Labour promise mass transit system and to build 2,000 homes a year in 2021 manifesto

“We ended a period of stagnation and Bristol finally has an administration that’s getting stuff done.”

That is the message from Bristol mayor Marvin Rees in Labour’s manifesto ahead of the 2021 local elections which will see voters go to the polls to elect a new mayor, metro mayor, councillors and police & crime commissioner.

“Only Labour can tackle the housing, jobs and environmental crises,” says Rees.

Rees launched Labour’s election manifesto with Bristol’s Labour group leader, Marg Hickman, who is not standing for re-election in Lawrence Hill ward in May.

In the foreword to his party’s manifesto, he says: “We have delivered on all of our 2016 pledges: we’ve tripled affordable house building, protected our children’s centres and libraries from national austerity where other councils couldn’t, and are exceeding our climate targets.

“We’ve laid the foundations for a mass transit system, we’re building new schools and Youth Zones, and we’re on track to reach net-zero by 2030.”

Earlier this month, Marvin Rees and Labour leader Keir Starmer visited a new housing development on Bath Road – photo: Labour Party

“I am immensely proud of what Bristol Labour councillors have accomplished with Marvin over the last five years,” said Hickman.

“As well as our headline achievements, we have stood up for our local communities in the face of national Tory austerity, invested in our local parks and green spaces, and cleared the blackhole left in our accounts by the previous administration.”

Among the manifesto commitments are:

• deliver a mass transit system
• provide free travel for apprentices and students under-25
• provide more on-street bike hangers throughout the city
• building more than 2,000 homes a year, of which 1000 are affordable, by 2024
• invest in sustainable regeneration in Western Harbour, Temple Meads, Bedminster and Frome Gateway
• improve support for the homeless and formerly homeless
• introduce a rent freeze for allotments
• lobby the government to allow the pilot of a safe drug consumption room in Bristol
• expand the community toilet programme
• commission a mayoral equalities report to look into and address LGBTQ+ discrimination
• increase mental health support and expand mental health training
• establish a Bristol Bond “to develop long term capacity for civic investment in new affordable homes, infrastructure, and economic and social development”
• invest in local centres and high streets “so they can create new functions in addition to retail, such as pop-up art galleries, flexible workspaces and leisure facilities”
• “support and nurture Bristol’s night-time economy and the creative sector so that it recovers, thrives and becomes world renowned for its inclusivity, sustainability, safety, vibrancy and sense of uniqueness”
• promote sports by investing in new and existing sports facilities and work with sports clubs to protect playing pitches
• secure £1bn of investment to decarbonise Bristol’s energy system through the City Leap programme
• double Bristol’s tree canopy coverage
• dedicate 30 per cent of Bristol City Council’s land to nature
• make it easier for people in flats to recycle.
• provide more fly-tipping and litter enforcement officers
• work with communities to reduce on-path and pavement clutter
• complete and open Hartcliffe Way recycling and reuse centre.
• increase the number of bins in each community
• build “a world-class youth zone” in south Bristol
• undertake a comprehensive review of Early Years provision
• increase support for people who do not have English as a first language
• work with local schools to provide catch-up summer schools for Free School Meal children
• “support creative talent by breaking down barriers to entry to the creative economy for those from underrepresented groups”

Main photo: Labour Party

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