Random Stuff!

[Jerry]

I believe that there is much to see and do in Bristol and I’ve only touched on some. It really is a pity that the tour bus can only reach small parts of it.

You should copy that post and send it to whoever is responsible for Bristol's tourism! They could use it to list Bristol's attractions. I never knew that there was so much you could see! I suppose living just across the Severn i've never seen Bristol as a place to go and see. Maybe a day trip is in order!

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Bristol can be a frustrating city. For all its history and sights its local governance over many decades and by all political parties has been pretty dire. How it's reached its current extremely successful economic state is not due to its local authorities.

If everyone in local government pulled together and that includes the councils contiguous to Bristol which, especially South Gloucestershire, are physical extensions to the city municipality itself there would be some chance of real progress. Instead parties bicker and neighbouring councils bicker with the result that many things that are needed and should be on tap are not. Bristol wants to expand its boundaries but the other authorities are dead set against it.

Another frustration is the city's inability to receive much central government help because Westminster governments of all political colours regard Bristol as too wealthy to need assistance, despite having some of the poorest wards in the country within its boundary. A few years ago when the South West Regional Development Agency was in being it was said that Cardiff was getting eight times more government funding than Bristol for example.

Government money for MetroBus is a rare example of Bristol seeing central funding but even here a MetroBus is very much second best to a tram and Bristol lost that promised funding years ago when Bristol and South Gloucestershire councils failed to agree the location of the northern terminus of the tram.

It would be much better if the Bristol boundary continued to expand in line with the expanding urban sprawl as it used to do until the early 1960s. That would leave one council for the entire physical city region. Currently Bristol has a 450,000 population with a town (South Gloucestershire) with the population of Swindon attached to it, plus bits of two other local authorities. It's a recipe for continual argument and so it has proved. The new metro-mayor area is a poor halfway house as the metro mayor has limited responsibility. With a Conservative metro mayor and a Labour city mayor, plus the ceremonial lord mayor, no wonder many people in the area are confused, and this is a further recipe for nothingness.

 

[Jerry]

Yes that does sound confusing! I didn't know Bristol had a metro mayor. How long has that been in place for? I've heard the city mayor speak on the Radio 5 live.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Yes that does sound confusing! I didn't know Bristol had a metro mayor. How long has that been in place for? I've heard the city mayor speak on the Radio 5 live.

Metro mayor came into being in May this year.

 

[superking]

The metro mayor does not cover north somerset which borders the south of Bristol all the way down to Weston super mare. BRS airport is situated in north somerset,and a lot of airport issues the Bristol mayors seem to like having a say about airport things. So in Bristol and surrounding areas minus north somerset they are well off for mayors. Seems like a job for the boys in my book.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

The metro mayor does not cover north somerset which borders the south of Bristol all the way down to Weston super mare. BRS airport is situated in north somerset,and a lot of airport issues the Bristol mayors seem to like having a say about airport things. So in Bristol and surrounding areas minus north somerset they are well off for mayors. Seems like a job for the boys in my book.

Although North Somerset opted out of the West of England Combined Authority they will still be a fringe player in the sense that they will have to be consulted on transport projects for instance because some will link North Somerset with the combined authority.

The funding for the combined authority is abysmal: £30 million a year for the next thirty years. That won't go far.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Rail

Grayling the Transport Secretary was in Bristol today in connection with the 'new' turbo trains to be used on the Severn Beach line. They aren't really new, just hand-me-downs from another part of the country that have probably been given a lick of paint.

He was the man who pulled the plug on electrification for Bristol, with a vague promise to spend money on Bristol's local services instead.

Today he insists that the Portishead branch is not dead in the water, despite escalating cost projections, and says that he is putting pressure on Network Rail and GWR to move things along.

Reopening the Portishead branch is part of phase one of MetroWest that also includes new stations at Pill and Portishead, a half-hourly service on the Severn Beach line and to Keynsham and Bath. There are already at least four services in both directions every hour between Temple Meads and Bath with the Paddington, Portsmouth and Weymouth line trains. Keynsham would be the main beneficiary as services there are poor.

