Portway Park And Ride, trains and transport. Follow up letter to Bristol Evening Post.

On the 15th October 2007 I e-mailed a letter to the Bristol Evening Post about Friday's article entitled 'Do We Need More Park And Ride?'. It was to clarify a few points. It also mentions other transport issues and answers the question raised on Saturday about a train platform for the Portway Park and Ride. Below is the letter I sent and await to see if it is printed.

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My letter that appeared on 27th September and my use of buses. The paragraph 'I used to use the bus ..... it hasn't changed' is referring to a recent trip to the top of Blackboy Hill/Whiteladies Road. The P&R doesn't go there and there is the odd occasion where I do use the bus but again the P&R doesn't get me there either. My preferred mode of public transport is the train. However my letter did prove one thing. People make assumptions and in life assumptions can be the wrong conclusion.

The article that appeared on Friday 'Do we need more Park and Ride?' is in fact taken from a larger news piece that covers several other issues with many questions being raised and as yet awaiting a response from Councillors and the Council. Items to note are that I did not say "there was no proof that more park-and-ride services were needed". That has been taken out of context as the article reads "I asked the Council Officer what proof did they have that the Park and Ride would have increased usage?" I am still awaiting reply on that along with another question on how their research has been carried out for the proposal and the results. Research is limited numbers and is rather generalised. And I have not said I am against P&R, I have said they work fine when put in the right place. And I had to laugh when I was described as a campaigner, I am in fact a concerned resident who lives next to the P&R. I love my community and where I live.

Residents in the area are unaware what the hidden phrases mean in the glossy leaflet for example "be ready for future attractions" which are Castle Park and Bristol Arena and me being told "We may be looking at extending the opening hours of the Park and Ride". What extensions?. All the clever marketing and hidden phrasing needs to be questioned such as "bus frequency and route will remain unchanged for the time being although local enhancements are under investigation". "Existing access points and bus circulation area will remain as at present but a new amenity building will be provided..." Where? It's not on the map. And whenever the M32 P&R is eventually built what will the knock effect be for the Portway P&R because it changes the catchment area. Soon it will be too late to ask questions and after all the 'Council have already told us their plans'.

There is a web site available that has information on the Portway Park And Ride and other articles besides which will also include information that has been provided by Bristol City Council as a matter of record. The web link is: http://www.myspace.com/portwayparkandride There is also a discussion group available that has the questions raised about a number of matters and hidden phrases that need to be clarified The web link is: http://groups.myspace.com/portwayparkandride Check out the web links for updates and it's up to the community to use the discussion group or not.

People have great choice for shopping, entertainment and so on and Cabot Circus isn't the only place to go. For example you can also shop local, Cribbs Causeway, Cardiff, Swindon, online shopping and so on. And you have a choice of transport as recent reports have shown in the Bristol Evening Post. Old ways of the horse and cart are not mentioned because we have moved forward and no real environmental effects there. Walking is something most of us have access to, again no real environmental effects. But the biggest thing we have is opportunity, communication and working together as a team or do we?

Various Councils, P&R operators, bus operators, train operators, other organisations are all working on ways to persuade car drivers to leave their car at home. P&R isn't necessarily the solution because the traffic congestion is moved from one area to another and people are using routes that take them out of their way to their destination, but it has a role to play. And a point was made from a guy in Portishead about the trains. The Severn Beach line provides a very good regular train service and I use it too because its fast, cheap and links in with the other trains I use. There was talk of a platform on the P&R for the train back in 2000 but nothing came of it. I have asked again about this platform and its inclusion to the P&R and have been told it is very unlikely to happen because there is no investment in trains and there are other issues with it as well. This has been questioned again. Also P&R and the train are run by different organisations. Ever heard of working together? Talk about shooting yourself in the foot! The station platform would have been a plus point.

And there is point proved. Until these organisations own agendas, red tape, budgets and profits are cleared away from the table and the question of teamwork and communicating together to solve the public transport problem and congestion is put in front of them, it just won't be solved. They will continue to pull things apart and achieve very little in the process of problem solving.

Do we really need more Park and Ride? And my Defence.

