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Author Topic: Tim Bowles, West of England Mayor  (Read 14741 times)
simonw
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« on: May 06, 2017, 17:33:47 »

Well the show is over, and does anyone have an idea what Tim Bowles stood for regarding transport policy.

All I can find is mention of Stockwood Lane drainage, and Motorway Junction 18a to produce another gridlock point on the ring road.

No mention of MetroWest, Metro Bus, simple single ticket system, park&ride sites etc.
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John R
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« Reply #1 on: May 06, 2017, 17:44:40 »

Why would it produce another gridlock point. Surely it would redistribute traffic away from Jn 19 and the top of the M32, which has to be a good thing?
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grahame
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« Reply #2 on: May 06, 2017, 17:47:10 »

Well the show is over, and does anyone have an idea what Tim Bowles stood for regarding transport policy.

All I can find is mention of Stockwood Lane drainage, and Motorway Junction 18a to produce another gridlock point on the ring road.

No mention of MetroWest, Metro Bus, simple single ticket system, park&ride sites etc.

On homes and transport challenge - http://www.timbowles.org.uk/campaigns/homes-and-transport-challenge

Quote
Our community is a great place to live, and the economy is one of the most successful anywhere in the country. But that means there is huge demand for homes, putting green fields at risk. As our area has grown, infrastructure particularly transport simply hasn’t kept pace.
The last Labour Government and Labour and Liberal Democrat Councillors failed to meet the challenge. Instead they tinkered with small schemes that have frustrated motorists but done nothing to tackle the problem.
Worse, often Councils have bickered with one another, failing to deliver the transport schemes enjoyed in other parts of the country.
Progress has been made in recent years.
Now is our chance to get an even better deal for our area.

On12th April in his news, he wrote:

Quote
Tim Bowles, the Conservative candidate for West of England Mayor, met councillors in Bishopsworth to discuss measures to improve the road network and ease traffic congestion in Bristol.

Tim met Richard Eddy and Kevin Quartley, the Conservative city councillors in Bishopsworth, next to the new South Bristol Link Road.

The three-mile road, which opened in January, connects the A370 Long Ashton bypass to Hengrove Way.

The route will help motorists get around the south of the city and travel to and from Bristol Airport, while easing congestion in areas like Bedminster, Hartcliffe, Bishopsworth, Inns Court and Ashton.

While the road has so far proved a huge success for commuters and local residents, Conservatives are pressing for various issues to be put right.

These include improvements to the sequencing of traffic lights at key junctions and roundabouts and making signage and road markings more clear.

Tim said: “Improving the road network in Bristol and the rest of the West of England is one of my top priorities.

“Congestion is an all too familiar problem for motorists across Bristol and I’m keen to look at a range of schemes, large and small, to make journeys safer, faster and more reliable for everyone.

“The South Bristol Link Road is an example of a project that makes a huge difference for residents, commuters and businesses, delivered thanks to joined-up thinking and government support.

“Better infrastructure gets business and the economy moving and creates better jobs with better pay.

“I have discussed some of the issues local people face with Transport Secretary Chris Grayling and if elected I will continue to work with local MPs (Member of Parliament), councils, the government and other stakeholders to ensure the improvements we need are delivered.”

Cllr Eddy said: “It was good to meet Tim and discuss measures to improve our roads and ease congestion in Bristol.

“Tim is the candidate best placed to talk to the government of today and press for solutions to the challenges we face in transport and other issues.”

His priorities appear to be road rather than rail based, and there's no mention that I can see in the above of buses either - so even if he does have a policy on them, they're not coming across as being in any way a priority of his; his initial statement (the top one above) is a masterful set of grand words that don't seem to say much.
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TaplowGreen
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« Reply #3 on: May 06, 2017, 17:56:48 »

What is the point of yet another tier of Local Government with a fancy name? The % turnout tells you how many people care about it!
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grahame
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« Reply #4 on: May 06, 2017, 18:04:34 »

I may have been a little unfair.   From "About Tim Bowles"

Quote
Our community is a great place to live with a growing economy and new jobs. But success brings demand for more housing - and transport infrastructure is just not keeping up. Local people want to see further improvements to transport and they want it easier for people to get on the housing ladder.

