OUT AND ABOUT IN BRISLINGTON WEST WITH JOS AND ANDREW

WESTLINK PUBLIC MEETING:

We have organised a public meeting regarding the new WESTlink bus service coming to Brislington from the beginning of April. Unfortunately, our recent budget amendment to save some of our local bus services was not supported by Labour or Green councillors. We have invited the WECA officer leading on the new WESTlink service to explain to local residents how it will work and to answer your questions. If you can’t make the meeting, but have a question, please contact us and we will ask on your behalf. Meeting details: Thursday 30 March at 7pm at Hungerford Community Centre. Hope to see you there. More details here: https://m.facebook.com/ events/726857512568249

WESTlink is a Demand Responsive Transport system. In short, many parts of the region will be divided into zones in which a fleet of minibuses will provide a flexible bus service. Passengers will be able to use an ‘Uber-style’ app and book journeys up to 24 hours in advance, or on demand. The minibuses will mostly pick up and drop off at current bus stops but will not follow set routes, rather the routes will be determined by where and when passengers are boarding and alighting. Bookings can also be made by phone for those who don’t have the app, and disabled passengers can be collected from their homes. Minibuses will be able to travel between different zones but they won’t be able to travel outside the zones. Bristol City Centre, for example is outside the zone so passengers would need to use regular buses.

FIRST BUS TIMETABLE CHANGES:

Bus operator First West of England has announced an increase in the number of buses operating in the region from Sunday 2nd April following the temporary suspension of some journeys in November due to driver shortages. The package includes additional buses into Bristol City Centre from Whitchurch and Keynsham. Forthcoming timetables are currently available on the timetable page. Print-at-home PDF timetables and route maps for each service will be made available soon: https://www.firstbus. co.uk/bristol-bath-and-west/plan-journey/ timetables?date=2023-04-02

Services 1, 2 & 2a Cribbs Causeway – Bristol City Centre – Broomhill/Stockwood – journeys reinstated and revised timetables across the routes to improve punctuality. At Cribbs Causeway Bus Station, Services 1 and 2 will now use bus stop H, to provide a common bus stop for buses running via Henbury.

Service 39/X39 Bristol – Bath – revised timetable. The frequency of this service will be increased, with buses on Monday-Friday running every 15 minutes all through the daytime, and with more buses at weekends too. Combined with Service 349 and new Service 522, there will be up to eight buses an hour between Hicks Gate, Brislington and Bristol City Centre.

COMMUNITY LITTER PICK:

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our community litter pick last Saturday. We managed to collect several bags of litter in a short space of time around the Brislington Park and Ride area.

We also reported fly-tipping in the car park, a situation which is sadly likely to get worse as charging for DIY waste is introduced at our household recycling centres. Our next community litter pick will be in the Repton Road/Sand Hill area on 22 April. Meet in Repton Road Car Park at 11am. All equipment will be provided.

BRISLINGTON HILL CONSTRUCTION MESS:

Construction work on Gilton House in Brislington Village is creating an enormous amount of polystyrene litter that is blowing all over Brislington Hill. We contacted the council about the issue last week, but the problem persists. We have written to the council again insisting that they get the problem sorted.

SPRING BOOSTER FOR COVID-19:

COVID-19 continues to infect thousands of people every week and those at highest risk of severe illness should top up their immunity ahead of the planned autumn booster programme. For this reason, over-75s and those with weakened immune systems will be offered a further dose of the vaccine this spring. The vaccine offers the best protection against the virus and helps to reduce the risk of becoming seriously ill or hospitalised. But immunity wanes over time, so it is important to top it up by getting a booster if you are eligible. The NHS will plan to begin offering spring boosters to eligible members of the public from 17 April 2023 with vaccination in care homes beginning slightly earlier on 3 April 2023. The last date for the public to book spring boosters will be 30 June 2023. The NHS will let those eligible know when they can be offered the vaccine. Please wait to be contacted by the NHS if you believe you are eligible.

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