OUT AND ABOUT IN BRISLINGTON WEST

ENTIRE BRISLINGTON COMMUNITY CUT OFF:

Dozens of supported bus services, many of which offered a lifeline to our communities, ceased operating this weekend. Locally, this included the 96, operated by aBus and the 513/514, operated by stagecoach. Unfortunately, our Bristol budget amendment to keep some supported bus services running was voted down by Labour and Green Party councillors. However, we were somewhat placated by the announcement of Demand Responsive Transport (DRT), which would provide a partial replacement for some of these lost bus routes.

Unfortunately, we have just discovered that the Hungerford Road area of Brislington West was left off the list of DRT locations sent to the Traffic Commissioner for approval. When we contacted the Labour-run West of England Combined Authority (WECA) about this, we were told this was an oversight and that the Hungerford Estate was on a ‘snagging list’ and would be added to the DRT zone at a later date. We were also told that in the meantime residents on the Hungerford Estate would need to walk to Bath Road to catch services there. We find it absolutely disgraceful that an entire community, with many elderly residents who depend on the buses and are unable to walk to Bath Road, has been completely disregarded in this manner. We have demanded that the Hungerford Estate is added to the DRT service area as soon as possible.

Local residents may recall that the public meeting we had organised at Hungerford Community Centre was cancelled at the last minute by WECA. At the time we were told it was because the meeting was too political! It’s pretty obvious the real reason they cancelled the meeting is because they didn’t want to be confronted by dozens of angry residents with no bus service.

DRT LAUNCHED THIS WEEK:

The new, on-demand WESTlink bus service is now available. If you are lucky enough to live in the DRT service area, you may find the following information useful:

WESTlink minibuses will be in operation across three different zones in the West of England: north, south and the Future Transport Zone. They’ll operate Monday to Saturday, from 7am to 7pm (except public holidays).

They operate without a fixed timetable or route. Instead, you’ll be able to book ‘on demand’ or the day before you want to travel through the free app, by phone, or at https://westlink.app.ridewithvia.com. Smart technology will match your journey with other customers. You’ll be notified of the pick-up and drop off locations by app, text or by the call centre depending on how you booked. Pick-up and drop off locations will usually be an existing bus stop.

The single fare for any journey within a zone will be £2 for adults and £1 for children. All concessionary and older person’s bus passes will be accepted. You can choose to pay by card via the app or call centre, or pay the driver with cash (exact money please, no change will be given).

The free booking app is now available. Find it in your usual app store by searching for ‘WESTlink’. Once you’ve downloaded it, you’ll need to create an account. Then just follow the instructions to either book to travel on-demand or pre-book.

You can book by phone if you prefer; call 0117 457 8561. This number will be available from today and calls charged at local rates. You’ll speak to an operator who will ask you your name and address, where you’d like to travel and what time you need to be there. You’ll then get a confirmation phone call advising you what time you need to be at your chosen stop.

GET YOUR BIDS IN!

It’s that time of year again. We would like to invite local residents, either as individuals or as part of a community group, to submit applications to fund local infrastructure projects using the Community Infrastructure Levy fund (CIL), which is money paid by developers to the council to offset the environmental impact of their developments. You will find an updated webpage with all the information you need to engage in the 2023 CIL process here: https://www.bristol.gov.uk/people-communities/funding-local-projects

Main points:

Local groups and organisations should be putting forward their ideas for potential projects from 3rd April - 18th May 2023.

Everyone needs to write them up on the Stage 1 Outline Proposal Form, which is available on the webpage above.

Everyone needs to send it to us, as your local councillors, AND to the Area Committee inboxes. We are Area Committee 5.

Greater Brislington Together (GBT) will be holding a public meeting once all the bids are in, so that residents can select their local priorities. We’ll let you know the date of this meeting as soon as we have it.

The council is holding a series of community information sessions to inform people who are considering putting in outline proposals about the CIL and S106 funds, what they are, how to put a good proposal together, etc. Three public information sessions will be held online at the following dates and times:

Tuesday 18 April: 10 – 11am

Thursday 20 April: 1 – 2pm

Thursday 20 April: 7 - 8pm https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/area-committee-public-information-sessions-tickets-602564325117

TOTTERDOWN CRANE REMOVED:

We were delighted to see one of the cranes at the Boatyard development by Totterdown Bridge taken down over the weekend. We have been asking Clarion Housing Group when they intended to remove the crane since last September so we are pleased it has finally happened. The cranes are no longer needed as the structure is largely complete, so their removal is long overdue. Hopefully, we can now get the footpath, cycle path and bus lane reinstated as soon as possible.

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

07584 370429

& Andrew Varney, Liberal Democrat Councillor (Brislington West) Email: cllr. andrew.varney@bristol.gov.uk Mobile: 07584 183381