FOSBR▸ Press Release :
Silenced Majority call on West of England Partnership to take action on bus and rail services
The Silenced Majority of commuters will make a symbolical appearance at the
West of England Partnership meeting on Friday 29 February from 10 ^ 10.25 am at Keynsham Town Hall. The aim is to remind elected councillors of the four local authorities, SW TUC trade unionists, Bristol University and Business West representatives that their role is to represent the electorate, not road builders.
Accountability
As West of England Partnership meetings are held in the daytime, working people are unable to attend. FOSBR has asked for the Partnership^s agenda and the list of representatives on the transport working party to be publicised on the WOEP website in advance of meetings. In place of a lobby, pictures, placards and petitions will to tell the story of recent bus and train campaigns in the Bristol travel to work area:-
- the FOSBR Half Hour Train Campaign,
- More Train Less Strain and Fare Strike involving passengers from Yate, Yatton, Bath, Oldfield Park, Frome and Bristol - Bristol bus protests
- the campaign to save the Bristol & Bath Railway Path, Greenways and sustainable routes used by pedestrians, the disabled and cyclists
- Stephen Williams MP▸ and Kerry McCarthy MP^s 2006 signed statement in support of a half hour service on the local rail network.
Transport Authority
FOSBR challenge the argument that the Partnership has no power over bus or rail. Our experience rejects this. In response to FOSBR^s Half Hour Train Campaign, Bristol City Council allocated over ^1 million, to be spread over 3 years, in the 2006 / 7 budget for an additional train between Temple Meads and Avonmouth. This investment confirmed that Bristol City Council can act as a Transport Authority. The Partnership has similar power.
CO2 emissions
The partnership^s road based policies add to CO2 emissions. Transport now accounts for 26% of the total carbon emissions in the UK▸ , compared to 15% in 1990. Travelling by train produces up to a 7th of the carbon produced by travelling by car. FOSBR will distribute copies of the document ^Travelling in the wrong direction^ (produced by the Campaign for Better Transport in February 2008) to delegates the meeting.
Julie Boston (co-ordinator FOSBR)
Notes to editors
1, FOSBR campaigns to alleviate Bristol^s traffic problems by promoting and defending Bristol^s suburban rail network. FOSBR wants improved frequency on the Severn Beach Line, the reopening of the Portishead line to passengers, the opening of the ^Henbury freight loop^ to passengers, increased services to existing suburban stations and to fully integrate our suburban rail network with other forms of public transport.
2, The Severn Beach Line is a branch line that runs approximately 13 miles from Bristol Temple Meads to Severn Beach. Despite years of underfunding and neglect, passenger numbers have grown by 78% in ten years, and continue to increase. In 2004, Thomas Cook highlighted the Severn Beach Line as one of the most scenic in Europe.
