Bristol Cabinet Member for Transport Quits - And Mayor Takes Over Role Himself

[whole diary]

[Lee]

From Bristol Live:

The Mayor of Bristol is to take over running the city’s transport policy - after the cabinet member in charge of it resigned.

Marvin Rees will take on responsibility for the development of the city’s transport systems and long-term transport planning, following the resignation of Cllr Mhairi Threlfall - which has come before the end of a major consultation into the way Bristol’s transport develops in the years to come.

An official council press release said Cllr Threlfall is stepping down to focus on standing for parliament as the Labour candidate for Filton and Bradley Stoke, where she will be taking on Conservative MP^▸ (Member of Parliament) Jack Lopresti.

The decision leaves a vacancy in the Mayor’s cabinet, and it’s one he has decided to fill himself.

“I’d like to thank Mhairi for her hard work and commitment to tackling some of Bristol’s biggest challenges in transport,” he said.

“Her energy and fresh thinking makes her the kind of person the region and country needs in Westminster.

"She has confidently led the development of the draft Bristol Transport Strategy, which is still out to consultation until the end of this week. The document is critical for setting a clear direction on how we will deliver the world class transport network Bristol needs and deserves and I am grateful to Mhairi for helping us on this path.

“I look forward to taking forward this good work so far and seeing what the public think of some of the approaches set out in the strategy.

“We must now focus on implementing change that will support inclusive economic growth and give real choice when it comes to how we travel.

“I wish Mhairi all the best with her campaign for Filton and Bradley Stoke and once again thank her for significant contribution she has made as Cabinet Member for Transport,” he added.

Setting up a council-run Bristol bus company was one of Mr Rees’ 2016 election pledges, but he has been hampered by Government changes to the law which makes doing that impossible.

Public transport planning is also increasingly part of the West of England ‘metro mayor’ Tim Bowles, who works alongside the Mayor of Bristol as part of the WECA^» (West of England Combined Authority - about) team.

“I have really enjoyed my role and working in a way to make a real difference for Bristol,” said Cllr Threlfall, who was in her post for just 15 months.

“It’s been an incredible opportunity – I have loved so much of it and I look forward to continuing to work with Marvin and the council in a different capacity to fulfil our shared vision for Bristol and the wider region,” she added.

[Bmblbzzz]

Public transport planning is also increasingly part of the West of England ‘metro mayor’ Tim Bowles, who works alongside the Mayor of Bristol as part of the WECA^» (West of England Combined Authority - about) team.

Could mean her resignation doesn't make that much difference, I guess.

[metalrail]

Could mean her resignation doesn't make that much difference, I guess.

Exactly.  If the arena decision is anything to go by (not that i'm proposing a discussion on that topic in any way) he's basically just given himself the power to do whatever he likes now where transport is concerned, and in the process disregarding anything else proposed by anyone else in the council.  We shall await with anticipation what becomes of the Transport Strategy consultation now, if anything

[Red Squirrel]

Excellent news. What transport problems could there possibly be that cannot be solved by someone with a Masters in Political Theory?

[metalrail]

Excellent news. What transport problems could there possibly be that cannot be solved by someone with a Masters in Political Theory?

Says it all really!

[Bmblbzzz]

Could mean her resignation doesn't make that much difference, I guess.

Exactly.  If the arena decision is anything to go by (not that i'm proposing a discussion on that topic in any way) he's basically just given himself the power to do whatever he likes now where transport is concerned, and in the process disregarding anything else proposed by anyone else in the council.  We shall await with anticipation what becomes of the Transport Strategy consultation now, if anything

That's not quite what I meant. I meant that as more transport planning decisions are taken at the regional level, the city, whether in the guise of mayor or specialist, has less influence.

[Red Squirrel]

Could mean her resignation doesn't make that much difference, I guess.

Exactly.  If the arena decision is anything to go by (not that i'm proposing a discussion on that topic in any way) he's basically just given himself the power to do whatever he likes now where transport is concerned, and in the process disregarding anything else proposed by anyone else in the council.  We shall await with anticipation what becomes of the Transport Strategy consultation now, if anything

That's not quite what I meant. I meant that as more transport planning decisions are taken at the regional level, the city, whether in the guise of mayor or specialist, has less influence.

