Charlotte Leslie calls for better public transport
25 July 2007
Calls have been made for a public meeting, involving the South West's main transport operator, to be held in a bid to solve Bristol's "embarrassing" public transport network.
Charlotte Leslie issued the call in an effort to encourage First Great Western to increase its investment into the much-maligned public transport infrastructure currently available within the city.
Charlotte's appeal comes as recent figures show Bristolians currently pay one of the highest bus fares in Europe - which has lead to an estimated 2 million passengers journeys being lost in the past two years.
Furthermore, despite implementing a 6.8 per cent fare increase in July - the highest increase since privatisation - First Great Western currently runs four out of the ten most overcrowded train services in England.
In response, Charlotte, the Conservative's Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Bristol North West, has called for a public meeting between representatives of the First group, transport stakeholders and the four unitary authorities to outline how the ailing transport network will be improved.
Charlotte said: "It has really been a case of passing the buck. The council says it is helpless, while First say it's not their fault, or that they are improving reliability and punctuality - improvements which the public never see, except as words in newspapers.
"Bristol's public transport is frankly an embarrassment. If cities like Manchester and Birmingham can sort themselves out, then so can Bristol.
"It is time to cut through this mess -to get some answers then take some action."
Charlotte will make a statement before Tuesday's full council meeting (July 24), calling for the public meeting to take place.
The statement will read; "I call for serious questions to be asked over First Bus's continued operation in Bristol.
"Therefore I request a public meeting between First Bus, transport stakeholders and the four unitary authorities to explain the fare rises and explain in detail how it is going to guarantee a good, reasonably priced service for Bristol in the very near future.
"If First Bus cannot do this, then appropriate action should be taken to find a transport provider which can.
"I would also like to ask the Council what measures they would be putting in place to ensure that should another franchise company take over the bus and local rail services, it would not be given the same leeway as First to charge some of the highest prices in Europe for a less than adequate service