Oyster-style public transport system at heart of Bristol Lib Dems’ manifesto

An Oyster-style “Brunel Card” public transport system would be introduced by the Lib Dems if they win control of Bristol City Council at the local elections on May 6.

Reduced bus fares for under-25s, street lamps that dim automatically to save energy, opposing Bristol Airport’s expansion, continuing to support a city centre arena and scrapping the city’s mayor are all among the pledges in the party’s manifesto.

The group is also promising to plant ten million trees over the next 20 years, build a tidal power generator, switch all taxis and private hire vehicles away from diesel and petrol before 2030, attract funding for a velodrome and promote drug consumption rooms, which are currently illegal.

Its manifesto, launched at College Green on Thursday, April 15, is anchored on three broad themes – sustainability, better services and better governance.

Among the more eye-catching policies are voting for a London-style bus franchise system at the West of England Combined Authority, a young person’s bus pass, lower fares for all and the Brunel Card smart ticketing system for passengers to hop between different modes of transport in Bristol.

The party supports new simplified resident parking zones (RPZs) with limited hours and greater flexibility for householders, rather than the blanket 9am to 5pm scheme, and a workplace parking levy to fund public transport, reduce congestion and combat air pollution.

A network of smart parking sensors providing real-time information to the public about the availability of parking spaces would be installed, along with “intelligent street lighting” which automatically adjust brightness.

Lib Dems also “embrace the potential of the hydrogen economy” and want to build a tidal power generator in the city, revitalise the Avon Barrage, develop hydro-power from the Floating Harbour and the Cut, and work with other local authorities on tidal lagoons in the Severn Estuary.

Stephen Williams will be running for WECA mayor. Photo: Bristol Lib Dems

They would create a “living garden” along the M32 “providing a better welcome into the city” and pump an extra £19m into children’s play parks in Bristol.

The group pledges to clean up all the city’s rivers and streams by 2030, introduce a credit rating system for reliable renters and ensure “affordable housing” is actually affordable by reviewing the cost level for developers’ social housing obligations.

It would offer greater consultation with residents on plans to revamp Cumberland Basin with a view to protect local green space and encourage more dedicated student housing to reduce pressure on family housing stock while implementing a planning cap on “unsustainable growth by the universities”.

The manifesto backs drug consumption rooms “to reduce deaths, crime and dangerous litter, and to protect the public” and the party would push for drug reform, recreational drug testing and safe rooms for users.

Lib Dems would provide properly supported spaces for dyslexia and special needs education and protect SEND pupils “because families should not have to fight or go to SEND tribunal to have the needs of their child met”.

Libraries would become community hubs with specialist social workers and housing advisers, while a free secure public wifi service would be created.

The community toilet scheme would undergo a comprehensive review, with council public toilets added where required.

The group would “continue to support the concept of a city-centre based arena as the most sustainable option for the city and seek to attract funding to build a velodrome for the city of Bristol”.

It would deliver the Bristol East pool and continue to support Jubilee Pool.

Caroline Gooch will run for the position of Bristol mayor. Photo: Bristol Lib Dems

A referendum on the council leadership model would be held, with the party campaigning for the role of Bristol’s elected mayor to be abolished.

Neighbourhood partnerships, scrapped by Labour mayor Marvin Rees, would be reestablished as a precursor to new “neighbourhood councils” with parish council legal status where communities want them.

Lib Dem Bristol mayoral candidate Caroline Gooch said: “We have an ambitious but achievable plan for Bristol, and a vote for us is a vote for open and effective governance, something that is sorely lacking from the current administration.”

Group leader councillor Gary Hopkins said “We have a strong plan from Bristol and based on our successful experience running the council from 2009-12 we know we can deliver on it.

“At the core of our plan is scrapping the role of Bristol mayor, bringing local democracy back, and putting an end to the current secretive and unaccountable state of the council.”

Adam Postans is a local democracy reporter for Bristol.

Main photo: Bristol Lib Dems

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