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The man with the job of attracting tourists to Cardiff says people in Bristol are "envious" of the Welsh city (link below.)
http://thisisbristol.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=145365&command=displayContent&sourceNode=145191&contentPK=20235895&folderPk=83726&pNodeId=144922

Richard Thomas, 36, the marketing and communications director of the Exeter-based South West of England Regional Development Agency, is moving to run agency Cardiff & Co.

In an interview with Welsh newspaper the Western Mail, he said that although Bristol was bigger, Cardiff had better infrastructure.

Mr Thomas said:


But he said road and rail links into the Welsh city were something that needed improving - a position faced by most rival cities in the UK.

And Bristol International Airport offers a greater number of flights and destinations than Cardiff, including a direct service to New York.

A spokesman for SWERDA said:

Gosh! You could stir up a debate here. "Beautiful scenery? We've got Avonmouth...." and so on. Having been brought up in Cardiff and now living and working in the Bristol area both cities have their pros and cons, even for transport. Though clearly the South Wales area is developing its transport infrastrucutre much more rapidly than the Bristol area, thanks to a more enlightened policy by the WAG.

On the other hand, Bristol has been named as one of Europe's best places to invest in (link below.)
http://thisisbristol.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=145365&command=displayContent&sourceNode=145191&contentPK=20248044&folderPk=83726&pNodeId=144922

A survey by Foreign Direct Investment magazine cited it as the second best city behind London.

Researchers judged European cities against 75 indicators, ranging from economic potential, business friendliness and quality of life to infrastructure and human resources.

They assessed their attractiveness for investment and potential economic development.

Bristol was ranked second overall out of the top 10 large European cities, ahead of Paris and Rome.

Jan Ormondroyd has taken over as Bristol City Council's new ^180,000-a-year chief executive (link below.)
http://thisisbristol.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=145365&command=displayContent&sourceNode=145191&contentPK=20258394&folderPk=83726&pNodeId=144928

In an email to councillors and other new colleagues, the former deputy chief executive at Hull City Council said: "I look forward to working with you to deliver a council that will be seen as the best in the business."

Mrs Ormondroyd, 53, who took over this week from Nick Gurney, said:

Chief officers will have to re-apply for jobs in the biggest shake-up of senior Bristol City Council posts in years (link below.)
http://thisisbristol.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=144913&command=displayContent&sourceNode=231190&home=yes&more_nodeId1=144922&contentPK=20468530

New chief executive Jan Ormondroyd is determined to ensure only the best operators continue to head up departments.

She wants the city council - which employs 16,700 staff - to raise its game, improve services and give better value for money.

Around ^10 million would be immediately sucked out of the Bristol economy if hit drama Casualty was relocated to Wales, a leading industry figure has claimed (links below.)
http://thisisbristol.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=144913&command=displayContent&sourceNode=231190&home=yes&more_nodeId1=144922&contentPK=20508964

http://thisisbristol.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=144913&command=displayContent&sourceNode=231190&home=yes&more_nodeId1=144922&contentPK=20507772

The long-running hospital drama's future in the city has been thrown in to doubt after rumours that a national shake-up of the BBC would see production go to Cardiff.

Now MPs have been called on to put political pressure on the corporation to keep the popular series in Bristol, where it has been filmed for 21 years.

South West Screen keeps a returns sheet to track how much film and TV companies spend locally.

The estimated ^10m lost would be money spent directly in Bristol by the production company each year, including hiring local filming crews and location fees for scenes filmed away from the programme's St Philip's set.

The ^10m would be the initial loss, the organisation predicts, with more cash lost from the city through indirect benefits the show generates.

BBC officials have refused to rule out a move and are already planning to cut more than 100 jobs its Whiteladies Road centre in the documentaries and features department and Natural History Unit as part of the overhaul.

Stephen Williams, Lib Dem MP for Bristol West, said: