Filton MP Jack Lopresti Bus firm improving connections across north Bristol

Last month I met with Rachel, Martin, Karen and Joe from Stagecoach at their depot on Gypsy Patch Lane who were very enthusiastic about the prospects for their Bristol operations. The depot is scheduled for a full refurbishment starting early this year.

They also told me how they are integrating newly-arrived refugees from Afghanistan and Ukraine into their workforce, as well as working with local colleges and universities to promote driver apprenticeships.

The Stagecoach team also told me of their ambition to create greater connectivity for the North Bristol fringe which I am very much support. I look forward to working with them and local authorities to build a firmer strategy to provide long-term funding for our bus services.

Recently I again visited the Brabazon development and met with Colin, Seb and Andrew at YTL to show my support for the building of this new community in our area which will now provide 3,000 more homes than originally anticipated.

I am particularly interested and supportive of the levelling up bid, which I have supported and raised in Parliament for the First World War era hangar, which will be converted into a community centre for the area and I will be enquiring into the progress of this funding. In addition, I visited the hangars which will become the new Brabazon Arena and which will have a capacity for around 17,000 people.

We also discussed the planned Brabazon station and was pleased to hear that constructive conversations have been taking place between the West of England Combined Authority, Network Rail and YTL which could see the project being completed in Autumn of 2025. YTL have the ambition to produce a railway station which could deliver a service of four trains an hour with a connection to Bristol Parkway and simultaneously provide connectivity for industry in the area.

I fully agree with our new Prime Minister that the Government must be judged on its ability to deliver its objectives and I will seek to help the government achieve this in the year ahead, alongside supporting improvements to local policing, transport connectivity and investing in education. As always, should you need my help with anything, my office is open from Monday to Friday between 9am and 6pm. Please telephone me on 01454 617783 or email me at: jack.lopresti. mp@parliament.uk if I can be of assistance or to book a surgery appointment.