The Bristol Evening Post have printed an article about the Portway Park and Ride and are the first in three weeks to get a comment from Bristol City Council because before that they remained silent.


The comments in the article is actually taken from the following Indymedia feature which I gave them permission to use, so by all means compare the items (And read the various blogs on this page):
http://www.bristol.indymedia.org/newswire.php?story_id=26923


I had to laugh when I was called a campaigner ...... ummmm I am actually a concerned resident. So I want to get that straight and thanks for letting me know I am married?!!!!!!.


I am not urging residents to oppose the plans but ask questions about this project because a lot of information in the leaflet is clever marketing and hidden phrases that are not explained.


I haven't said Park and Rides don't work what I have said they work very well when they are in the right places. The community recently lost the 57 bus with no consultation and I don't want to see that with the Park and Ride - I used the business plan bit as the best way to describe things - go the same way because 'the Council got it wrong'. People are using the P&R service so why should they loose out? The Council have weakness's to work on before expanding and worded phrases such as 'I think' and 'had potential' when speaking to the media give doubt on their side, are they confident? No? All I am saying is wait and see and revise findings at a later date when they are more reliable.


There are a couple phrases from Mark Bradshaw city council's executive member for transport that cause me doubts:

"the site had potential to be much more effective."
"If we make it more attractive and improve signs on the motorway then I think it can be much more effective."


The Bristol Evening Post failed to mention that a web site and discussion group are available on the internet so I guess it'll be a letter to the Evening Post's letter page because readers are only getting part of the picture.


As of today questions sent to the local Councillors about the proposed expansion I have not had a response or acknowledgement from but I have already been told by other organisations that they have "also had problems with both councillors, and a long history of not replying to letters or emails."


I also sent the questions to the Environment, Transport and Leisuire Department including their Director, so I await a response from them.


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DO WE REALLY NEED MORE PARK AND RIDE?


BY RUPERT JANISCH R.JANISCH


10:40 - 12 October 2007


A campaigner from Shirehampton is urging residents to oppose plans to expand the park-and-ride scheme on the Portway.


Bristol City Council wants to add 500 car parking spaces to the 320 already at the facility, which is on the A4 just next to the M5 bridge.


The expansion is part of the city council's plans to get more people using the bus into the city centre, particularly when the new Cabot Circus shopping centre opens next year.


But Kathryn Courtney-O'Neill, a Shirehampton resident who has been living in the area for 42 years, said the existing site was rarely full.


She said there was no proof that more park-and-ride services were needed and said there were other priorities for the city council to worry about first.


The Portway site has been open for more than five years and is operated by Wessex Connect, which runs buses every 15 minutes to the city centre.


Mark Bradshaw, the city council's executive member for transport, said the site had potential to be much more effective.


But Mrs Courtney-O'Neill said: "I have my doubts with this expansion.


"We should leave it as it is for the moment because it has failed to reach expectations so far. Like any business, if you are making a profit and demand has increased beyond your capacity, you expand, make further profit and continue growing.


"But what if you are a business that has failed to reach expectations, want to expand and research carried out isn't solid?


"You work on your weakness and solve it, get into profit, increase demand and try again.


"Park and rides have to be able to sustain themselves, support themselves and make a profit to survive and re-invest. As with anything new, once the curiosity in Cabot Circus dies down people will revert to habit.


"This park and ride was open before Broadmead was demolished and the city has other attractions to encourage people to make use of it.


"Which begs the question why aren't people using the Portway park and ride to get to them?


"I encourage people to ask questions and get answers in plain English, not be fobbed off with jargon."


Mr Bradshaw said: "For every one person who says the park and ride doesn't work, you get many more saying it's a good thing. We already have this site and we recognise that the Portway is one of the key routes into the city centre.


"If we make it more attractive and improve signs on the motorway then I think it can be much more effective.


"We are very keen on park and ride and we clearly have to do more to promote the benefits of it.


"We are currently undergoing a period of consultation prior to any planning application going in."


