07/12/11

The Liberal Democrat controlled Bristol City Council (BCC) has made a huge mistake in the pursuit of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Schemes & the South Bristol Link Road (SBL). Local Greens are furious at the prospect of new road construction, especially as it will tarmac yet another piece of our rapidly dwindling countryside. BRT schemes have also shown themselves to be follies in places like Cambridge; having the benefits of neither conventional bus provision nor the dedicated routes & fast pace of railways. They are a cheap patch on an under-funded system.

The £100m granted from Central Government for these schemes should be returned, and a bidding process for funding of a long-term strategy should be initiated.

Green Party Cllr. Gus Hoyt for Ashley Ward commented, "What everyone is failing to realise is the extra £30 million that we as a city will have to pay. This is at a time when all areas of our community, and indeed council, are being ‘streamlined’ (ie cut and made redundant). Expert opinion suggests that the SBL will lose money; a lot of money. It will serve very few people. This is highly compromised & deeply flawed scheme."

"I foresee considerable opposition mounting over this unjust development. I shall support and encourage such groups and will call on other councillors to do likewise. From petitions to forms of peaceful direct action: we must stop the SBL being built."

Bristol North Green Party campaigner Daniel Casey said, "The solutions to Bristol's transport problems lie greatly in the provision of the past. Re-instating the railways & tramways of the 1930s, coupled with additional bus routes, provides a comprehensive & robust network that can be sustained. We will be putting forward alternative  transport initiatives for consideration by BCC, and a clear message to the people of Bristol that we are serious about transport provision."

The Green Party is committed to providing affordable, sustainable public transport for all. Furthermore, as this is a vital service to society, we believe all public transport should be publicly owned & democratically controlled. We believe that the only thing in the way of these objectives, is the lack of political will to redistribute resources, increase taxation (particularly on the wealthy), and fund not-for-profit services.