Bristol appoints traffic supremo
The man appointed to sort out Bristol's traffic problems says he wants to work with all the interested parties – including First Bus – to improve the situation in the city.
Peter Mann, 43, who currently works for Oxfordshire County Council, will take up his new post as service director for transport with Bristol City Council in January.
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He will be paid £92,000 a year to improve the city's daily traffic situation, with congestion estimated to cost the Bristol economy £300m a year in lost productivity.
Mr Mann, who will be in charge of a £40m budget and 400 staff, said Bristol was a city with a big economy which needed to improve its transport infrastructure to support its growing success.
He said: "I've visited Bristol a few times and I was very impressed with its vibrancy and economic growth.
"I am very excited about taking on the challenge of improving its transport infrastructure.
"I don't think that getting tough with the bus company will necessarily get the right results.
"I much prefer to work in partnership in order to improve public transport."
He said he was looking forward to working with the West of England Partnership, a body which represents the four councils in the former Avon area and which has already signed up to an integrated transport policy.
One of the policy's main elements will be the introduction of a rapid transit "bendybus" system which uses its own designated track.
Mr Mann, who is married with three children aged 15, 13 and 10, said he was not looking to move on from Bristol – he was looking forward to committing himself to the work which needed to be done in the city.
He said: "I was impressed by the sense of a city that knows what it wants to achieve.
"I have met a strong team of professionals and a close and committed senior leadership team of councillors and officers who are clearly committed to their responsibilities."
Mr Mann is currently assistant head of transport at Oxfordshire and has worked for the county council for the past nine years. He previously worked with Oxford City Council.
He said Oxford pioneered park-and- ride sites during the mid-1970s and now uses five of them to ease congestion in and out of the city centre.
He said Oxford had a strong regime of parking enforcement on bus routes to help keep buses running on time.
Lib Dem Cabinet Councillor Jon Rogers, who is in charge of the council's transport department, said: "Cutting congestion is one of our 'six to fix' commitments to the people of Bristol.
"Residents and businesses have told us what they need in terms of better public transport, sustainable travel, smart choices and better infrastructure. We have appointed Peter to put their vision into practice.
"We know it can't be achieved overnight, but we intend to work to a system of tight priorities which will see the most important changes made first. We are confident we have appointed the right person with the right focus."
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by George, Bristol
Saturday, September 19 2009, 3:24PM
“No you're not, DCI. Seriously. You're just a delusional cretin”
by DCI Gene Hunt, Hyde, 1973
Friday, September 18 2009, 5:00PM
“George, I am going to get you sectioned. Seriously.”
by alexander, Bristol
Friday, September 18 2009, 9:56AM
“If we are paying the man 92,000 and you can see the complete havoc he has caused in Oxford then we are all doomed. My suggestion is reduce the size of the buses by 40% increase the number of buses to take into account the reduction in size, create a bus stop design which doesnt cut of an entire lane of traffic whilst passangers get off. Secondly ban these nazi cyclists or tax them for using our roads, make them obey the highway code like the rest of us have to. Job done.”
by George, Bristol
Friday, September 18 2009, 8:52AM
“Yes, Paula, this is the homophobic, paranoid delusional, hypocritical cretin who goes by the name of *Rob , Knowle* - he sometimes posts under different pseudonyms, such is his obsessional postings on this website..
It's quite comical and I love nailing the maggot every time he tries to step up...It's too easy..”
by hannah, bristol
Thursday, September 17 2009, 5:55PM
“the reason i stated i have always been led to believe it is illegal to cycle on the pavements comes from my experience of being stopped by a policeman and told to refrain from driving on the pavements and was told to "get on the road"”
by GEORGE, Bristol
Thursday, September 17 2009, 1:59PM
“Oh dear Rob, you are just being paranoid. It's not just me who thinks you are a loser. Not taken your pills today, then?
"Rob in Knowle - the paranoid, homophobic, hypocrite." getting desperate are you?”
by Rob, Knowle
Thursday, September 17 2009, 1:49PM
“George, why are you posting under the pseudonym 'Paula, Bishopston'? Your measures are becoming increasingly desperate. Go on 'ebay' and see if you can put in a winning bid on a life.”
by Paula, Bishopston
Thursday, September 17 2009, 1:42PM
“Just how incredibly sad is Rob, Knowle? Everytime he tries to argue with george, he falls flat on his face. George, keep doing what you're doing, you obviously enjoy winding up Rob in Knowle..
Is this Rob in Knowle who is the homophobic hypocrite?”
by Garf, Bristol
Thursday, September 17 2009, 12:28PM
“b*gger me, i take it back :
"64
You MUST NOT cycle on a pavement.
[Laws HA 1835 sect 72 & R(S)A 1984, sect 129]"
I would imagine the legal interpretation of cycleway, cyclepath, safe access etc would make this a grey area to prosecute & Johnny Law wouldnt want to slap a fine when cyling through the vast tracts of untrodden pathway on the outskirts, when 1) people are being stabbed & assaulted over this cycling city & 2) Mr rogers & co need to incentivise cycling.
but nontheless it says in black & white.....Mr Rogers, need to get that changed as well.”
by Garf, Bristol
Thursday, September 17 2009, 12:00PM
“hannah
then you are mis-led.
The council/govt has probably spent millions on creating shared cycling/pathways all over the country : "cyclepaths" .
To encourage alternative safe routes for commuting & leisure purposes & to generally encourage cycling to combat an unsustainable car culture.
The minority of deviants who mis-use the paths, be they on horseback, HGV delivery (blocking), petrol powered scooter, roller bladers, motorists (...mmmmm there is one more....... definitely one more....) are to be chastised of course, but alas they are a minority, just as in society in there is often a minority who defy guidelines.”