[hawkinspeter]

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/through-traffic-banned-parts-bristol-8295492

This should be introduced towards the end of this year as an experimental trial – I wish it could happen sooner as it covers where I live. We had questionnaires about it during lockdown, though I think that was just about making Beaufort Rd (by the cemetery) one way to motorised traffic.

Topic

[slc]

Council leader regrets

Council leader regrets <not the thing but how thing was done>

https://www.bristol247.com/news-and-features/news/council-leader-regrets-liveable-neighbourhood-rolled-out/

Locals are opposed to <the thing>

East Bristol’s ‘liveable neighbourhood’: Is this really progress?

[brooksby]

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/reform-uks-arron-banks-would-10145393

Reform UK metro mayor candidate Arron Banks would sack all 400 officers at the West of England Combined Authority (Weca) who are “just shuffling paper around” and close the “swanky” headquarters.

But party leader Nigel Farage said in an interview with BristolLive moments later that, while they were committed to cutting the size and expense of local government, the pledge to fire everyone on day one should be taken with a “pinch of salt”.

[brooksby]

slc wrote:

slc wrote:

hawkinspeter wrote:

https://www.bristol247.com/news-and-features/news/tory-mayoral-candidate-promises-referendum-liveable-neighbourhood/

What could go wrong with a Tory referendum?

I went to the Lawrence Hill hustings yesterday. The Conservative candidate said he would commission a review rather than a referendum (perhaps having decided that ordering a referendum is outside the WECA remit). Interestingly, the independent candidate was firmly against the LTN and the Green candidate did not defend it, while speaking against the 3am installation. Arron Banks did not show, nor the Labour candidate.

Arron Banks is only (according to an interview he gave) standing as WECA mayor because Farage phoned him and asked him to.  He said he disagrees with the concept of WECA, doesn’t understand what the job entails, and admitted that he will probably just hire a deputy to do the job for him if he was actually elected because he has better things to do with his time   

[slc]

chrisonabike wrote:

chrisonabike wrote:

There seem to be quite a number of Greens who are not much fussed about motornormativity and its ills. I guess that’s secondary to fighting for people and communities vs. The Man maybe? Or they just want to get elected. After all cars are now like cigarettes were in say the mid 20th century – the bad guys smoke them, but the good guys smoke them…

The Green candidate came across as shrewd rather than cynical, I would say. But she did say she loved her car, so the smoking analogy is apt

[chrisonabike]

There seem to be quite a
There seem to be quite a number of Greens who are not much fussed about motornormativity and its ills. I guess that’s secondary to fighting for people and communities vs. The Man maybe? Or they just want to get elected. After all cars are now like cigarettes were in say the mid 20th century – the bad guys smoke them, but the good guys smoke them…

[slc]

hawkinspeter wrote:

hawkinspeter wrote:

https://www.bristol247.com/news-and-features/news/tory-mayoral-candidate-promises-referendum-liveable-neighbourhood/

What could go wrong with a Tory referendum?

I went to the Lawrence Hill hustings yesterday. The Conservative candidate said he would commission a review rather than a referendum (perhaps having decided that ordering a referendum is outside the WECA remit). Interestingly, the independent candidate was firmly against the LTN and the Green candidate did not defend it, while speaking against the 3am installation. Arron Banks did not show, nor the Labour candidate.

[mdavidford]

hawkinspeter wrote:

chrisonabike wrote:

Mayoral candidate you say?  What they need is a charismatic yet sensible, middle-ground type of person with their finger on the pulse.  And positive policies, not just “down with this kind of thing”.  Someone who won’t just alienate chunks of the electorate.

Is Susan Hall free?  Or Zac Goldsmith?

Funnily enough, the bigot Aaron Banks (who we have to thank for his part in the whole Brexit farce) doesn’t even know what the Mayor’s job is about and has declared that he’ll just employ some stooge to do it for him if he’s elected.

Sounds about right, if this snap from the latest Reform exec committee meeting is anything to go by.

[hawkinspeter]

chrisonabike wrote:

Mayoral candidate you say?  What they need is a charismatic yet sensible, middle-ground type of person with their finger on the pulse.  And positive policies, not just “down with this kind of thing”.  Someone who won’t just alienate chunks of the electorate.

