Major hint that £100m funding application for Bristol Metro package will win Government support
A TRANSPORT minister has dropped a major hint that a bid of £100 million for the Bristol Metro package will win Government backing.
As reported in the Post, a bid has been put together by councils in the region to pay for a major scheme of improvements to the rail network around the city.
The improvements would include the long-awaited reopening of the Bristol to Portishead line, the creation of the Henbury loop line in north Bristol and a string of other improvements and new stations.
Transport minister Justine Greening appeared to give her backing to the project on a visit to Bristol which saw her officially open new aircraft stands at Bristol Airport.
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She said: “I think a strong public transport system is vital for economic growth and jobs and that is why as a government we have invested in major projects such as the electrification of the Great Western line and the Rapid Transit System in Bristol.
“We are keen to push on with electrification but that does not mean that there will be end of investment in the area. We are taking a very close look at the bid for funding which is with the Department of Transport at the moment for the Bristol Metro.”
She added that the city has won a major advantage over regional rivals by opting to have an elected mayor.
During her visit, the minister also spoke of the importance of the airport for the region’s economy.
The new aircraft stands are part of the multi-million expansion of the airport which will eventually see ten million passengers a year use Lulsgate. Other works planned include an extension of the airport terminal and a new transport hub.
Robert Sinclair, the chief executive of the airport, said: “This is the culmination of a five year process during which time the aviation industry, and the world in which we operate, has undergone considerable change.
“Despite challenging economic conditions we have remained focused on our end goal – delivering a world class airport for the South West.
“Once complete, this development will transform the experience of passengers using Bristol Airport.
“From arriving at a new public transport interchange linked by a covered pedestrian bridge to the extended terminal, to boarding flights from new walkways and bridges, every aspect of the airport journey will be improved. Forecasts estimate that the region will benefit to the tune of £1.9 to £2 billion in additional income as a result.”
The government minister spent the day in Bristol and after meeting with business leaders in the city she went on to visit the Bristol Port Company at Avonmouth.
Comments
by Samtron
Friday, June 29 2012, 10:03AM
“Not wishing to p155 on anybody's chips, but Bristol is not getting a 'Metro' in any way, shape or form!! A 'Metro' is a rail based transport system that operates without a published timetable with a service interval of 10 mins or less - otherwise know as 'turn up and go'. What Bristol is actually getting is a pretty rebrand of the local rail network!!!”
by BillyKs
Wednesday, June 27 2012, 7:46PM
“Tim Kent has helped secure resources before and I suspect he may have played a key role here.”
by green_man
Monday, June 25 2012, 11:44PM
“@FromMendip - "Those who complain are either the usual Bristol area whingers or those whose experience of air travel is very limited and who therefore assume that every city in the world has an airport the size of Heathrow."
I'm "complaining" about an expanding Bristol Airport because its a logical contradiction to have law (the Climate Change Act) consistent with the best available scientific evidence, that reasonably sets a very tough carbon reduction target, and then have policies such as airport expansion - along with many others - which fly in the face of it (no pun intended). Expanding air travel is not consistent with fighting climate change and politicians are being hypocritical to set the law as it is but then enact policies that go against that law. In effect they are kicking the can down the road, passing the problems of climate change on to future generations.”
by KBillies
Monday, June 25 2012, 9:35PM
“Tim Kent has helped secure resources before and I suspect he may have played a key role here.
Lets support this young and able man in his challenging brief.
Sneering and carping helps no one.
Lets be positive and embrace the ideas he puts forward so clearly.”
by FromMendip
Monday, June 25 2012, 9:21PM
“"If one enjoys walking miles just to prove that Bristol Airport is somehow twice as big as it actually needs to be, then Lulsgate is for you."
Four hundred metres maximum to the far end of the western apron is but a stroll compared to many airports around the world. I'm nearly seventy and have walked the full length of the western apron corridor several times and enjoy the exercise after a couple of hours in an aeroplane seat, as has my wife who is not in the best of physical health. She too finds it not a problem.
Bristol Airport is the third busiest English regional airport after Manchester and Birmingham and at 5.8 million passengers a year is comfortably busier than the likes of Newcastle, Liverpool, East Midlands, Leeds-Bradford airports and far busier than its neighbout at Cardiff that currently handles 1.1 million passengers a year having lost nearly 50 per cent of its passenger numbers in the past four years as airlines pull out from there.
Bristol's planned expansion will include air bridges which will obviate the need to walk out to many aircraft across the apron and the doubling of the current terminal size.
People in the West Country don't realise what an asset they have at Lulsgate, a facility that punches above its weight.
Those who complain are either the usual Bristol area whingers or those whose experience of air travel is very limited and who therefore assume that every city in the world has an airport the size of Heathrow.
I still fly (as a passenger) regularly on long haul and short haul as far as Australia and Bristol Airport is as good as most airports of its size and better than many.”
by Mrs_W2009
Monday, June 25 2012, 9:03PM
“The negativity is totally understandable. We've heard all this before, the council has previous for wasting enormous sums of money - MILLIONS - just basically chatting about transport for the city. Lots of hot air, lots of consultancy fees, no change on the ground. Actually I should say no improvemnt on the ground because there has been a steady change for the worse as our city gets more and more gridlocked thanks to the few (stupid) measures they have introduced. More traffic lights anyone?!!”
by deltagolf202
Monday, June 25 2012, 7:31PM
“Maybe the new line will go via the "Town Green"
& fixed ground power @ Lulsgate !!! whatever next ?? fuel pits, AGNIS Guidance, pax jettys ???
lol......”
by KBillies
Monday, June 25 2012, 7:30PM
“Tim Kent has helped secure resources before and I suspect he may have played a key role here.
Lets support this young and able man in his challenging brief.
Sneering and carping helps no one.
Lets be positive and embrace the ideas he puts forward so clearly.”
by smoosername
Monday, June 25 2012, 7:14PM
“@KBillies
"She added that the city has won a major advantage over regional rivals by opting to have an elected mayor."
Remind me whether Tim Kent was for (therefore Bristol gaining a major advantage) or against (therefore losing a major advantage) a mayor?”
by green_man
Monday, June 25 2012, 7:06PM
“Improving the local rail network - great. Very consistent with cutting carbon emissions by at least 80% from 1990 levels by 2050, as outlined in the Climate Change Act. However, the Govt then faces in completely the opposite direction by supporting an expanding Bristol Airport - ten million passengers a year will increase not cut carbon emissions (as well as depriving our local and national economy of money and suppport for local businesses when people spend it abroad instead of here).”