Mayor Election 2016 / News
Ferguson in new pledges at campaign launch
George Ferguson launched his campaign for a second and final term as mayor with promises to tackle deprivation in south Bristol and extend residents’ parking zones (RPZs).
He used a speech to spell out his aims ahead of the May election and also defend his record on house building, homelessness and Bristol’s year as the European Green Capital.
The mayor, who turns 69 in March, launched his campaign at The Station on Silver Street in the city centre on Thursday evening. He spoke to a crowd of more than 200 people on plans to convince the outside world that Bristol “is not just that place that’s somewhere near Bath”.
Despite The Station’s harsh lights and chilly interior, Ferguson’s supporters appeared cheerful and optimistic. Many praised him as a man of action – particularly in regards to his controversial transport decisions – and applauded his ability to reach across party lines.
Ferguson’s main challenger, Labour’s Marvin Rees is expected to launch his campaign on Sunday at his old Primary School in Shirehampton.
The mayor, speaking to guests and supporters, promised to introduce a new Bristol Business Advisory Board to work with areas of high deprivation to provide more opportunities for employment and training with employers in Bristol, particularly in the south of the city.
“It is not just a job for the city council but one for us all – and an issue that I know business is keen to work with me on,” he said.
The move is a likely attempt to quieten critics from the Labour camp who have accused the mayor of not doing enough challenge growing poverty levels in some areas of the city.
Ferguson also reaffirmed his promise to continue his roll-out of RPZs. His initial plans were scaled down following protests and in his second term he promised to only introduce new RPZs into neighbourhoods where the majority of residents are in favour.
He also used the speech to hit back at transparency critics who had attempted to steal the limelight at the closing ceremony of Bristol’s Green Capital Year, where organising body Bristol 2015 came under fire for not releasing its full accounts.
“Let’s put the record straight,” he said. “Bristol has been the most successful and energetic Green Capital to date, that does not come from me but from the European Commission.”
He added: “To fuss about the cost of sandwiches totally misses the point and is an insult to those who have given their time and expertise for Bristol’s good.”
Ferguson pointed to big achievements in his first term, including a buoyant economy partnered with higher levels of overall housebuilding than competing cities in the UK, rising average wages and making more emergency beds available for rising homelessness.
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Read more: Bristol mayor candidates 2016
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