It is so short-sighted of Bristol's neighbouring councils to reject a chance to work together to improve transport.

Had they supported the idea of joining forces and creating a Transport Authority, this area would have been far better placed to secure money to improve trains and buses.

We have only to look around the country to see how other cities have benefited when their local councils have worked together to lobby the government for cash.

They have been doing this in the West Midlands for years.

And you only have to go there to see how cities have been helped.

But we have been thwarted at the first step. Partly it is because neighbouring councils do not want to get involved in helping to resolve Bristol's transport problems.

But they should see that helping Bristol will help them as well, because thousands of their residents travel in and out of the city each day.

When we apply for grants or government support, instead of working with North Somerset, South Gloucestershire and Bath & North East Somerset councils, Bristol will find itself competing with them.

We will therefore punch well below our weight on the national stage and almost certainly continue to miss out.

A transport authority would have been more than just a name.

It would have had clout and been capable of delivering significant change.

Instead it is business as usual and we all know where that has got us.