Local election news

The Bristol Liberal Democrats have launched their 2021 local election manifesto. It focuses on sustainability, better services and better governance for Bristol. We have an ambitious but achievable plan for Bristol, and a vote for us is a vote for open and effective governance, something that is sorely lacking from the current administration.

Here are our key priorities:

BUILD MORE HIGH QUALITY SUSTAINABLE HOMES

The Bristol Lib Dems will make building high quality sustainable homes at the forefront of our administration. When we ran the Council from 2009-2012, our worst year of house building resulted in more homes than either of the Mayors’ best years.

We will aim to build balanced communities, with social homes, houses for rent and for private sale, while pushing for the highest standards.

FRANCHISE THE BUS SERVICE

The Bristol Lib Dems will work with Stephen Williams as regional Mayor to ‘franchise’ the buses, which takes control from the bus companies and gives it to local people to set routes, times & costs. 12 This would result in better routes and cheaper fares, encouraging people from their cars, rather than forcing them out.

END THE SEND CRISIS IN OUR SCHOOLS

A Liberal Democrat council will ensure that the current Special Educational Needs & Disabilities (SEND) crisis is ended, and make sure that all SEND children have an Education, Heath & Care Plan in place before the 20 week deadline that the current administration has failed on.

We will protect SEND children and their families from further pain.

ENCOURAGE BETTER BUSINESS

Our high streets and businesses have been hit hard by the pandemic, and they need our help to recover. The Bristol Lib Dems will back the campaign to scrap business rates and will set up small business zones for startups and social enterprises. We will work with businesses to reduce packaging and help them tackle climate change.

CLEAN OUR AIR

The Bristol Lib Dems will invest in active travel routes and public transport to encourage people out of their cars, whilst also adjusting the Clean Air Zone to make sure it works for local residents, and doesn't have an adverse impact on poorer households. We will also plant 10 million trees over the next 20 years to improve air quality and tackle the climate and ecological emergency in Bristol.

SCRAP THE BRISTOL MAYOR

The Bristol Lib Dems will continue campaigning to scrap the role of directly elected Bristol Mayor, which has become unaccountable and undemocratic. We want to put power back into local communities and empower local democracy. We want to open up the council to make it less secretive and more accountable to you. You can read the full Bristol Liberal Democrat manifesto here:

https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/ ldbristolwest/pages/2768/attachments/original/1618527260/2021-04-10-COBLD-Manifesto-V02.pdf?1618527260

We believe in keeping residents up to date on important local issues and publish a quarterly newsletters, ‘Focus on Brislington West’. We also have a digital version and if you would like to receive it, please register using this link: http://www.bristollibdems.org/ efocus.

By Jos Clark, Liberal Democrat Councillor (Brislington West) Email: cllr.jos.clark@ bristol.gov.uk Mobile: 07584 370429

& Andrew Varney, Liberal Democrat Councillor Candidate (Brislington West) Email: andyvarney@hotmail.com Mobile: 07544 667968