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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #45 on: January 09, 2026, 18:50:53 » |
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However, their use of the WEMCA» name throughout, even before it was made public, makes it impossible to know whether December was the public launch of the name or a relaunch!
Thanks, stuving. It wasn't just me, wasting my valuable time trying to work out what happened, then. I'll expand the heading of this topic accordingly.  |
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William Huskisson MP▸ 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.
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stuving
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« Reply #46 on: January 09, 2026, 21:49:12 » |
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The launch of the WEMCA» branding was in December 2024, which I missed. That date agrees with what Wikipedia says. I don't think you need to feel any shame if you missed it completely!
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #47 on: January 10, 2026, 21:35:24 » |
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Trawling back through previous posts here on the Coffee Shop forum (as I am inclined to do  ), I discovered that one of my learned colleagues on the administrator team here (the one of the squirrel variety) originally noticed this transition, back in October 2023: Dan Norris has made it clear that he doesn't like people calling the West of England Combined Authority 'WECA» '. The trouble is that you can't stop people calling things what they want to call them - I'm sure Mr Dyson doesn't like people referring to his hoovers as - well, hoovers, and Google would really prefer you not to google things as that damages their right to the trademark.
Anyway, I can't help but notice that WECA is now referring to itself as the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority. So presumably, instead of not referring to it as WECA, we must not refer to it as WEMCA» ..?
I must apologise that I clearly wasn't paying attention, from the back of the classroom, when Red Squirrel pointed that out. Relevant topics and posts have now been been merged here, in the interests of continuity and ease of future reference. CfN▸ .  |
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William Huskisson MP▸ 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.
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Red Squirrel
Administrator
Hero Member
Posts: 5638
There are some who call me... Tim
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« Reply #48 on: January 11, 2026, 12:53:50 » |
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So the preferred handle is 'West of England MCA', or just 'the MCA'.
Not that this will bother the great majority of people who still don't know or care much what it is or where it is...
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Things take longer to happen than you think they will, and then they happen faster than you thought they could.
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #49 on: January 22, 2026, 13:43:44 » |
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An update, from the BBC» : Could North Somerset finally 'tie the knot' with Weca?
[Image from here is not available to guests]
North Somerset Council is seeking to join Weca with government backing
Will they, won't they? It's been the on-off politics relationship in the West of England that has bubbling along for years.
We are, of course, talking about North Somerset Council potentially joining the West of England Combined Authority - or Weca. They didn't join when Weca was formed, they couldn't join in 2020, but now 2026 looks like the pair could get "engaged". But when might there be wedding bells? And why does this matter? We explain all.
Time for a - complicated - local politics history lesson. Ready?
Weca, led by mayor Helen Godwin, was set up in 2017, involving Bristol, South Gloucestershire and Bath and North East Somerset councils. They, along with North Somerset, used to form one county council - the County of Avon.
That controversial merger was created in 1974, creating a "greater Bristol" by breaking off southern parts of Gloucestershire and northern parts of Somerset. It was dissolved in 1996, creating four unitary authorities, before three of them got back together again to form Weca in 2017, with North Somerset voting against joining.
North Somerset did not join back then, but is now seeking to do so with government backing. The council already works closely with Weca, especially on transport, housing and economic growth.
In 2020, the question was popped. Unfortunately for North Somerset, the answer was no. But why was the 'marriage proposal' rebuffed?
The answer was then-Bristol mayor Marvin Rees, who said he would only support the move if there was a "clear financial offer". Rees vetoed the move and it all fell apart.
That brought a wave of criticism towards the now Labour peer with the leaders of North Somerset, Bath and North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire councils.
Tim Bowles was the West of England mayor at the time and joined in the criticism. "We are bitterly disappointed that residents right across the region are being refused the chance to potentially see hundreds of millions of pounds of additional investment brought to the west of England because the mayor of Bristol is putting party politics before doing the right thing for the region," Bowles and the three councils said. "Despite early agreements among all of the west of England's leaders that it is the right thing to do for the region, we regret that party politics has got in the way."
Rees said: "This was an ongoing internal debate and should have remained so. I support the expansion of Weca to include North Somerset but only when there is a clear financial offer that benefits Bristol and the West of England economy."
