southbristolvoice
November 2018 November 2018
southbristolvoice
No. 42
www.southbristolvoice.co.uk
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We Sell and Let Property Like Yours
The best news in South Bristol by quite a long way
FREE EVERY MONTH in Totterdown, Knowle and Windmill Hill NOT one but two of Bristol’s mayors declared their determination to get on top of Bristol’s creaking, log-jammed public transport system as bus passengers complained that the service was at breaking point. Readers told the Voice and the rest of the city’s media that buses were not turning up, were full, or arrived far too late bunched up in twos and threes. Most South Bristol routes were affected – passengers complained of waiting an hour for a 1, 50 minutes for a 90, as well as no-shows for the 2, the 2A and 376, among others. “Why does the 90 keep not turning up?” asked one despairing traveller. “Waited over an hour for a 1 … meant to be every 10 minutes”, said another. Parents complained that their children were left at bus stops, while some commuters decided to walk, cycle or drive to work. The problems reached a peak in early October, when the arrival of the student population – apparently much larger than expected – helped overwhelm the city’s buses – the vast majority of which are run by First Bus. City mayor Marvin Rees promised that he was on the brink of announcing a deal with First that would “bring a huge change to bus services in Bristol”. Mr Rees said he wants to double the number of bus journeys, and see more public
MAYORS VOW TO ACT ON BUS CRISIS But how quickly can anything be done? Flat fares, more buses and a new ‘bus strategy’ – but no dates for when any of it will happen and private money ploughed into the bus network. He wants a single flat fare for all bus journeys within Bristol, better enforcement of bus lanes and more priority bus routes. But in Bristol’s tightly-packed road network this is a tall order, and can’t be achieved quickly. Meanwhile metro mayor Tim Bowles who, as head of the West of England combined authority (Weca), has responsibility for regional transport, said he was in urgent talks with First Bus about the recent disruption. “I will press First to address
these challenges as quickly as possible,” said Mr Bowles. “The recent level of disruption is unacceptable and I will raise my concerns directly with First.” Mr Bowles’ concerns are thought to centre on First’s failure to recruit enough drivers. He is expected to ask James Freeman, managing director of First Bus in Bristol, why the firm could not predict the need for drivers and recruit accordingly, instead of being forced to draft them in from as far afield as Cornwall. The crisis for Bristol’s buses has a number of causes – too few drivers, traffic jams due to factors such as the year-long delay in roadworks at Temple Circus, and the temporary closure of Parkway station. Wessex Bus also stopped its services in Bristol in August, leaving First to pick up its routes. Mr Freeman told BBC Points Continued on page 3
INSIDE • BROADWALK CENTRE: PUBLIC HAVE A SAY 4-5 • TOTTERDOWN HORROR AT TOWER ‘CARBUNCLE’ 6 • WHEN CARY GRANT WAS UPSTAGED IN S. BRISTOL 7 • WHERE TO SEE THE FIREWORKS • NATURE: WHY WE SHOULD WELCOME SPIDERS
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• HISTORY: THE WWI BROTHERS WHO WOULDN’T KILL 29-32 • SOCIAL CARE IS IN CRISIS, SAYS MP 38 • Letters 16-17 Planning 33
FREE First fitness class – page 4 First vet consultation – page 19
Get your home sold with Ocean… Call or pop into your local office to book a free valuation oceanhome.co.uk Got a story or any other inquiry? Call Paul on 07811 766072 or email paul@southbristolvoice.co.uk
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