that as these improvements are undertaken the road works are inconvenient and cause traffic delays.  Once complete, and I understand that the work is well under way now, the bus route will offer an effective alternative to car travel which should help reduce congestion.

Further government funding for transport has recently been awarded to Bristol for three Rapid Transit schemes.  These will provide fast public transport from Hengrove to the Northern fringe of the city, from Ashton to Emersons Green, and a South Bristol Link.  This government funding requires the council to also make contribution.  The Lib Dem budget proposal that went to Cabinet on Thursday 26 January (and will now go to Full Council on Tuesday 28 Feb) included within it an investment package of £50m in infrastructure projects, including partial funding for these bus routes.   

This investment package for the next three years sees £10m toward these three new Rapid Transit schemes and £6m for other transport schemes.  It also allocates £20m for additional school places, £5.5m toward the elderly extra care housing to enable the elderly to live independently as long as possible, and an additional £0.5m allocated to aids and adaptations for the elderly to further help independent living.

Bristol’s reputation as a leading sustainable, creative, digital city, and, as denoted by the UK Competitiveness Index, the most competitive large English city outside of London, has attracted many to the city and seen the population expand considerably.  This investment package helps ensure Bristol retain this successful economic record and continue to attract investment and jobs to Bristol. 

The package also includes proposals for a new swimming pool for Bristol East (£6m) to be located at the Bristol Brunel Academy and a much needed third recycling centre (£2m) for the south of the city on Hartcliffe Way.