North Somerset Council has cited a number of reasons behind its move to join. But the most pressing one is that the government has asked all councils to become part of regional authorities. Council leaders say the move will "create further economic growth, reduce inequality for our residents, access new sources of funding and gain more local control".
And this time - importantly - the move is backed by the other three councils, and the West of England mayor Helen Godwin. She said: "During the election I was clear – with cross-party support across the West – that the door was open for North Somerset to join our regional authority."
At a full council meeting last September, members backed making a formal application to join.
Mike Bell, the Liberal Democrat leader of North Somerset, said he hoped it would "reduce inequality for our residents, access new sources of funding and gain more local control".
It is not yet clear when North Somerset will formally join Weca. It may have to wait until the next mayoral election in 2029.
And the latest step will happen on Tuesday when papers are due to be published - in advance of a Weca meeting at the end of January - about the government offer if North Somerset were to join.
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William Huskisson MP▸ 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.
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JayMac
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« Reply #50 on: January 22, 2026, 19:05:56 » |
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I'm still firmly of the opinion that the head honcho of this organisation should be called the Western Super Mayor. More so now that Woodspring (okay, North Somerset) is set to join the mayoralty.
If and when they do join should there be another name change for the authority? How about naming it after one of the rivers in the area - Avon...
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"Good news for regular users of Euston Station in London! One day they will die. Then they won't have to go to Euston Station ever again." - David Mitchell
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #51 on: January 22, 2026, 19:21:34 » |
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... or, possibly, rename it after some other local North Somerset decrepit pier - Birnbeck, or Archer, just for example.  |
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William Huskisson MP▸ 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.
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Red Squirrel
Administrator
Hero Member
Posts: 5638
There are some who call me... Tim
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« Reply #52 on: January 23, 2026, 10:45:32 » |
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...or everyone could just grow up and call it 'Greater Bristol'! Imagine how much more clout it would have if people outside the area knew where it was. Actually it would help if people INSIDE the area knew where it was!
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Things take longer to happen than you think they will, and then they happen faster than you thought they could.
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johnneyw
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« Reply #53 on: January 23, 2026, 12:22:39 » |
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...or everyone could just grow up and call it 'Greater Bristol'! Imagine how much more clout it would have if people outside the area knew where it was. Actually it would help if people INSIDE the area knew where it was!
Being referred to as a part of "Greater Bristol" might generate some angry letters to the press from some of the citizens of Bath, no matter how accurate the description actually is. |
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grahame
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« Reply #54 on: January 23, 2026, 12:39:18 » |
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Coffee Shop Admin, Chair of Melksham Transport User Group, West Wiltshire Rail User Group Committee and TravelWatch SouthWest Board Member
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Chris from Nailsea
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« Reply #55 on: January 23, 2026, 14:19:53 » |
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How about BABCA - Bristol And Bath Combined Authorities. Ignore the indignant squeals from Weston - they've ignored the rest of us in North Somerset for many years now.  |
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« Last Edit: January 23, 2026, 20:23:55 by Chris from Nailsea »
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William Huskisson MP▸ 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.
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eXPassenger
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« Reply #56 on: January 23, 2026, 17:07:10 » |
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I am sure the good citizens of Wiltshire, such as yourself, would love being part of Greater Bristol. |
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eightonedee
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« Reply #57 on: January 23, 2026, 18:53:15 » |
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I am with Atrebatia, too.
Sorry Bristolians, its capital is properly Silchester, an archaeological site near Mortimer, about 8 miles south-west of Reading. As the University of Reading led its excavation, and Reading Museum hold most of the relics, I think this gives Reading best claim to be its modern capital. Perhaps this might persuade His Majesty to make it a city, too!
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johnneyw
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« Reply #58 on: January 23, 2026, 19:42:55 » |
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How about BABCA - Bristol And Bath Combined Authority. Ignore the indignant squeals from Weston - they've ignored the rest of us in North Somerset for many years now. Or perhaps at least one of our esteemed members may like Bristol, Bath and Weston Super Mayoral Authority. I also thought of "Bristol Unified Metropolitan Mayor Extended Region" but decided, on reflection, that it might not be a good idea. |
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