Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Scheme revealed to transform transport across city
THE mayor of Bristol has announced more details about a proposed multi-billion pound transport system serving the city and beyond.
Bristol City Council and the West of England Combined Authority (Weca) have published proposed routes for a ‘mass transit system’, which would include major bus and rail upgrades as well as a £4 billion underground and overground network.
Segregated rapid bus routes, new railway stations and additional park and ride sites are included.
Mayor Marvin Rees said on Thursday that it would offer a “worldclass” transport system – but it could take up to 15 years for the entire proposal to become a reality.
He said: “The overarching vision for us is to get to a mass transit system that includes a mix of under – and overground, high capacity lines that are fast, reliable, affordable and connect Bristol.
“To date, we’ve invested £1.5 million to begin identifying the options. Route options are being investigated and developed right now.”
A map of the proposed transport network has now been published, after Weca invested £1.5 million in exploring the initial ideas.
Weca, which has powers of spending over the region’s transport, is working on the options with Bristol and its neighbours in Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire.
It is expected an outline business case will be put forward to the Department for Transport in the spring or summer, with a public consultation also planned for the summer, and discussions will inform a full business case at a later date.
The hope is to secure a mix of Government and private investment to fund the scheme, with about half ideally coming from the Government.
The underground plan first surfaced in 2017 when the mayor said it could be in place by 2027 – a date that has now been revised.
He said a “fair amount” of progress had been made in those years but that it would likely take between 10 and 15 more to see the plan through.
Four underground and overground routes would connect the city centre with Bristol Airport, Cribbs Causeway, Emersons Green and the A4 corridor towards Bath, with various stops in the middle.
Despite the huge costs involved, Mr Rees said delivering a mass transit system was “essential” to meet Bristol’s needs as the population grew.
He added: “We are not just dealing with a city of 460,000 people – Bristol is likely to grow by about 96,000 over the next 25 years.”
The underground technology would not necessarily mirror that of London – light rail, trams or even driver-less pods were all options being considered, he said.
Mr Rees said “rapid bus routes” were a core component of the plan, with an anticlockwise bus route around the city centre to Prince Street, Redcliffe, Old Market and Broadmead.
He said this route was “almost complete”, with just a few stretches left around the Bearpit and Redcliffe Roundabout.
He added: “We’re also working on bringing forward a clockwise bus loop that will take buses out of the centre and have the accessibility of the centre made much more reliable.”
The mayor said it was “absolutely key” that the rapid bus routes were separate to other traffic in Bristol to ensure they were as speedy and reliable as possible.
The trial closure of Bristol Bridge was mentioned as one of the measures taken so far in the “phased approach” to improving transport.
A new promotional video for the mass transit plan advises “making this [closure] permanent would create
The overarching vision for us is to get to a mass transit system MARVIN REES
a central bus loop and a hub where transport options meet”.
Potential new bus stops are being looked at in Eastville, St Pauls, Stapleton Road, Hareclive Road, Aztec West and Filton North.
The proposal also features new railway stations and new park and ride sites, some of which are already under construction.
Among several new and expanded park and ride sites mentioned, Mr Rees said the council was still working with Weca to look for an appropriate one at the M32, with segregated bus lanes down the motorway into Bristol.
Rapid bus services and rail upgrades should be delivered in the next five to 10 years, the mayor said, but the mass transit plan would take longer to see through and the likely timeframe was between 10 and 15 years.
Mr Rees said: “Looking at the challenges we face today over air quality, congestion and economic inclusion, we wish that [past] generations had planned for meaningful interventions on transport in the way that we are now – we wouldn’t be suffering the same kind of challenges.”
He stressed the plans unveiled this week offered a “snapshot” but the proposals were yet to be finalised.
A MAN who drove dangerously with a baby in his car has been jailed.
Ashley Stevens was driving the tot as well as an adult when he drove fast down country lanes, Bristol Crown Court heard.
When the adult pleaded with him to stop he started laughing, before having two collisions.
A van driver involved in the second collision aggravated an existing injury, the court was told.
Stevens, 27, of no fixed address, was convicted of a spate of offences, in breach of a suspended sentence, between May and October last year.
He was found guilty of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and criminal damage on May 16.
He pleaded guilty to two assaults of an emergency worker on June 14.
And he also admitted dangerous driving on August 21 and October 12.
Judge Michael Longman jailed him for 28 months.
He recognised Stevens had had no advantages in his life, and had pleaded guilty to the majority of offences.
He disqualified him from driving for three years and two months and ordered him to take an extended driving test.
Alex Daymond, prosecuting, said Stevens was convicted of smashing his partner’s phone and assaulting her by punching her in the face and grabbing her throat, leaving her bruised.
He admitted, in a later incident, being uncooperative with police - stamping on one officer’s foot and throwing water over another.
He also admitted dangerous driving while disqualified on two occasions, one of which involved him having a baby in his car when he had two collisions and caused significant damage and financial loss.
Edward Hetherington, defending, said Stevens had a difficult early life which involved him, aged seven, stealing food to survive from a local Co-op.
The court heard by the age of 16 he had 15 criminal convictions.
Mr Hetherington said his client had been enticed into a lifestyle where others encouraged criminality.
He also said mental health problems had dogged Stevens from an early age.
MYANMAR’S security forces have shot at least 10 people dead amid ongoing protests against the military’s coup.
The deadly crackdown spurned a UN Security Council appeal for Myanmar’s military rulers to stop using lethal force, while an independent UN expert cited growing evidence of crimes against humanity in the country.
The military also lodged a new allegation against the deposed government leader Aung San Suu Kyi, alleging that in 2017-18 she was illegally given 600,000 US dollars (£429,000) and gold bars worth slightly less by a political ally.
She and Myanmar’s president Win
Myint have been detained on less serious allegations. The new accusation appears aimed at discrediting Ms Suu Kyi and perhaps charging her with a serious crime.
Military spokesman Brig Gen Zaw Min Tun said at a news conference in the capital that former Yangon Division chief minister Phyo Min Thein had admitted giving the money and gold to Ms Suu Kyi, but presented no evidence.
Myanmar has been roiled by protests, strikes and other acts of civil disobedience since the coup toppled Ms Suu Kyi’s government on February 1, just as it was to start its second term.
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