Here is a report on the meeting held at the Southville Centre , Bristol , last night :
We started off with a very informative presentation from Chris of Sustrans , detailing their plans for the Bristol area. A large section of this dealt with Home Zones (link below.)
http://www.brake.org.uk/index.php?p=472Chris also put forward a powerful argument that investment in alternatives to road construction can be far more cost - effective than building new roads.
On heavy rail , the argument I put forward was basically as follows :
1) That everyone should support the new 40 min frequency service on the Severn Beach Line , so that it can be held up as a success story for others to follow.
2) That I believed that Yate - Weston - super - Mare capacity enhancement plus the upgrading of the Henbury & Portishead lines to passenger status were essential medium to long term targets , in order to help acheive the step - change in heavy rail passenger service frequencies that we want to see , and to accomodate projected freight growth.
3) That the Greater Western Franchise should not have responsibility for local Bristol rail services , and instead these should be specified , part - funded and indeed run by a new Passenger Transport Authority.
I also briefed the meeting on Gateway To The Future (link below.)
http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=357.msg1034#msg1034Terry Miller Of
FOSBR▸ put forward some excellent points regarding cycles on trains , and the inadequacies of First Great Western's operations in the Greater Bristol Area. Pip Sheard (of the Alliance) outlined her group's wish to see Bristol Temple Meads re - signalled.
An interesting point raised by one of those present was the withdrawal of the direct Bristol - Oxford service a few years back , an
SRA» decision that adversely affected passengers across an area far wider than Greater Bristol.
All in all , I thought that it was a very worthwhile meeting.
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