HIGHLIGHTS: We put your questions to Bristol mayor George Ferguson
At lunchtime today Bristol mayor George Ferguson spent half an hour answering your questions in a live webcast.
We compiled the questions that you have been sending in and put as many as possible to Mr Ferguson during the half hour #askGeorge session, which was streamed live in ThisisBristol.
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HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEBCAST
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George on the arena:
Mr Ferguson said we are four years away from having a multi-purpose arena.
He said: “It will take at least a year when we get in to a situation when know the design.”
He added the stadium would be “primarily for music but good for sports as well”.
On Sainsbury's at the site of Bristol Rovers' stadium:
Mr Ferguson said: "Supermarkets are a curse to cities in many ways.
"They contribute to the blanding of our cities."
He said he hoped the money from the section 106 agreement as part of the plans would help towards traders on Gloucester Road.
"I will work closely with Sainsbury's to encourage their visitors to use Gloucester Road," he said.
"But I am not the person who takes individual planning decisions."
On First:
He said he wants to “get to the bottom” of why fares are so expensive in Bristol.
He added: “It’s not good for First that they are seen as the enemy instead of our friends.”
He added that the more he can build a “constructive” relationship with First the better.
On transport:
He said he wants to work towards an integrated transport authority for Greater Bristol.
"I don't think we can do it on our own," he said.
On residents' parking:
Mr Ferguson said there must be a holistic approach - people must be driven onto buses, then bus fares can come down, which will help with residents' parking schemes.
"These measures have to be linked," he said.
On 20mph limits:
He said: “It’s really important that we have got a safer and greener city.”
He added that the 20mph limit in his area in Bedminster is “working well”.
He made examples of cities in Europe, saying: “We have to think what is going to make a civilised city.”
On switching off traffic lights:
Mr Ferguson said he wanted to speak to cyclists, pedestrians and public transport users - not just drivers.
"I'm not anti-car but I am pro-safety," he said.
Cycling:
He said: "What I want most of all is for Bristol to be as carbon free as possible."
“We are going to try car free Sundays in the city centre and that I hope will bring more cyclists.”
He added he hopes to start in the middle of June to coincide with the Big Green Week.
Stokes Croft:
Mr Ferguson defended the reputation of Stokes Croft.
He said: “Stokes Croft is not a disgrace. It’s a very lovely area that’s not to everybody’s taste because street art is not to everybody’s taste.
“I think Stokes Croft has generated a wonderful local culture.”
He added that in the future he doesn’t believe it will be perceived the way it is perceived now.
On buildings "being left to rot":
He said: "There are a huge number of empty commercial buildings," and added that he wanted to look at options for using them to create more housing.
He added: "Let's get Westmoreland House sorted."
Rubbish collections and recycling:
"We have all got a responsibility for this," he said.
"Some people find recycling a nuisance, but I don't see it as a pain at all."
He said litter was an issue and "we need to get our heads around making the city a cleaner one".
Day centre closures:
He said he understood the stress caused by the closures for staff and the people using the centres.
The decision was made before he was elected as mayor.
"I never once during the election promised to reverse that decision," he said. "But I did ask for a full party review.
"I set up a four-person panel to look at the whole the question of residential and day care."
He said the panel came back saying the right decision had been made.
On budget cuts and jobs:
He said he can’t give “false reassurances” about jobs.
He added: “I believe in protecting the most vulnerable in the city and we have to find the most cost effective way of doing this.”
He said he was reviewing management jobs in the council “from the top down”.
He added he believed in a “zero base” budget not the “salami slicing” we have seen in the past.
On business:
“People are already noticing that Bristol is more open door,” he said.
He added he welcomes investment to the city, but, he said: “I mind about the quality of the investment.”
He called for attracting new companies who are willing to “invest and not exploit”.
Mr Ferguson hopes to answer any questions that were not asked during this #askGeorge session on his blog.
You can watch the webcast back again here:
7 Comments
by matic_113
Saturday, February 02 2013, 7:39PM
“@marmeliser
I know the RPZs in Clifton Down and Kingsdown are really well received as I residents simply couldn't park anywhere near their houses. Clearly some areas particularly away from central Bristol don't need these schemes.”
by pamelaparkes1
Saturday, February 02 2013, 7:31PM
“Thank you to everyone who put your questions forward. It was hugely successfully and we received an enormous number of questions. For the first session I tried to choose a broad range of topics and 'popular' questions which many people had asked. I made the choice of questions for the webchat independently and I'm sorry if your specific question was not selected this time round.
Unfortunately half an hour was just not long enough to fit in all your questions and we ran out of time, but we will be filming a #askgeorge session every month.
I have submitted all your questions to Mr Ferguson and he will try to answer as many as he can on his blog - the link is in the article. Any that are not answered I will ask again in forthcoming webcasts.
Thanks again for getting involved.
Pamela Parkes”
by THEIRONS
Saturday, February 02 2013, 4:31PM
“I put forward a question on the largest development in the South West held up by lies. Yes the Ashton Vale fiasco which I presume Fergie has no opinion on which he wishes to partake . Typical politician only likes to comment on non controversial issues . He comments on jobs well Mr mayor if it is jobs you want Ashton Vale will produce the largest amount in the building of the development .”
by pixel_boy
Friday, February 01 2013, 11:41PM
“One question that was not asked...
ATTN Pamela Parkes
Pls confirm reciept
How much are George's three KPMG advisers paid and who are they?
Subject: Read: Question for George Ferguson Friday webcast
Your message
To: Emily Koch
Subject: Question for George Ferguson Friday webcast
Sent: Wednesday, January 30, 2013 7:28:05 PM (UTC) Coordinated Universal Time
was read on Thursday, January 31, 2013 7:46:03 AM (UTC) Coordinated Universal Time.
Final-recipient: RFC822; emily.koch@localworld.co.uk”
by DockLobster
Friday, February 01 2013, 6:49PM
“What a load of guff...”
by Pyronaught
Friday, February 01 2013, 4:29PM
“"What I want most of all is for Bristol to be as carbon free as possible."
Ummm - we're all carbon based life forms George - so that's going to be awkward. With the exception of the small amount that has left the planet and gone into space in the form of rockets, satellites etc. - there is exactly the same amount of carbon on the planet as has been at every other point in history - so being 'carbon free' is an idiotic expression.”
by marmeliser
Friday, February 01 2013, 3:13PM
“re RPZ'S
i've experienced RPZ's in operation mr mayor. it means LESS parking, lots of inconvenience for residents, and more income for the council which is just another tax. the areas like kingsdown may need an RPZ - IF residents vote for it under an GENUINE, not gerrymandered, consultation.
the vast part of bristol DOES NOT need RPZ'S. and people DON'T want them either!!
you haven't fooled me on this, and don't try and fool the rest of us. we aren't fearful of change. we just KNOW that RPZ's are a CON”