Bristol City Council Budget Meeting (27/02/2007)

[whole diary]

[Lee]

Message From FOSBR^▸ (Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways) :

The Lib Dem Council Cabinet have amended their budget to provide an extra train on the Severn Beach line from December 2007 - March 2010.

FOSBR would like to thank everyone who helped achieve this victory. Well done to everyone who sent a postcard, wrote an email, lobbied councillors or put the pressure on in whatever way.

Come to the budget meeting on Tuesday 27th February (2pm, the Council House, College Green) when we hope the Lib Dem budget will be supported by the full council.

Further details contained in the link below.
http://www.fosbr.org.uk/Victory.htm

Quote :

"Substantial funds give the Council a clear mandate in discussions with First Great Western, and also send a message to the government and the surrounding authorities that rail services need investment. Julie Boston said 'We hope this will make central government sit up and take notice. Bristol has decided to use its local rail infrastructure ^ we'll need central government investment to build on that victory."

[Lee]

This funding was aimed at providing an increased frequency (ideally every 30 or 40 minutes) on the Severn Beach Line between Bristol Temple Meads & Avonmouth.

However , source information just received indicates that a decision has been taken that running the more frequent service is NOT possible. Moves are now underway to try and reverse this.

[grahame]

So let me get this right.  A campaign for additional services.  An operator who requests additional funding if they're to do it.  A City council who duly provides that funding.  Any yet no additional services to be provided after all?

[Graz]

Also, who was the one who made that decision?

[Lee]

My educated guess would be that the every 40 minute frequency (at different times each hour) proposed couldnt be accommodated on the main line.

I dont know who made the ultimate decision but my source was informed by FGW^▸ (First Great Western) , who say that they are trying to get it reversed.

[Lee]

More on this :

- At the Severn Beach Line Working Group meeting on Tuesday 3 July 2007 , Andrew Griffiths said that First was not able to provide the 40 minute train service between Temple Meads and Avonmouth from December 2007.

- Alison Forster says that it should not be said that the 40 min service was not possible.

- Meeting today (04/07/2007) to see if this decision can be reversed.

- FGW^▸ (First Great Western) blaming lack of drivers.

[Lee]

Western Daily Press Article :
 
http://www.westpress.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=146238&command=displayContent&sourceNode=146064&contentPK=17744331&folderPk=100268&pNodeId=145795

Quotes :

The Severn Beach Working Group convened at Bristol County Council offices , chaired by Keith Walton of the Severnside Community Rail Partnership , and discussed the progression of plans.

But following the meeting fears were raised about whether FGW^▸ (First Great Western) would be able to find a crew for the extra train to be introduced in December.

An FGW spokesman said: "At this stage there is no definitive timetable."

"The plans are still at the consultative discussion stage, with all of the issues relating to timetable scheduling being discussed."

Keith Walton responded: "There was a statement from First Great Western that it may be difficult to introduce this service by December, but I think the statement was a little bit premature."

"Having discussed this with FGW I am confident and optimistic that it will be achieved."

[Lee]

FOSBR^▸ (Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways) Press Release :

RAIL CAMPAIGNERS CALL ON BRISTOL COUNCILLORS NOT TO BE RAILROADED BY FIRST GREAT WESTERN

Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways (FOSBR) have written to Councillor Mark Bradshaw to lead an all party delegation of Bristol councillors to meet Alison Forster, Managing Director of First Great Western.  An improved service for this well used line was promised and committed to by the council and First Great Western. FOSBR is determined that there is no backtracking on the commitments made to commuters and voters. FOSBR say that it is the responsibility of our elected councillors to ensure that the 40 minute weekday service between Temple Meads and Avonmouth is provided from Monday 10 December. More rail users means fewer road users in our gridlocked town.

After the unequivocal commitment on 27 February 2007 by Bristol City Council^s to invest in an improved service from the 2007/8 budget, the First Great Western seem to wavering.   Investment was committed at the Council Budget meeting and supported by all political parties in response to a campaign by Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways.   FOSBR urge Councillors Dennis Brown (Lib Dem), Barbara Lewis (Conservative) and Charlie Bolton (Green) to join Councillor Mark Bradshaw at the meeting with Alison Forster.  First Great Western should not be allowed to countermand the decisions of the council and dictate its policy.

Paul Tinkler, CEO^▸ (Chief Executive Officer) of Mirifice Ltd in Bath said ^Everyday the service is packed and everyday commuters have to jostle to get even standing space. The trains are often too full to take any more commuters. Buses are stuck in the congestion and why should we be forced into our cars? The line is fantastic and keeps hundreds of people off the road each day. To under-value the service is terrible but to commit to improve the service then quietly go back on the promises is scandalous. Let^s face it; the road based transport policy in Bristol is not exactly a success. The council should not be bullied and dictated to by First Great Western.^

First insisted that the additional frequency should be for a trial period of three years and this money (approximately ^450,000) has been committed by Bristol City Council.  Spending on transport in Bristol is low compared to other cities. Bristol plans to spend a miserly ^26 on public transport per head of population in 2007/8 compared with an average of ^47 among comparable core cities. While the city is gridlocked, we feel we have a strong case for ensuring that the budget decision is honoured.
Paul Tinkler      07815302403                             Julie Boston 07791 867 512 / 0117 942 8637
www.fosbr.org.uk                            30 July 2007

[Lee]

From FOSBR^▸ (Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways) :

Email Councillor Mark Bradshaw, Executive Councillor with transport responsibility, urging him to lead an all party delegation of transport spokespeople to meet Alison Forster, Managing Director of First Great Western, to ensure that First Great Western provides the agreed 40 minute service between Temple Meads and Avonmouth from Monday 10 December 2007. The investment for a 3 year trial period was agreed at Bristol City Council Budget meeting on 27 February 2007. 

The Party spokespeople are:-

Cllr Mark Bradshaw (Labour) - mark.bradshaw@bristol.gov.uk

Cllr Dennis Brown (Lib Dem) - dennis.brown@bristol.gov.uk

Cllr Barbara Lewis (Conservative) - barbara.lewis@bristol.gov.uk

Cllr Charlie Bolton (Green Party) - charles.bolton@bristol.gov.uk

Send copies to:-

Bristol East MP^▸ (Member of Parliament) - mccarthyk@parliament.uk

Bristol North West MP - naysmithd@parliament.uk

Bristol West MP - stephenwilliamsmp@parliament.uk

Head of Planning, Transport & Sustainable Development - david.bishop@bristol.gov.uk

[Lee]

Here are some articles on this (links below.)
http://thisissomerset.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=147472&command=displayContent&sourceNode=242195&contentPK=18016353&folderPk=113662&pNodeId=242222

http://www.westpress.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=146238&command=displayContent&sourceNode=146064&contentPK=18016353&folderPk=100268&pNodeId=145795