Great Western Coffee Shop

A motion in support of a TA will be discussed at the council meeting on Tues 24th July 2007 (link below.)
http://www.fosbr.org.uk/news.php?newsid=0000000119

The Transport Alliance has requested public support in the gallery and at a photo opportunity before the meeting at 5.30 pm.

18.00 ^ 22.00 Full Council meeting Council House , College Green , Bristol.

Agenda includes:-

Submission on behalf of the Greater Bristol Transport Alliance.
Motion in support of a Transport Authority will be discussed right at the end of the council meeting.

All political parties are expected to vote for the motion (links below.)
http://www.rmtbristol.org.uk/2007/07/new_group_planned_for_city_bus.html#more

http://thisisbristol.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=145365&command=displayContent&sourceNode=145191&contentPK=17907072&folderPk=83726&pNodeId=144922

http://thisisbristol.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=144913&command=displayContent&sourceNode=145365&contentPK=17906091

FOSBR have also made the following statement :

RAIL CAMPAIGNERS URGE COUNCIL TO STAND FIRM

FOSBR call on BCC to press First Group for a progress report on the 40 minute weekday service between Temple Meads and Avonmouth from December 2007. 

FOSBR has decided to make this request not because we do not trust Bristol City Council to respect the budget commitment made by the all party council meeting in February.  We are making it because First has a tradition of treating Bristol bus and train passengers with contempt and getting away with it.

This is the background to our request. On July 3 the Severn Beach Line working party was told by First Great Western^s Regional Manager that the 40 minute frequency could not be implemented this December.  We were outraged but promised not to make a press release for 24 hours. That was three weeks ago.

The reason for bringing this to the Full Council is not just that a more frequent service has popular support. 3,000 people signed our half hour petition in 2006 and nearly 600 sent post cards earlier this year which inspired councillors of all parties on Bristol City Council to fund an increased service for 3 years. It is also because people are using the line. The passenger count on the SB Line was up by 12%.

Another reason to persist with the 40 minute frequency is that the investment would give BCC some control over the reliability of the service. Last year First Group promised to run the SB Line service without financial support. Cllr Brown was ecstatic. If Cllr Brown ever travels on the line he will know that the reliability of the service is appalling with some trains timetabled for Severn Beach turning round at Avonmouth with no transport between the two stations.
 
The record cancellation was 11 trains on Saturday 7 July.

Investment will give BCC some control over reliability of the service.  But the councillors must be proactive.  I suggest that

1) A councillor from each political party should meet with First Group representatives to negotiate..  We cannot leave the negotiations to the officers.

2) BCC must call on Bristol MPs, the GOSW and the Dept. for Transport to ensure the 40 minute frequency, which has been budgeted, for starts on Monday 10 December..

3) BCC must publicise progress of the negotiations. Then we can move on and campaign for a half hour service between Parson Street and Patchway and all Bristol^s suburban stations.

Julie Boston - 24 July 2007

City councillors have backed a unified transport authority to control and improve road and rail networks in Bristol (link below.)
http://thisisbristol.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=145365&command=displayContent&sourceNode=145191&contentPK=17922644&folderPk=83726&pNodeId=144922

It was agreed to support and push forward with the new strategic transport authority (STA) , which will involve the four councils of the former Avon area.

The STA received cross-party support in the council chamber.

Richard Eddy's motion urged the council to support the idea of setting up a Greater Bristol strategic transport authority. It also asked officers to report on the likely advantages and consequences to full council and the West of England Partnership as soon as possible.

Neighbouring councils South Gloucestershire , Bath & North East Somerset , and North Somerset have all indicated they are keen on improving the area's transport network , although they have yet to back the STA in a vote.

Also at the meeting , a motion on congestion charging in Bristol was passed but with an amendment which means a referendum will not be held on it.

Councillors in South Gloucestershire say plans to create a transport authority for the greater Bristol area could avoid future rows over major projects such as the supertram (link below.)
http://thisisbristol.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=144913&command=displayContent&sourceNode=231190&home=yes&more_nodeId1=144922&contentPK=17934954

"Political dithering" threatens to derail the proposed STA and the prospect of government funding (link below.)
http://thisisbristol.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=145365&command=displayContent&sourceNode=145191&contentPK=19282654&folderPk=83726&pNodeId=144922

"POLITICAL DITHERING" what you mean is the ROAD LOBBY!!!!!

I think its more that the councils who make up the West Of England Partnership havent decided whether they want to be part of a Strategic Transport Authority. One of their fears is that Bristol would be the dominant partner.

Thats a very good point Lee.

South Gloucestershire Council's Labour leader Roger Hutchinson put forward a proposal to back the new body, which was supported by the full council (link below.)
http://thisisbristol.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=145365&command=displayContent&sourceNode=145191&contentPK=19673276&folderPk=83726&pNodeId=144922

He said: