News / Bristol
Interview: Charlotte Leslie
“I would have loved to have been in the room when someone said let’s build a park and ride to alleviate congestion in the city, but not put a platform in when there is a railway right there.”
Conservative candidate Charlotte Leslie talks animatedly about a plan to join up the Severn Beach line, something she believes would revolutionise Bristol transport and is clearly frustrated by the lack of progress.
“That to me emphasises so much about Bristol’s transport decision making,” says Leslie, speaking against a backdrop of the Portway Park and Ride which backs onto an existing railway line, yet does link up with it or the nearby station in any way.
is needed now More than ever
“How did it happen?” She asks. “You travel to other cities and it’s just embarrassing how it is in Bristol.
“For me, revolution of the transport planning and railway infrastructure is the one thing I would do if I could. We have got a situation where we have houses being built in Filton and for 10 years, everyone has been saying it’s gridlocked already. With this development, it will go over the tipping point. Decision makers have all said it will be fine, but low and behold, we are seeing gridlock every day.”
Leslie was first elected as MP for Bristol north west in 2010 and is standing for re-election. She has been working with Labour colleague Kerry McCarthy on opening a Henbury loop line.
“It’s not only viable, but essential if we are to have any movement in traffic,” she says. “I’m hopeful that if I’m elected, we can start to get this moving. The thing is, it’s actually becoming too late. When people move to a place, if there’s a railway in place, they will use it, but once people get into the habit of going in the car it’s harder to change.
“Everyone seems determined not to look at what will be the game changer for Bristol traffic and it’s just so illogical and damaging for so many areas of our communities. It’s such a lovely city, but we are putting businesses off coming here.
“One man I spoke to can’t afford a car so has to get up at 3am to walk to work in Avonmouth. That’s the human cost. Businesses in Avonmouth say it’s very difficult to get people to work and yet there is a railway that runs along that route.”
She added that she has been battling a historic legacy and is hopeful that now things are beginning to change for the better.
Admitting she is happiest when getting things done, Leslie is proud to have been involved in community projects, such as getting the historic Lamplighters pub in Shirehampton reopened.
“Access to jobs, air quality and quality of life all rest on getting the transport issues right,” says Leslie. “I would like to see a cross modal transport system in Bristol.”
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