Phase two of MetroWest involves opening the Henbury Spur and improving services along the Yate corridor. There has also been talk of new stations at Portway park and ride and elsewhere around the city region.

There is some positive news with the four-tracking of Filton bank which will enable local and long distance trains to operate independently together with improvements at Bristol East and the extension of Parkway station. Platforms 14 and 15 at Temple Meads are also about to be lengthened although the long-awaited and frequently-promised major overhaul and upgrade of the station appears as far away as ever.

The Transport Secretary is adamant that suburban rail is the only way to address Bristol's severe traffic congestion. One thing is certain: the next 18 months on the roads around Temple Meads will see even more congestion as the new road systems are put in place. The scheme is a year late in starting but the massive MetroBus roadworks around The Centre and at other central locations are nowhere near complete. You drive from one jam to another.

http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/portishead-rail-line-not-dead-174682

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Further to my previous post, the 'new' turbo trains on the Severn Beach route have so far proved unreliable with numerous delays and cancellations.

http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/complaints-new-severn-beach-turbo-176943

To add to the misery the GWR main line will be closed between Chippenham and Swindon for the next nine days causing delays, cancellations and diversions between Bristol, Bath and Paddington. The work is in connection with electrification which will not even be coming to Bristol and Bath.

http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/nine-days-rail-disruptions-between-176303

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Rail electrification, or to be precise, non-electrification

http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/bristol-stuck-waiting-room-government-204646

Another article in the local rag today about Bristol missing out on electrification - by far the largest city in Britain not to have an electrified rail system. It's pretty obvious that this government will not change its mind although Labour (according to my MP) has said they will complete the electrification if they gain power, but that's easy to say when you're not in power.

The article again points out that "Bristol is the only city outside London to make more money for the Treasury than it receives, few understand why it should be the one to lose out." This is in respect of business taxes.

It's particularly ironic given that today is the day when the contractors have been announced for HS2, where the £100 million or so saved in not joining Bristol to electrification is probably the petty cash for HS2.

BBC Radio Bristol's Breakfast Show came live from Temple Meads this morning (they did a similar thing at BRS a few weeks ago). The presenter interviewed representatives of Network Rail and GWR who both said that the loss of electrification between Bristol and just east of Bath would be more than made up by increased tracks between Temple Meads and Parkway and related signalling - didn't really follow that because this stretch is on a different line.

They both said that increased journey times would be minimal and should be discounted. Presumably they meant (the interviewer didn't ask) that trains can't reach high speed between Bristol and Bath. If that is so then the same would apply to the first few miles out of Paddington or between Cardiff and Newport. Diesel pollution from the bi-mode trains when not running under electric power was not even brought up by the presenter who clearly is not a transport correspondent.

The presenter also asked about the long-promised major revamp of Temple Meads station. The roof is apparently going to be seen to soon and entry gates will be increased from seven to 21 with platforms 14 and 15 being extended in length for the new bi-mode trains.That underwhelming response was the best the local radio presenter could get. She did point out the other grand changes long promised including a new entrance on the north side but the inevitable reply was funding. Because Temple Meads is a grade one listed structure they cannot tear it down and rebuild as they did at Birmingham New Street according to the Network Rail man.

Beginning on 19 August for a month long distance trains will not stop at Parkway but will call at Patchway instead. They will then be diverted - presumably via Bath towards London. The reason is that there will be electrification work in tunnels between Parkway and Swindon.

http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/sorry-london-bristol-officially-coolest-205260

At least there was some more positive news for Bristol as a city, if you believe in such accolades. Rough Guide has declared it the coolest place to live and I don't think they mean the weather. This is the latest 'award' for the city in recent months.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Bristol region bidding to become partner in Heathrow Airport expansion

The West of England Combined Authority (Weca) is bidding to become one of four 'regional logistic hubs' in connection with the development of LHR - assuming that this goes ahead.