If elected, I will adopt a better approach to development – so the right homes are built in the right places, protecting our green spaces and prioritising urban regeneration. I’m also determined to make transport a priority like a new station at Henbury and Horfield, speeding up the Portway Park and Ride station, and increased services from Sea Mills and Shirehampton stations.
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ellendune
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« Reply #5 on: May 06, 2017, 18:57:32 »

What is the point of yet another tier of Local Government with a fancy name? The % turnout tells you how many people care about it!

Yes but how many people know anything about it?

People voted at the London Mayoral elections in large numbers.  When the Welsh Assembly was first proposed the referendum was only just in favour. Subsequent referenda to increase its powers have been much more decisive.

It is the job of the first Mayor to make it relevant to people then we shall see. 
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simonw
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« Reply #6 on: May 06, 2017, 21:45:26 »

Please don't take this the wrong way, but the addition of North Somerset would not of changed the result, just the responsibility of the winner.

The decision of North Somerset not to join the West of England Mayor area was surprising, meaning whenever they have an identified transport need they have to convince West Of England Mayor and central government. A much bigger ask. Further surprising was that the areas of responsibility Transport, Housing and Business development are areas best handled together.
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grahame
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« Reply #7 on: May 06, 2017, 22:13:06 »

No, it wouldn't have changed the result at all - and nor did I suggest that it would have done so.  But the inclusion of the innately conservative, and safely Conservative, North Somerset Council would have made the new Conservative West of England Mayor's position all the more powerful in deciding issues such as transport, housing and business development.

But the mayor's extra power would have been at the expense of a reduction of some powers at North Somerset Council would it not?
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #8 on: May 06, 2017, 22:27:28 »


 Grin
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William Huskisson MP (Member of Parliament) was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830.  Many more have died in the same way since then.  Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.

"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner."  Discuss.
Noggin
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« Reply #9 on: May 06, 2017, 23:02:37 »

Giving him the benefit of the doubt, the new Mayor was appealing to the South Gloucs/BANES/north Bristol Conservative voters, which means roads, economy and planning, and to be fair, those are measures that he can probably deliver on relatively quickly. He came across pretty well on Radio 4 the morning after the election, seems like a reasonable guy.

He'd be a fool to make promises on rail, as quite frankly nothing of substance is going to happen until Filton Bank and resignalling are complete, apart from some shiny green turbos on the Severn Beach and a smartcard trial. Equally it's probably very wise to leave the civil servants to sort out MetroBus until there are actually some buses running.

But if he can use the next couple of years to secure a solid package of rail investment - MetroWest, redevelopment of Temple Meads, station reopenings, Henbury, commitment to electrification, it could all come together quite nicely.   

 

   
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Western Pathfinder
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« Reply #10 on: May 06, 2017, 23:08:36 »

Good to see old FU again Smiley
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simonw
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« Reply #11 on: May 07, 2017, 00:13:11 »

Very fare point about MetroWest/Bus developments still pending on Network Rail and civil servants, but I had hoped for a clear commitment to an Oyster (Smartcard system used by passengers on Transport for London services) style card for the West of England
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JayMac
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« Reply #12 on: May 07, 2017, 00:15:26 »


 Grin

Oooh. When was embedding video switched on on this forum?
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #13 on: May 07, 2017, 00:26:38 »

Ages ago.  Do try to keep up at the back, there!  Wink Cheesy Grin

CfN.  Smiley
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William Huskisson MP (Member of Parliament) was the first person to be killed by a train while crossing the tracks, in 1830.  Many more have died in the same way since then.  Don't take a chance: stop, look, listen.

"Level crossings are safe, unless they are used in an unsafe manner."  Discuss.
Bmblbzzz
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« Reply #14 on: May 07, 2017, 15:31:19 »

What is the point of yet another tier of Local Government with a fancy name? The % turnout tells you how many people care about it!

Yes but how many people know anything about it?

People voted at the London Mayoral elections in large numbers.  When the Welsh Assembly was first proposed the referendum was only just in favour. Subsequent referenda to increase its powers have been much more decisive.

It is the job of the first Mayor to make it relevant to people then we shall see. 
Turnout for the London mayoral election 2016 was 45% compared to 30% here. However, not only does the London mayor have an established position, he has more powers than the various "metro mayors" of the several "combined authorities" elected a few days ago. We'll see in four years, but my guess is the turnout for the next metro-election won't be that much higher than this time.
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