The Bristol Mayor role is probably not long for this world; in many ways it was always anomalous. I can't help thinking there's a good chance we'll end up back where we were in 1974, with Bristol pulling one way and its outer suburbs pulling the other.

[metalrail]

That's not quite what I meant. I meant that as more transport planning decisions are taken at the regional level, the city, whether in the guise of mayor or specialist, has less influence

This is where my confusion lies...

I know this is probably opening a huge can of worms, but I thought the whole idea of the devolved transport decision making and funding for it was the driving factor behind us finally being able to get Metrowest underway, with the four tracking being the first stage.  That's how it was sold to us at the time...

We did already have the Bristol mayor by the time that decision was made, but not the Western 'Super' mayor who we now have in the form of Tim Bowles

Obviously a lot of things have been deferred since that original announcement was made, the Portishead re-opening in particular which has been confirmed then revoked umpteen times...  but it's pretty difficult trying to get your head around who's calling the shots on what any more - tho maybe that's the whole idea!   

Can anyone please enlighten me?!

[Red Squirrel]

I suppose it all depends on what you mean by 'calling', and what you mean by 'shots'...

Back in the eighties, there was a derelict building on the corner of Cheltenham Road and Ashley Road - some may remember it as the Full Marks Bookshop. Avon County Council, the highways authority, wanted to demolish it in order to widen the junction, whilst Bristol, the planning authority, saw it as a local landmark and refused permission. The stalemate lasted until Avon was abolished, by which time the building was in such an advanced state of dereliction that the only option was to demolish it. The story doesn't end there though as Bristol, to prove the point, rebuilt it using what they could of the old building. Here's what it looks like today: https://goo.gl/maps/2v3GxGFTeiK2

Then there was the old chestnut of autumn leaves... after the first frost, when the leaves fell, Avon and Bristol would happily sit on their hands in a game of brinkmanship: dry leaves were litter, and therefore Bristol's job to clear up; wet ones were a safety hazard and fell in Avon's remit. Bristol would pray for rain, while Avon hoped for a stiff breeze...

I would like to think we may have moved beyond this level of pettiness, but I doubt it!

[metalrail]

I suppose it all depends on what you mean by 'calling', and what you mean by 'shots'...

Back in the eighties, there was a derelict building on the corner of Cheltenham Road and Ashley Road - some may remember it as the Full Marks Bookshop. Avon County Council, the highways authority, wanted to demolish it in order to widen the junction, whilst Bristol, the planning authority, saw it as a local landmark and refused permission. The stalemate lasted until Avon was abolished, by which time the building was in such an advanced state of dereliction that the only option was to demolish it. The story doesn't end there though as Bristol, to prove the point, rebuilt it using what they could of the old building. Here's what it looks like today: https://goo.gl/maps/2v3GxGFTeiK2

Then there was the old chestnut of autumn leaves... after the first frost, when the leaves fell, Avon and Bristol would happily sit on their hands in a game of brinkmanship: dry leaves were litter, and therefore Bristol's job to clear up; wet ones were a safety hazard and fell in Avon's remit. Bristol would pray for rain, while Avon hoped for a stiff breeze...

I would like to think we may have moved beyond this level of pettiness, but I doubt it!

Yep that's the kind of bureaucracy I meant by calling the shots, as in things constantly appearing to change on who is responsible for making which decisions, and then just as importantly who has the power / finance to carry them out

I thought once the Western Powerhouse - or whatever it was referred to at the time - came into being, it meant decisions on how money was spent on local transport would be decided locally, and that was effectively the green light to get Metrowest up and running.  I remember all the headlines when it was announced - Four Tracks, Portishead re-opening, more frequent services, stations reopening....

