Ten turn up for drivers' call to action

by Sam Rkaina

A meeting to protest at Bristol City Council's alleged anti-car policy attracted just 10 people.

Bob Bull, local co-ordinator for the Association of British Drivers, organised the event at North Bristol Rugby Club in Almondsbury last night to allow drivers to air their frustrations.

Although it was not well attended, Mr Bull is hoping a meeting in the new year could attract more interest.

He is also hoping to meet with Bristol City Council's executive member for transport, Mark Bradshaw, to discuss his group's concerns. Mr Bull, 61, from Portishead, gave a presentation citing examples of measures introduced by the council that he believes are counter-productive.

Among them were the four pedestrian crossings at the St Mary Redcliffe roundabout, the bus stops in the middle of the road at Old Market and the two-mile, 24-hour bus lane on the Portway.

He said: "There is no reason the bus lane on the Portway should be 24 hours, and St Mary Redcliffe used to be a good run into the centre of the city. At Cabot Circus there are pedestrian crossings 200 yards apart from each other and now they want to close the Prince Street bridge.

"I know that cars are last on the list of the council's priorities when they do this kind of work.

"First it's pedestrians, then cyclists and cars are on the bottom.

"They think it will be all right when they talk about £60 million to be spent on 'transport solutions', but what will that actually achieve?

"They've got to stop this control."