Jon Rogers reveals manifesto: "Private schools must make sports facilities available to state schools"

“"Business needs the mayor to commit to the implementation of the agreed Bus Rapid Transit and South Bristol link schemes so critical funding is not lost to the city and real improvements can be seen in infrastructure delivery"

Is this the same "business" that told the council to go to blazes over the workplace parking levy? Sounds more like the Mafia to me. I assume someone prominent is in place to supply masses of concrete and dead ducks to build the Bust Rabid Transit with? Or is it the now struggling business trying to cope with the after effects of GBBN in Fishponds?

At least Stapleton Road provides some much-needed comic relief these days. Since the sticky-out bus stops have gone in, I can spend hours laughing at people trying to get past. You can do the same on Easton Way if there's a bus in Stapleton Road. Just watch what happens when the cars turning right off the main road don't realise they can't get into Stapleton Road before the lights change.”

“would no vote for this man Rogers, he made a lousy GP as he was mine I am not surprised he is closing old people homes down, having a mental illness he had no understanding of mental illness, he got no empathy for people. And he could not keep things confidential.”

“."Big hustings last night with the business community.(Business west)

They put out a challenge to the candidates. Amongst calls for improved education and skills which of course at a basic level has been/was a problem for many years due to our previously poor education service, there is strong backing for the Lib Dem policy of localisation of business rates.
Through the city deal we have started to make progress here ,so that Bristol can keep more of the profit it generates, but government must go further.
A point where Lib Dems agree with Hesletine.

The biggest agenda item though is the overdue transport improvements.

There is of course a backing for the Transport for Greater bristol transport organisation that Jon Rogers is campaigning for but probably the most bald demand is.

"Business needs the mayor to commit to the implementation of the agreed Bus Rapid Transit and South Bristol link schemes so critical funding is not lost to the city and real improvements can be seen in infrastructure delivery"

Business knows that nothing will improve Bristol more than an efficient and trusted public transport system.

To get that the Bristol mayor needs the power to control routes and fares.At the moment First creams off huge profits from the most used routes leaving the council to subsidise the others.

The mayor will have control of BRT in any event but this power must extend across the whole city.

Labour and Tory Cllrs have even tried to ban the discussion of a transport company but the level of importance attached to this power can be measured by Jon Rogers making it THE power he wants from government.Others will be good but government will be in no doubt that when they have their first meeting with mayor Jon Rogers he will be demanding the power that Bristolian's have voted for.

Can a £1.50 maximum fare be delivered?

Of course it can as A bus charge £1 and Wessex do a £2.50 day rider.

Even if passenger numbers do not rise the £1.50 fare would cover the operating costs of the Bristol network and of course passenger numbers would rise.

Operating costs have reduced because of the GBBN corridors.

Those commuting using public transport has increased significantly over the last year or 2 despite First's overcharging but the real step change needs people to have confidence that fares are down to stay and that services will not be withdrawn at a moments notice.

Business knows how important the GBBN has been,how vital the BRT is and how the metro and the smart ticketing will link all of this together.

This is not just about existing bus users but about all those car and van drivers who will be able to look forward to further and larger reductions in congestion and an even more sucsessful local economy.”

“John, Gary, Tim Kant etc, you've got nine more days please try not to mess anything up before you get voted out. Preferably put your pens down and have a few days off.”

“Hi Gary Hopkins,
With the success of GBBN in Fishponds, First have got real competition here as well. The Wessex Red No 13 by UWE is the route that our future Mayor should take. I realise that you can't take sides with companies but Wessex Red routes have what it takes to help transform public transport across Bristol. Using a Wessex Red travel card (which everyone can purchase) people can buy a day rider for just £2.50 and use this across all Wessex Red routes. Help A bus to team up with Wessex Red and have buses in Bristol run by local service providers. The UWE has as much passion and vision as Brunel for Bristol and it's those Bristol based pillars which will never leave the city that should be supported the most.

As you'll know First charge £225 for a peak return tick to London on a morning and £180 from Swindon, the same journey distance (all but 4 miles) from Brighton to London at the same time using another provider is £38 return.

Our mayor has a duty not just to serve Bristol but to ensure that services leaving Bristol are the best that they can be and affordable to everyone. We want to see people commuting from London as much as we see people commuting to London and First are currently charging as much for this service as someone can book a return flight to Barcelona with three nights in a youth hostel.
First have abused our city for many years and it needs to stop.”

“@NotTheCouncil – "Reviews = Pretending we are listening"

Hi NotTheCouncil

I would like to suggest a different definition of "review" to yours:

"Review = Not bothering to provide any sort of data or analysis that things have improved after completing whatever the council wasted all the money on in the first place".

Perhaps @Gary_Hopkins could clarify which of our definitions more closely matches what he meant to say?”

“gary_hopkins:
Apart from that the message is no more messing about and talking of meaningless delays and reviews.

Delays = Consultations
Reviews = Pretending we are listening”

“@Gary_Hopkins - "The biggest agenda item though is the overdue transport improvements."


So the Business Community think that GBBN a failure as well.

And BRT will be no better!”

“Big hustings last night with the business community.(Business west)

They put out a challenge to the candidates. Amongst calls for improved education and skills which of course at a basic level has been/was a problem for many years due to our previously poor education service, there is strong backing for the Lib Dem policy of localisation of business rates.
Through the city deal we have started to make progress here ,so that Bristol can keep more of the profit it generates, but government must go further.
A point where Lib Dems agree with Hesletine.

The biggest agenda item though is the overdue transport improvements.

There is of course a backing for the Transport for Greater bristol transport organisation that Jon Rogers is campaigning for but probably the most bald demand is.

"Business needs the mayor to commit to the implementation of the agreed Bus Rapid Transit and South Bristol link schemes so critical funding is not lost to the city and real improvements can be seen in infrastructure delivery"

There is a public enquiry at the moment that should report next month and if that recommends route adjustments they can be accomodated and we get on with things.

Apart from that the message is no more messing about and talking of meaningless delays and reviews.We have had and published reviews.

"Get on with it !!!"

Nothing could be more ridiculous than the Conservative mayor candidate signing a delaying tactic document without realising the consequences and then after years of silence saying that we need a change of route (to cover his embaressment )when in fact a change without the enquiry guidance would kill the scheme altogether.
An anti business Tory that would damage Bristol!

Meanwhile first are showing signs of worry that their milking of the Bristol public may be under threat.
They of course much prefer the Labour model of meekly handing over subsidy to the Lib Dem model of council control of routes and fares with a cap.
The only corridor that they have real competition is the A4 Bath rd A Bus are much cheaper and large numbers of people ignore the First bus and wait for the cheaper A Bus.Both the operators are of course benefitting from the GBBN improvements and First want their monopoly back.
They are instigating new services to try drive A bus out of business and we all know of course that as soon as A bus goes service levels will drop and fares go up again.
Of course First are concerned with their trade along this corridor but even more concerning for them is the prospect of other roures going the same way.”

“Latest Jon Rogers election leaflet just came through my letterbox (made up to look like a community newspaper) says he is 'quickly emerging as the only serious challenger to Labour'. This 'City News: Community News for Bristolians' as the Lib Dems put it, is full of of deception. I want to be able to have at least some trust in the person I vote for as Mayor so Jon Rogers and other tribal party politicians are not even a consideration.”