LHR has said it would look to secure four regional construction hubs to make and build pre-assembled components that would then be transported to London.

It's thought that the Bristol region is in a strong position to win one of the contracts given its proximity to London and its strong port, rail and road links.

See: http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/bristol-region-bidding-become-partner-240939

 

[superking]

With the demise of the vehicles with petrol/diesel engines does this mean they will change their mind with the train lines to full electric as we know there is bits they say wont be altered to electric.
The same thing applies from Cardiff to Swansea as both bits they saying will cost too much for what savings they would make.Will it be a case of do what I tell you and don't do what I do.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

With the demise of the vehicles with petrol/diesel engines does this mean they will change their mind with the train lines to full electric as we know there is bits they say wont be altered to electric.
The same thing applies from Cardiff to Swansea as both bits they saying will cost too much for what savings they would make.Will it be a case of do what I tell you and don't do what I do.

That's the hypocrisy of the whole thing.

The government makes a big statement of intent for the future but does the opposite with the present. Of course, none of the ministers in office today will in be office in 2040. A lot of them won't even be alive then so it's easy to make grand gestures that you won't have to answer for if they don't come about.

 

[kraktoa]

Its almost like a college essay question so apologies in advance.

End of freedom of movement in March 2019: discuss the post brexit impact on low cost airlines like Easyjet and Ryan Air.

My one word answer would be: Devastating.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Its almost like a college essay question so apologies in advance.

End of freedom of movement in March 2019: discuss the post brexit impact on low cost airlines like Easyjet and Ryan Air.

My one word answer would be: Devastating.

It would be if no agreement is put in place that ties in with the EU Open Skies Agreement although with easyJet having an Austrian AOC and Ryanair an Irish one that should solve part of the problem for these airlines, at least on intra-EU routes.

Many EU countries are hugely reliant on UK passengers for such things as tourism and it's unlikely that their governments would be prepared to cut off their nose to spite their face.

The same thing applies to talk of needing a visa when UK citizens visit European countries. It didn't happen before the UK joined the EU, at least not for Western European countries, and many of the former Eastern Bloc countries are now 'westernised'.

The snag with Brexit is the same snag that obtained in the run-up to the referendum. No-one knew what the result of a Leave vote would mean. We had all sorts of scenarios from both sides of the argument but no-one could know. They ranged from wild speculation to serious 'guestimates'.

Today another study has suggested that Bristol's economic output will suffer more than most cities post Brexit, especially if it's a hard Brexit, principally because the city is home to such a high number of law and accountancy businesses and firms that will be hit hardest by increased trade costs following the departure from the EU (joint Centre for Cities and Centre for Economic Performance study).

Against that a spokesman for the authors of the study said, “However, the good news is that Bristol is also better-placed than most other cities to respond to the downturn ahead, thanks to the city’s large share of high-skilled workers, innovative firms and strong business networks. All of these factors will be crucial in helping Bristol to adapt and reinvent its economy, and to continue to thrive as the UK’s economic circumstances change.”

Bristol has been continually reinventing itself as an economic centre, from the inter-war Depression Years right through post-war austerity and the various recessions since. It's always managed to do so successfully - in spite of inept local government leadership going back many decades and involving all political parties - and to be less affected than most cities, as it was in the Depression and in the major recession of the 'noughties' in this century.

So yet another example of what might or might not happen in a post EU era, albeit this is the work of a reputable and serious group that, as far as I know, has no interest in promoting either side of the argument for its own sake, unlike many organisations; and it still comes up with a suggested remedy.

 

[kraktoa]

If, and its a big if, freedom of movement were to end in 2019 then there will be many nationalities (and i presume it will be the Eastern European bloc and the newly joined EU countries) that will be targeted for reduced migration. I can only guess that a visa regime will be reinstated for Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Latvia, Poland, Lithania and possibly Croatia.