Obviously there's the Network Rail GRIP^▸ (Guide to Railway Investment Projects) process to go thru too, but again all of Metrowest phase 1 appeared to be included in that

And yet now the Portishead phase of it keeps getting revoked due to disagreements on the financing for it...  whether it be by central govt, Bristol City Council, the West of England Partnership, The Tufty Club or whichever other organisation it is that throws their hat in the ring

Would be nice to know once and for all who - today at least - has the decision making power to rubber stamp the next phase of local transport rail issues for the Greater Bristol area, including who finances them and ensures they're not forgotten in the GRIP process

I know i'm probably asking the impossible, as i'm sure plenty of us on here have become more and more frustrated by things promised not being delivered, usually because one department / organisation blames another etc

[johnneyw]

Metalrail states very much now I think about the whole pantomime. While I'm too old to be surprised, I'm certainly not too old not to care or not to be frustrated by the constant buck passing.

[Red Squirrel]

The Tufty Club...

Steady on!

[TonyK]

Back in the eighties, there was a derelict building on the corner of Cheltenham Road and Ashley Road - some may remember it as the Full Marks Bookshop.

My brother in law was the fairly newly qualified solicitor working for Avon who lost the case to get the squatters out of that building. It put him off working for a council, especially as most of his battles were against Bristol City Council, and he did alright for himself in private practice. There was a banner outside that building - a former motor repair shop, IIRC^▸ (if I recall/remember/read correctly), saying "Why has this building been empty for seven years?" Driving my kids to school one morning (eldest is 38 now) and inching forward in the traffic, I suggested adding a banner saying "Why has this banner been here for seven years?" Such was the glacial pace of change in those days.

The legacy of Avon's 22 year existence remains. Whenever Bristol suggests an idea like an Independent Transport Authority, South Glos and north somerset parish council cry "Remember Avon!" and vote it down. Which is stupid. More jobs exist in Bristol. The difference between Bristol and South Gloucestershire is the colour of the bins. Travel across the four authorities did, in my opinion, improve after bus deregulation, but that may just have been because of the extra people needing transport.

The saga of Portishead railway, which is incredibly urgent yet is beginning to rival that London soap where they all shout at each other in length, having gone on since it closed. The case is overwhelming, but drags on interminably. To my mind, the case for stations at Ashton Gate and Ashley Down has been made again and again, also Saltford, but less so for the Henbury loop. Not only that, but light rail from Yate, Chipping Sodbury, Mangotsfield. Thornbury, Brislington, Whitchurch, Stockwood - all could take the strain off the roads.

But no. We have a Western Super Mayor (© bignosemac) who seems more interested in building roads under the thin veneer of MetroBust, and a Bristol Mayor who seems to be burnishing his credentials as a potential runner of the country by showing that he is capable of ruining a city. I like Mhairi Threlfall, not just because she is much better looking than George Ferguson or Marvellous Marvin, but because she did actually do the job of a councillor.

That said, I don't think her departure will make much difference. Local politicians can't really do much about local transport unless they have an ITA^▸ (Integrated Transport Authority). They can spend money, build bus lanes, do MetroBust, but come the day they are at the mercy of bus companies like Wessex who went bust and First who can't recruit drivers.

My solution? A national local transport body to build railways, light railways, tram-train systems to connect the dormitories with the employment centres, and ITAs around them to fill in the gaps.

Filton's four tracking may have been supported by the local councils, but make no mistake. They had no say in it. The plan and the money came from above. That is where the planning needs to be done.

The Tufty Club...

Steady on!

I knew I had seen you before when we met up for a brew or two! It was at Tingha and Tucka's tree house, over the wibbly wobbly way!

[Bmblbzzz]

Here's what it looks like today: https://goo.gl/maps/2v3GxGFTeiK2

Looking in the opposite direction, I recommend the Elemental Bakery (on the right) and Cafe Kino, but the Arts House cafe has dreadful, lackadaisical service. And (trying to be tangentially relevant to transport) I've never known there not being at least a couple of cars jump the lights at the end of Ashley Rd.

[TonyK]

And (trying to be tangentially relevant to transport) I've never known there not being at least a couple of cars jump the lights at the end of Ashley Rd.

In my defence, Constable, it wasn't intentional, just going with the flow. And Bath Buildings is blocked off these days, my fave rat run when I was a working man.