Councillor has lost his marbles
ANYONE reading the Post's report of transport supremo Tim Kent's latest idea for unmanned pods linking Temple Meads and Cabot Circus, is likely to conclude that Councillor Kent has lost his marbles.
That he is going to waste his transport officers' time and council tax payers' money on such a non-starter beggars belief.
The pods could never be a substitute for a real tram. As at Heathrow, they have their place, but for a start I cannot imagine anyone relishing being shut up in one with a stranger and no driver. There was a proposal to introduce them between Cardiff city centre and Cardiff Bay, but that was quickly thrown out.
The pods are another mad idea, like the BRT schemes, which the council has toyed with in order to avoid having what nearly every other modern city in England and across Europe has, namely, trams as part of an integrated transport policy using an appropriate mix of trains, trams, buses and taxis.
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Transport for Greater Bristol (TfGB) has being calling for an Integrated Transport Authority (ITA) for years. That was strongly supported by Councillor Kent's predecessor at transport Jon Rogers.
Why Tim Kent takes an opposing position to that taken by his fellow Lib Dem councillor Dr Rogers is hard to fathom. But, whatever the reason, he is prepared to waste millions of pounds of local and national tax money on the likes of BRT.
Robert Craig
All The South Party
Comments
by smoosername
Friday, October 05 2012, 3:50PM
“@gary_hopkins - "I instigated a review to see,especially as the new government is more pro rail than the previous one,whether it was possible to switch technologies.The clear answer was no."
Can the public see this review or is it 'secret'?”
by rocketbob
Friday, October 05 2012, 11:17AM
“if there has been a lackof understanding, then it is the fault of the people with the ideas. Bristol is becoming a village, with a village mentality. The majority of people visiting or working in Bristol live in the suberbs or even further away, yet public transport appears to be for those wihin two miles of the city centre, or cyclist.Lets hope that a Mayor has a wider vision of the City and County of Bristol, than seems to be the case at the moment.”
by gary_hopkins
Friday, October 05 2012, 10:10AM
“Ultra light rail was much favoured by Jon and myself when I did the transport job for a year after Jon and before Tim.I instigated a review to see,especially as the new government is more pro rail than the previous one,whether it was possible to switch technologies.The clear answer was no. Funding would be removed and would almost certainly not be available for the £100M rail metro. In addition Bristol would be attacked,and possibly sued, by all the neighbouring councils who have cooperated with us over the last few years on transport schemes.
Transport schemes take a long time,especially because we have in this country far too centralised a decision making process,but the good news is that as further developments are needed we will have a freer hand.
The enterprise zone is showing early signs of being very successful in attracting high tech and value firms and jobs and it was noticeable that the local enterprise (partnership between business and councils) was recently judged the best performer nationally.Getting around the zone will be vital and the pod hasthe possibility to do the job (and be delivered quickly).The numbers have yet to be refined ,and there is a possibility of significant government money,but business and the council must think ambitiously if we are to stay ahead.It is a pity that there has been such a lack of understanding.”