Posted in Bristol City Council, First Bus, Greater Bristol Bus Network, tagged Bristol, Bristol City Council, Bristol Politics, Canford Lane, First Bus, GBBN, Greater Bristol Bus Network, Liberal Democrats, Politics, Showcase bus routes, Westbury-on-Trym on May 31, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
By Dominic Harris
SHOP owners in Westbury- on-Trym say they are facing “financial ruin” because of council work to revamp bus routes.
Traders on Canford Lane claim income has dropped by up to 80 per cent since work started three weeks ago, as part of the £70 million Greater Bristol Bus Network scheme.
They have accused Bristol City Council of trampling on small businesses to help private bus companies.
Posted in Bristol City Council, tagged Ashton, Bedminster, Bristol, Bristol City Council, Bristol Politics, Freightliner, Politics, South Liberty Lane on May 31, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
By Rachel Clare
NEIGHBOURS of a Bristol haulage depot say they are fed up with being woken up by machinery at 4.30am every morning.
Residents living in Ashton and Bedminster are regularly woken up by banging and crashing at the Freightliner depot in South Liberty Lane and it is often so loud they cannot get back to sleep.
With the summer months approaching they said it is impossible to open bedroom windows as the sound of wine crates being loaded and unloaded onto trains is too much to bear.
Posted in Bristol City Council, tagged Bristol, Bristol City Council, Bristol Politics, Road surfacing, Wet tar on May 31, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
By Ian Onions, Political Editor
MORE than £1 million of council tax payers’ money is spent each year in the Bristol area on road resurfacing which can melt in hot weather.
Hundreds of roads and streets are sprayed with wet tar and covered with chippings in an annual programme of highway maintenance.
But in some cases the tar melts and residents walk the sticky chippings into their homes, causing damage to carpets and floors.
Posted in Health Care, Kerry McCarthy, MPs, tagged Bristol, Bristol Politics, Government, Kerry McCarthy, Labour, MPs, NHS on May 31, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
B
RISTOL East Labour MP Kerry McCarthy is urging people to protest against proposed reforms of the National Health Service.
The deadline for comments on the Department of Health’s website is the end of today. (Tuesday, May 31)
Ms McCarthy said she had received “an almost unprecedented” number of letters and emails from hundreds of constituents who were deeply concerned that the Government’s reforms would be disastrous for the NHS and lead to privatisation.
In April, Ms McCarthy wrote to the Prime Minister and his deputy on the issue. She said people regarded the NHS as a national service, provided on the basis of need – not on the ability to pay or what generates the most profit.
Posted in Bristol City Council, First Bus, Public Transport, tagged Bishopsworth, Bristol, Bristol City Council, Bristol Politics, Conservatives, Disabled, First Bus, Guillain-Barre syndrome, Hartcliffe, Jenny MacCleod, Politics, Richard Eddy on May 31, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
By Sam Rkaina, Local Government Reporter
A CITY councillor claims bus operator First isn’t disabled friendly – after missing three buses in as many weeks.
Bishopsworth councillor Richard Eddy uses a four-wheeled walker or crutches to aid his mobility since he was struck by Guillain-Barre syndrome last year.
The condition causes temporary paralysis, and Mr Eddy has found catching certain bus services much more difficult since he developed a disability.
While trying to catch the 76 from the city centre, he says drivers have been unable to spot waiting passengers due to parked buses obscuring the view and passengers have been forced to access vehicles stopping in the middle of the road.
Posted in Bristol City Council, Public Transport, Rapid Transit, Trams, tagged Bristol, Bristol City Council, Bristol Politics, Bristol Tram, BRT, Bus Rapid Transit, Cumberland Basin, James Skinner, Liberal Democrats, MShed, Pip Sheard, Tim Kent, Trams for Bristol, ULR, Ultra Light Rail on May 31, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
By Ian Onions, Political Editor
PLANS for a new tram system in Bristol have come off the rails.
A report by council experts and consultants says it would not be as good as the bendybus scheme, which is already on the table.
Members of the consortium who are promoting the tram met with cabinet councillor Tim Kent and council officials yesterday.
Afterwards, consortium chairman James Skinner said he was extremely disappointed that hopes of a tram appeared to be over.
Posted in Bristol City Council, First Bus, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Public Transport, tagged Bristol, Bristol City Council, Bristol Politics, Campaign for Better Transport, Cuts, Dave Redgewell, First Bus, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Mark Bradshaw, Politics, Public Transport, Tim Kent on May 31, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
By Sam Rkaina, Local Government Reporter
“WE told you this would happen” – that was the message from transport groups after Bristol City Council said it may have to cut £2.2 million worth of bus services.
Campaigners and councillors have accused the authority of ignoring warnings that its attempt to increase bus competition in the city wouldn’t work.
Far from saving money, the failed plan to bring in rivals to First and drive down prices has left the council with a “disastrous” £2.2 million budget hole.
Dozens of supported transport services across the city are now at risk, including early morning, evening and night buses, the harbour ferry and a school bus service.
Posted in Ashton Gate, Bristol City Council, Bristol City Football Club, MPs, tagged Ashton Gate, Ashton Vale, Bristol, Bristol City Council, Bristol City Football Club, Bristol Politics, Eric Pickles, Politics, Sainsburys on May 31, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
By Ian Onions, Political Editor
A PUBLIC inquiry will not be held into a decision to give planning permission for a Sainsbury’s superstore at Ashton Gate.
Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has the power to review decisions on major planning applications.
But he has decided a review of this scheme – which would likely have led to a public inquiry – is not necessary.
The decision means another hurdle has been cleared towards a £92-million stadium at Ashton Vale.
If there had been an inquiry, it would have held up the scheme for months. (more…)
Posted in MPs, tagged Bristol, Bristol Politics, Chris Skidmore, Conservatives, Kerry McCarthy, Labour, Liberal Democrats, MPs, Obama, Stephen Williams on May 31, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
PRESIDENT Obama won over Bristol MPs of all political shades with a “masterclass of oratory” as he addressed both Houses of Parliament earlier this week.
The US leader reaffirmed the special relationship between Britain and America as “one of the oldest and one of the strongest alliances the world has ever known”, during the keynote speech.
He was the first US president to be granted the rare honour of speaking to both Houses in the historic Westminster Hall, previously accorded only to a handful of eminent figures like Nelson Mandela, Charles de Gaulle and the Pope.
Posted in Kerry McCarthy, MPs, tagged Age UK, Bristol East, Bristol Politics, Government, Kerry McCarthy, Labour, MPs on May 27, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
From Kerry McCarthy MP
Bristol East MP Kerry McCarthy
Kerry McCarthy MP is backing Age UK’s campaign against Government plans which will see thousands of women waiting up to two years longer for their state pension than promised under the Coalition agreement.
Kerry has discussed the these damaging changes with many of her constituents who are just some of the 330,000 women who will be worst affected by the changes.
Kerry has joined hundreds of MPs who have signed an Early Day Motion to reverse the changes which break the Coalition Agreement’s pledge to hold off speeding up the equalisation of the State Pension Age.
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