Web site link:
http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=145365&command=displayContent&sourceNode=145191&c..18649967&folderPk=83726&pNodeId=144912

Bristol City Council should work on weakness. - Indymedia

I published a written article on the web site Indymedia if you want to read the full piece then the link is:
http://www.bristol.indymedia.org/newswire.php?story_id=26923

(The reason why I put Bristol is brackets is because there is another Portway Park and Ride near the Docks in Preston, Lancashire and here is the link: http://www.lancashire.gov.uk/environment/bus/park_and_ride/parkandride.asp )

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Portway Park and Ride (Bristol) should not be allowed to expand.

by Kathryn Courtney-O'Neill - Freelancer Wednesday,

Oct 10 2007, 11:11pm

Bristol City Council should work on weakness and learn from past mistakes.

Bristol City Council are proposing that the Portway Park and Ride be expanded from a 320 car parking space site to an 820 parking space site. This would add a further 500 spaces to an already underperforming Park and Ride site that they admit "is not used to capacity" and "fallen below our expectations and has been slow, but there has been an 8% increase in usage in the past year". This is five and a half years since it originally opened in April 2002.

But I forget. Government grants are being thrown at this and similar projects so why should we care anyway. It's not our money or is it?! Read on.

Checked out the local exhibition of the proposed Portway Park and Ride Expansion project at the local Library. And I have my doubts with this expansion. Leave it as it is for the moment because at least it is being used even though it has failed to reach expectations so far according to Bristol City Council. After all I don't want people who are using the service to lose out because "the Council got it wrong" and they do from time to time.

Like any business if you are making a profit and demand has increased beyond your capacity, you expand, make further profit and continue growing. But what if you are a business that has failed to reach expectations, want to expand and research carried out isn't solid. What happens then? You work on your weakness and solve it, get into profit, increase demand and try again. But what if this is a local Council project with grants being thrown at it and then the money runs out, what do you do then? Park and Rides have to be able to sustain themselves, support themselves and dare I say it make a profit to survive and re-invest. Bristol City Council have already admitted "that the present site is not used to capacity" and "the Portway Park and Ride has fallen below our expectations and has been slow but there has been an 8% increase in usage in the past year". Now this is for 320 car parking places. There is some local usage with several additional bus stops on route to the city centre and a walk on facility to the site. Of course rush hour to and from the site means it is busy in the morning and early evening when people leave work/school/college/home, but in between time buses run empty or have very few passengers.

The Council want to add a further 500 car parking spaces "to coincide with the opening of Cabot Circus and be ready for other future projects". However the traffic flow continues the same in both directions throughout the day, to and from Avonmouth Industrial Estate which is heavily used due to no public transport availability and of course being docks, warehousing, industrial and other business in the area.

The Portway Park & Ride leaflet says "demand will increase as the Cabot Circus development and other city centre projects attract more journeys". As with anything new once the curiosity to Cabot Circus dies down people will revert back to habit. This Park and Ride was open before Broadmead was demolished, the city has other attractions to encourage people to make use of. There are big festivals that are family orientated such as the Festival of The Sea, The Real Food and Organic Festival are examples. Which begs the question why aren't people using the Portway Park and Ride to get to them? When I asked the Council Officer what proof did they have that the Park and Ride would have increased usage due to Cabot Circus the same old answer was churned out "Our research shows...." But what research? Who did the research? Was it a Bristol firm or another company from another part of the Country? What knowledge do they have of Bristol? Who did they ask? Were they Bristolians for example? Where did these people who were surveyed come from? What was asked? Did they approach the local residents who live by the site? (I know I've not been part of their findings). I also asked what was the catchment area for the Portway Park and Ride? The answer "Local people of course and people from across the bridge in Wales" (Well I have family who live near Cardiff and friends in surrounding areas, I wonder if they were surveyed for research purposes?).

We have great choice and access to the Cribbs Causeway complex. Shopping, Entertainment and free car parking. There is easy access from the Motorway for the Cribbs area. We could shop in Cardiff even Gloucester, it is independent choice, then again we may decide to stay local and support our local village shops in the high street. It is us as an individual who decides where we want to shop and not be told where to shop even by Bristol City Council. Then there is social and consumer change, more people are doing online shopping and large business has taken this on board to diversify and make up for the loses of 'on street shopping', but what else does the future hold there? With technology continually on the move more and more people are taking the option of 'working from home' and only popping into the office when they need to, again expansion there. And entertainment. Entertaining from home is getting more popular with technology on hand, take-a-ways, home cooking and the local off licence. We are all becoming rather insular with our habits. So has all that been taken into account with the research? The world is continually changing fast and what was predicted two years ago would have been old hat within six months of research being done. Research has to be more up to date.

