Bristol loses on £24 million worth of funding
BRISTOL has lost out on funding worth more than £20 million in a competition organised by the Government to find a city of the future.
The city has lost out to Glasgow in a competition organised by the Technology Strategy Board's to find a Future Cities Demonstrator.
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George Ferguson
There was some consolation because even though the city has been overlooked in its bid to land £24 million of investment to demonstrate how a city of the future should function - it was handed a £3 million runners-up prize.
Bristol mayor George Ferguson was involved in the process to try and win the cash and took part in a presentation in London.
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He said: "While there is some disappointment that we did not gain the main prize, Bristol is now the only city in the UK to have won funding from Government to be both a Super Connected City and a Future City.
"Bringing these awards together gives us a pot of nearly £15 million with which we can move really quickly to leaver-in additional funding and support from business to help deliver our plans."
According to Mr Ferguson Bristol is increasingly being seen as a creative, smart, green and connected city.
He added: "This a city where we experiment with new ideas and test ways of doing things. This week the city's Watershed Media Centre, with support from the Council, University of Bristol and a range of technology companies, announced the winner of the first Bristol Playable City Award - Hello Lamp Post!
"This will turn Bristol into a city of "secret, digital conversations" by allowing people to talk to lampposts, post boxes and bus stops via their laptops and mobile phones."
Mr Ferguson added: "We are fast becoming the UK's creative capital, a city of experimentation and a city that offers a warm welcome.
"Our achievement in beating more than 30 other cities to win government funding for Future Cities is testament to our ambitions and our strong partnership approach with both the city's universities, businesses and partners such as Watershed and Knowle West Media Centre."
A delegation led by Mayor George Ferguson put forward Bristol's case in December. If it had been successful the city would also have trialled a city mayor app or dashboard which would monitor how the area was doing on a daily basis and what technology is being used where.
5 Comments
by morphtheman
Tuesday, January 29 2013, 11:35AM
“All this talk of improving our City. I think most of the Bristol public would like to see a real effort to improve, things that they have asked for over too many years.
Allowing outside investment to have a new stadium/leisure area at Ashton.
A new Entertainment Centre capable of having bigger events in the City, (if we can't have the above ?)
Concorde under cover, ( To think it was built here, it makes you ashamed of whats going on in the greater part of Bristol). Where Bristol Airport should have been.
The Severn Barrage ?
All this ridiculous talk of banning cars on certain days to parts of the City, it's bad enough trying to get parking. What about Disabled people, does it not matter, Are we such a forward looking City, that that doesn't matter?
Our City, Bristol has shown a lack of Adventure, Courage to progress, Invest in it's people for so many years. I don't know whether having our new Lord Mayor will make a difference, but lets all hope so. Miracles could happen they say?”
by Robert_H
Monday, January 28 2013, 3:32PM
“I must say that this news struck me as being very curious since Scotland may become independent in several years time. Does it mean that this £24 million will be deemed to be part of the ring fenced foreign aid?”
by Martin116
Monday, January 28 2013, 12:31PM
“and there's me thinking it will make it easier for me to report a faulty lamp-post; find my nearest post-box (and hopefully post-office) - both becoming as rare as hens' teeth - and find out when (if ever) the next bus is coming!”
by Brennus
Monday, January 28 2013, 12:22PM
“"Super Connected City and a Future City."
None of this actually means anything, does it?
"Hello Lamp Post! "This will turn Bristol into a city of "secret, digital conversations" by allowing people to talk to lampposts, post boxes and bus stops via their laptops and mobile phones.""
Why? Just why?”
by Pete303North
Monday, January 28 2013, 10:42AM
“Just as well. These morons cannot be trusted not to waste it.”