The low cost airlines will soon see reduction in passengers ( visa refusals) from these routes as with the exception of Prague and Croatia, the other routes are not popular with Brits.

Then ofcourse the airlines will have to reinvent newer routes and the open skies deals will be a major consideration.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

In such a scenario your suggestions seem eminently possible. I think the common agreement is that Brexit is going to shake up the UK's economy and obviosuly its relationship with the EU, but to what extent is the key question that no-one can answer with any degree of certainty.

I suspect that even after the terms of Brexit are arrived at the many predictions that are bound to follow will be found to have been incorrect, say, ten years down the line.

I think the main problem at the moment is the unpredictability. if we knew it was going to be a bad split from the EU, and in which ways, we would at least know the problem and be able to think about ways of dealing with it.

Addendum

I presume that you got back home all right from Lisbon. I trust you had an enjoyable visit.

 

[Jerry]

If, and its a big if, freedom of movement were to end in 2019 then there will be many nationalities (and i presume it will be the Eastern European bloc and the newly joined EU countries) that will be targeted for reduced migration. I can only guess that a visa regime will be reinstated for Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Latvia, Poland, Lithania and possibly Croatia.

The low cost airlines will soon see reduction in passengers ( visa refusals) from these routes as with the exception of Prague and Croatia, the other routes are not popular with Brits.

Then ofcourse the airlines will have to reinvent newer routes and the open skies deals will be a major consideration.

In the eyes of the EU there are no separate nationalities. Everyone is an EU citizen so any visa will be with the EU not the separate countries.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

In the eyes of the EU there are no separate nationalities. Everyone is an EU citizen so any visa will be with the EU not the separate countries.

I take it that kraktoa is referring to a situation where no free movement is guaranteed between the UK and the EU, in which case the UK could impose restrictions on people from any nation as is done at the moment where visas are required to visit the UK for citizens of some countries.

kraktoa does say it's a big 'if', not least I suspect, because such an eventuality could work both ways.

 

[kraktoa]

In such a scenario your suggestions seem eminently possible. I think the common agreement is that Brexit is going to shake up the UK's economy and obviosuly its relationship with the EU, but to what extent is the key question that no-one can answer with any degree of certainty.

I suspect that even after the terms of Brexit are arrived at the many predictions that are bound to follow will be found to have been incorrect, say, ten years down the line.

I think the main problem at the moment is the unpredictability. if we knew it was going to be a bad split from the EU, and in which ways, we would at least know the problem and be able to think about ways of dealing with it.

Addendum

I presume that you got back home all right from Lisbon. I trust you had an enjoyable visit.

Lisbon was just a stopover for the main highlight Azores. An incredibly beautiful island indeed. An espresso and cake for 95 cents. Cant argue with that. There is practically no money grabbing anywhere. The super market on the seafront boardwalk sells bottled water for 17 cents. How can you not like such an honest place. And 4 seasons every hour except the snow of course.

 

[kraktoa]

I take it that kraktoa is referring to a situation where no free movement is guaranteed between the UK and the EU, in which case the UK could impose restrictions on people from any nation as is done at the moment where visas are required to visit the UK for citizens of some countries.

kraktoa does say it's a big 'if', not least I suspect, because such an eventuality could work both ways.

I can see reciprocal agreements with nation countries in the EU. Broadly along the lines of if our citizens live in large numbers in your land then your citizens can come here freely and vice versa. So visa free travel with Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, etc etc....ie the wealthier nations with large expat Brits. All the rest will need visas after March 2019 and if brits want to go and visit...well tough....apply for a visa. This can be organised relatively easily. Prague and Bucharest had large UK visa processing centres until recently.

Ofcourse EU can impose on other member countries that they cant have unilateral deals with the UK. Talk to the EU as a whole not individual member states. That may not go down well with some wealthier member states and the EU could open a pandoras box with that one. They could lose out heavily with such a stance.