Your priorities for the next Bristol mayor

As Bristol goes to the polls to elect our next mayor on Thursday, we asked 32 people on the streets in all four corners of the city what their three top priorities are for the next four years. Here’s what they said:

Latisha Wilson, 23, receptionist, Whitechurch

First, fix the bus times. I don’t know much about the employment, but I’ve found it hard to find work. So, I think maybe talking to employers to lower expectations. If it was London I’d understand, but too much is expected from people in Bristol, I think.

Emily Bennett, 29, support worker, Hartcliffe

Listen to what people are saying, to be aware of things that aren’t being taken care of. I find traffic is really bad – that’s a real issue at the moment. In fact, any transport issues are a priority. 

Ben Teeluck, 55, unemployed, Shirehampton

Housing is the number one priority. Then I think it would have to be transport, speed on the street is so unnecessarily slow. I also think we need more opportunities for young people.

Paula Sperry, 45, cleaner, Hengrove

Top priority for mayor is to get rid of the one we’ve got for a start- that’ll help. Transport and parking and then investment in the NHS.

Dominic Saville, 23, recent graduate, Clifton

It’s definitely the homeless issue which should be a top priority. Student accommodation is also very expensive in the city. And the mayor should fix the litter problem too.

Ginette, 63, social worker, Knowle

The mayor need to sort out traffic. Then they have got to look at the new Bristol Arena and make sure there’s proper parking. Also we need someone to fix the problem with social housing- this city is no longer affordable for anyone. 

Nick Eley, 38, self-employed, St George

The only thing I can think of is to fix the housing crises in Bristol. There are a lot of poor people been forced out of where they live and into the outskirts of Bristol and it’s sad.

Suzan Acherman, 47, transport manager, Lockleaze 

I only think we need a mayor who can look at road infrastructure, especially 20 mph zones which are more hassle than they are worth. By schools you need them, but elsewhere they are no good.

Alan Weeks, 72, retired, Stockwood

Completing the outer circuit ring road to Hartcliffe is the top priority. In the meantime, they need to make sure the outskirts of Bristol get as much as inner parts do. We’re probably the bigger ratepayers in Stockwood, so we’re paying for everything. 

Paulina Johnson, 59, counsellor, Easton

Homelessness needs to be looked at first. Then it’s sorting out the effects of the bedroom tax still. I also thing there needs to be more places for young people to go. 

Thomas Kretz, 27, unemployed, St Werburg’s

Definitely homelessness should be the first priority. There needs to be more help for young families and there is also a big problem with housing in Bristol which needs to be sorted out.

Pam Aldrige, 60, retired, Clifton

The next mayor’s top priorities should be preserving open space, sorting out the traffic and doing something about parking.

Carnell James, 72, retired, Whitechurch

The traffic is number one and then I suppose it’s housing. Also leisure and sport, especially after Stoke Gifford have just started charging to run in the park.

Caroline Penny, 53, self- employed, Shirehampton

We need to make sure there’s adequate housing for all people. All people must be treated equally- people with children, pets and people who want to pick fruit in parks.

Halima Ahmed, 46, shop assistant, Easton

I think we need to work to bring communities closer in Bristol. We also need more facilities for young adults and teenagers to give them more opportunities when they leave school.

Jacob Khan, 18, student, Stoke Bishop

The buses always late in this city and we need a mayor who’ll do something about about that. Traffic in general is also big priority and we need to sort out our homeless problem.

Elise Flynn, 81, retired, Shirehampton

We need more community centres for young people. We also need a supermarket in Shirehampton- we have only one. My third priority for the mayor would be to improve safety. This place becomes dangerous when night falls.

Robert Rodrigues, 32, purchase ledger Clerk, Whitechurch 

A good future, a good environment, clean!

Liane Faust, 45, hospital ward clerk, St George

Environmental issues, dumping the rubbish, keep streets clean- those are the top priorities. We must educate people and children. We should also solve our traffic problem. It’s not a clean place to live, Bristol.

Ian, 69, administrator, Knowle

Transport and traffic need to be at the top of the list. Then it’s litter and social housing for me. We have a lot of homeless people who should be properly cared for in Bristol.

Mandy, 46, support worker, St George

Honestly, integrity and just caring for people are what we need. The mayor must like people and help them. Every mayor should do that.

Steffani Cruddas, 49, unemployed, Knowle

Homeless and drugs problem in Bristol are a top priority for me. A lot of young people don’t have support from community either. I thing we need to regenerate certain parts of Bristol that are really run-down. 

Caroline Jane Caswell, 49, coffee shop assistant, Shirehampton

We have a housing crises at the moment and the mayor should be the person to fix that. We also need a lot more job opportunities for young people. Finally, litter is a serious problem.

Alex Chandler, 26, works in tourism industry, St Werburgh’s

No more red trousers first of all. Then we need someone who will do something about affordable housing and solve our problem with traffic too.

Kodi Andrews, 25, student social worker, St George

What is going to be done about cuts to domestic violence services across Bristol? What will be done about housing crisis particularly for vulnerable people? Third priority is safety within the city.

Sarah Mumford, 58, Clifton

Parking in this city makes ordinary people’s lives so much more difficult. That’s wrong. Libraries should also be cast open for everyone. Finally, I think we need to legalize marijuana.

Patric Whitefield, 34, guitar teacher, St Werburgh’s

Parking. All that is nonsense at the moment. We also need better facilities for homeless people who live on the street. That’s it for me. 

Claire LittleJohn, 38, Charity worker, St George

Transport should be the top priority. I don’t agree with the way it being managed at the moment. We also need to look at health in Bristol by doing more health promotion. Finally, there should be more services for charity.

Les Brandrick, 63, retired, Cotham

All I can think of is that parking restrictions are trying to encourage people on to public transport but there is not any. It’s all so fragmented and all over the place and there are not enough incentives for people to change their habbits.

Maria Stoica, 58, cleaner, Lockleaze

Transport is horrible here. And then we also have a problem with homeless people which the mayor needs to sort out. Also, young people don’t have any centres for support here either and something needs to be done about that.

Marcia McLean, 54, human resources advisor, St George

Number one has got to be transport in the city. Housing is also very important; there is a lack of affordable housing. Third is education, particularly the inner city schools.

Joe Legris, 41, unemployed, Lockleaze

The oly priority I think there should be is recycling. They should give more informations to people on how they can do it properly. People don’t recycle because they don’t know how. Empty houses and clean the trash. Some parts of Bristol are full of trash.