News / bristol city council
‘How will the mayor pay for a Bristol metro?’
Bristol’s Tory leader is calling on the mayor to “come clean” about how he intends to finance plans for an underground rail system.
Mark Weston says it is all very well for Marvin Rees to “come up with ways of spending eye-watering sums of money”, but argues he cannot expect blind support for a “grandiose scheme” without disclosing more details.
The mayor has hit back at the Henbury and Brentry councillor, urging him to have patience and await the outcome of a £50,000 pre-feasibility study into the mass transport scheme.
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But the Tories have tabled a motion pressing Rees to reveal more information about how he intends to deliver the ambitious project, which is expected to cost between £2.5 and £4.5billion.
Could Bristol have an underground rail network within 10 years?
“It’s all very well for the mayor to come up with ways of spending eye-watering sums of public money – and a Bristol metro sounds great – but the bottom line is how is it going to be paid for and on what terms will it be financed?
“As others have already commented, most engineering problems can be overcome if one is prepared to throw enough money at it. So far, Marvin has been incredibly vague over how this grandiose scheme is going to be realised.
“The mayor cannot reasonably expect blind support for a potentially horrendously expensive plan.
“Our motion therefore calls on Marvin to produce a detailed report on this matter for scrutiny. This would include such important information as how price and passenger estimates have been calculated, as well as revealing any indications he has received of attracting private investment.”
Marvin Rees has hit back at Tory leader Mark Weston
Rees announced in December that he hopes to deliver the underground rail network, which includes provision of a three-link network, linking Bristol Airport, Bradley Stoke and Emersons Green to the city centre, within 10 years.
Responding to Weston’s comments, he said: “It seems the leader of the Conservative group wants it both ways.
“On one hand, he claims to have no information, while on the other hand, claims we are spending ‘eye-watering’ sums.
“Perhaps for now, he should simply express support for the aspiration of a mass transit system that would transform the city and the region, while showing patience for the outcome of the feasibility report that has been commissioned and is under way.
“I have already announced a report that has demonstrated the geological position is good and the current feasibility study is considering development options and the economic case. The results will determine how we move forward.”
The issue will be debated at a full council meeting on Monday.
Read more: Bristol metro: pipe dream or realistic rail plan?
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