Is Susan Hall free?  Or Zac Goldsmith?

Funnily enough, the bigot Aaron Banks (who we have to thank for his part in the whole Brexit farce) doesn’t even know what the Mayor’s job is about and has declared that he’ll just employ some stooge to do it for him if he’s elected.

[chrisonabike]

Mayoral candidate you say? 

Mayoral candidate you say?  What they need is a charismatic yet sensible, middle-ground type of person with their finger on the pulse.  And positive policies, not just “down with this kind of thing”.  Someone who won’t just alienate chunks of the electorate.

Is Susan Hall free?  Or Zac Goldsmith?

[hawkinspeter]

https://www.bristol247.com

https://www.bristol247.com/news-and-features/news/tory-mayoral-candidate-promises-referendum-liveable-neighbourhood/

What could go wrong with a Tory referendum?

[belugabob]

So, the issue does seem to be
So, the issue does seem to be the parked cars and/or the size of her van. How the council can address this remain to be seen.

[Bmblbzzz]

chrisonabike wrote:

hawkinspeter wrote:

Another piece by Faduma Farah: https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/news-opinion/why-ive-been-standing-way-10099623

“This isn’t about resisting change this is about calling for progress that reflects real local needs”

I mean … I’m all for that idea, and perhaps this could have been solved with some Chris Boardman-style community engagement process *.  OTOH it does sound like a “we’re not happy because reasons; we don’t trust THEM.  We only want the stuff we want, and we really really don’t want stuff we don’t like”.

Slightly longer summary:

 – BUT we’re green already!  We stopped a diesel power station from being put next to the school!
 – We have people with disabilities – they need cars.
 – And public transport is crap – so people with disabilities definitely need cars.
 – The council aren’t doing other stuff to make the place better by e.g. upgrading properties. (So presumably “we don’t think they’re interested in improving the place.  In fact we suspect that changes they do want to make may make things worse, by ignorance / incompetence / maybe even design”)
 – We don’t trust the council.  We don’t think the council listen to “the community”. (Reading between the lines – “they don’t give a stuff ‘cos we ain’t rich folks with the right background”?)

Amiright?

* Like e.g. he sets out in this video (segment is about 5 minutes but worth a view).  Requires buy-in from the LA, then details being driven by communities – and a kind of public “comment” before any formal change / consultation.  AND the choice to say “no, we are going to do nothing, and we accept the consequences”.

Engagement is definitely key. 

While there are many objectors who simply want to drive everywhere and/or resist all change, for many others, the issue is not the changes being made but how the Barton Hill community has been treated, first by the previous council, now by the current one, and perhaps most of all by the executive (it was the council’s CEO John Smith who ordered the early morning installation). Fadumo is the main spokesperson of this group. 

[hawkinspeter]

slc wrote:

The WECA mayor candidates (perhaps not including Reform candidate Arron Banks) will answer questions  at a venue on Avonvale Rd. Hopefully not all about the LTN trial , but no doubt it will be discussed. 

(tickets free but registration needed)

https://www.acorntheunion.org.uk/bristol_weca_hustings_lawrence_hill_neighbourhood_forum_acorn_bristol

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/community-heart-controversial-traffic-scheme-10105995

Yeah, I doubt if Arron Banks would be happy visiting “little Somalia” (as he referred to Bristol) and certainly I don’t think Bristol’s residents would be happy seeing that racist piece of shit

[slc]

The WECA mayor candidates

The WECA mayor candidates (perhaps not including Reform candidate Arron Banks) will answer questions  at a venue on Avonvale Rd. Hopefully not all about the LTN trial , but no doubt it will be discussed. 

(tickets free but registration needed)

https://www.acorntheunion.org.uk/bristol_weca_hustings_lawrence_hill_neighbourhood_forum_acorn_bristol

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/community-heart-controversial-traffic-scheme-10105995

 

[Dnnnnnn]

“With the six-month review of

“With the six-month review of the scheme now approaching”… LOL. The scheme they prevented implementation of for almost six months.

It’s a weak piece – lots irrelevant content, rehashed vague claims about lack of engagement, no recognition of any problem to be solved (e.g. widespread pavement parking) and a lack of any positive suggestions.

I’m not certain the current scheme is the ideal solution – but if this is the best its opponents can do…

[Author]

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