Bristol "Envious" Of Cardiff

[whole diary]

[Lee]

The man with the job of attracting tourists to Cardiff says people in Bristol are "envious" of the Welsh city (link below.)
http://thisisbristol.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=145365&command=displayContent&sourceNode=145191&contentPK=20235895&folderPk=83726&pNodeId=144922

Richard Thomas, 36, the marketing and communications director of the Exeter-based South West of England Regional Development Agency, is moving to run agency Cardiff & Co.

In an interview with Welsh newspaper the Western Mail, he said that although Bristol was bigger, Cardiff had better infrastructure.

Mr Thomas said:

"Bristol is a bigger city than Cardiff, but I can tell you there is a lot of envy there when they look at the infrastructure that Cardiff has.

"The fact that Cardiff has beautiful scenery and countryside on its doorstep is also a tremendous asset."

But he said road and rail links into the Welsh city were something that needed improving - a position faced by most rival cities in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom).

And Bristol International Airport offers a greater number of flights and destinations than Cardiff, including a direct service to New York.

A spokesman for SWERDA said:

"While Cardiff has its strengths, so does Bristol as the engine room of the South West economy.

"Bristol has a huge range of private sector employment and amongst other things, is the home of the UK aerospace industry. Numerous blue chip companies are located here."

[John R]

Gosh! You could stir up a debate here. "Beautiful scenery? We've got Avonmouth...." and so on. Having been brought up in Cardiff and now living and working in the Bristol area both cities have their pros and cons, even for transport. Though clearly the South Wales area is developing its transport infrastrucutre much more rapidly than the Bristol area, thanks to a more enlightened policy by the WAG^» (Welsh Assembly Government - about).

[Lee]

On the other hand, Bristol has been named as one of Europe's best places to invest in (link below.)
http://thisisbristol.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=145365&command=displayContent&sourceNode=145191&contentPK=20248044&folderPk=83726&pNodeId=144922

A survey by Foreign Direct Investment magazine cited it as the second best city behind London.

Researchers judged European cities against 75 indicators, ranging from economic potential, business friendliness and quality of life to infrastructure and human resources.

They assessed their attractiveness for investment and potential economic development.

Bristol was ranked second overall out of the top 10 large European cities, ahead of Paris and Rome.

[Lee]

Jan Ormondroyd has taken over as Bristol City Council's new ^180,000-a-year chief executive (link below.)
http://thisisbristol.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=145365&command=displayContent&sourceNode=145191&contentPK=20258394&folderPk=83726&pNodeId=144928

In an email to councillors and other new colleagues, the former deputy chief executive at Hull City Council said: "I look forward to working with you to deliver a council that will be seen as the best in the business."

Mrs Ormondroyd, 53, who took over this week from Nick Gurney, said:

"It feels that Bristol is at a turning point.

"We have challenges ahead to put Bristol on both the national and regional map and to let others see what we can genuinely achieve.

"But equally importantly we have to deliver improved outcomes for the people of Bristol, through vastly improved partnership working with other key organisations throughout the city as well as local communities themselves."

[Lee]

Chief officers will have to re-apply for jobs in the biggest shake-up of senior Bristol City Council posts in years (link below.)
http://thisisbristol.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=144913&command=displayContent&sourceNode=231190&home=yes&more_nodeId1=144922&contentPK=20468530

New chief executive Jan Ormondroyd is determined to ensure only the best operators continue to head up departments.

She wants the city council - which employs 16,700 staff - to raise its game, improve services and give better value for money.

[Lee]

Around ^10 million would be immediately sucked out of the Bristol economy if hit drama Casualty was relocated to Wales, a leading industry figure has claimed (links below.)
http://thisisbristol.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=144913&command=displayContent&sourceNode=231190&home=yes&more_nodeId1=144922&contentPK=20508964

http://thisisbristol.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=144913&command=displayContent&sourceNode=231190&home=yes&more_nodeId1=144922&contentPK=20507772

The long-running hospital drama's future in the city has been thrown in to doubt after rumours that a national shake-up of the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) would see production go to Cardiff.

Now MPs^▸ (Member of Parliament) have been called on to put political pressure on the corporation to keep the popular series in Bristol, where it has been filmed for 21 years.

South West Screen keeps a returns sheet to track how much film and TV companies spend locally.

The estimated ^10m lost would be money spent directly in Bristol by the production company each year, including hiring local filming crews and location fees for scenes filmed away from the programme's St Philip's set.

The ^10m would be the initial loss, the organisation predicts, with more cash lost from the city through indirect benefits the show generates.

BBC officials have refused to rule out a move and are already planning to cut more than 100 jobs its Whiteladies Road centre in the documentaries and features department and Natural History Unit as part of the overhaul.

Stephen Williams, Lib Dem MP for Bristol West, said:

"I have been a Casualty fan since the very first series and have always enjoyed seeing different parts of Bristol feature in the show.

"It would be dreadful if it moved out to Wales or anywhere else.

"The series is important for nurturing Bristol talent, both in acting and in television production, and is also important for the local economy. The show does go to some great lengths to use Bristol and South West accents and it is important the BBC reflects regional diversity. I will be seeking a meeting with the BBC about not just the future of Casualty but also the future of the BBC's departments at Whiteladies Road."