The "be ready for future projects" and "other city centre projects attract more journeys" quotes in the leaflet are in fact talking about the development of Castle Park (the buildings bit) and the Bristol Arena (which I wish the organisations would make a decision on and it's next door to Bristol Temple Meads train station). How do I know this? It's because I asked the question and wanted clarification of these phrases. And with that in mind I was told "We may be looking at extending the opening hours of the Park and Ride". What extension would this be? Not midnight and gone surely if the Bristol Arena audience is included? And Christmas shopping extensions all year round instead? Are local people in particular aware of this? No. Because it is not mentioned in the leaflet. It is hidden under phrases such as "be ready for future projects" and "other city centre projects attract more journeys". There are other phrases too that I am questioning.

So what if the Portway Park and Ride expansion went ahead? Say if the research they were given was incorrect, the Government grants run out, the Park and Ride again falls below expectation and there is no money in the kitty to keep it running what then? Does it go bust and the site is closed leaving people that use the service high and dry? Do they try and get someone else to take it over? Do they go cap in hand to the Council and ask the city (that's all Bristolians many of which won't be using the service for obvious reasons, for example live no where near the area) for a hand out to keep it running because it expanded beyond the demand of the service. And is it fair on the Park and Rides that are self supporting? How long would that continue? And you know the people who lose out? It's the people who are currently using the service. Why should they suffer? They didn't do the market research, were unlikely to be included in the current research that Bristol City Council have used so far in the leaflet, and were not responsible for the purse strings either.

And what about Public Transport being available to all? I know of people who use shopping buggies because they have to. Door to door due to restricted mobility and disability. Now I did question this and what facility was available to people who use this equipment to aid them with as much independence as they possibly can get. And I should clarify I know one or two people who would use the Park and Ride if they could get their shopping buggies on board. Don't they have as much right to get to Cabot Circus on the Park & Ride as the next person? Anyway the answer was "In fact none of our buses can cater for that type of facility, I think it would be a health and safety issue." the Council Officer said. So if that is a health and safety issue doesn't overcrowding and standing in the aisles of a bus come under the same 'health and safety' rule? If that is the case should all passengers be sat down before the bus sets off? Otherwise as it is couldn't it be seen as an accident waiting to happen? Coaches don't allow standing passengers and don't they have seat belt legislation in force?

Ok. I don't use the Portway Park and Ride because it doesn't take me to where I want to go, but I do use the local train service on the Severn Beach line from time to time and it is a superb service. However I do know people who use the Park and Ride and don't want to see them lose out on a facility that they use because the "Council got it wrong". Leave the Park and Ride as it is work on it's weakness but also remember people are not sheep. "You can take a horse to water but you can't make it drink" is the old adage. Don't expand. Wait at least six months after Cabot Circus has opened then do a re-assessment and see what demand is like then. After all it can always go back to the Planning Committee eighteen months down the line if research is proved and it doesn't take that long to get the work done on the additional extension.

There are many questions that need to be asked and clarified answers given about this project. Read the leaflet again. Spot any hidden phrasing and clever marketing? What do you want to know about the project and what happens after the grants run out how will the project support itself?

As with any Council across the Country they should be held accountable to it's citizens. If a person has a genuine concern for their own local community then I do encourage people to ask questions and get answers in plain English, not be fobbed off with jargonise. Get in contact with your local Councillors too, however I cannot guarantee they will respond in a quick fashion. After that if it still has problems well it's not my fault as I have made my thoughts known and asked the questions that I hope are relevant to the development and my local community. (Check out web links listed below)

mailto:portwayparkandrideblog@yahoo.co.uk

Web Site: http://www.myspace.com/portwayparkandride

Discussion Group: http://groups.myspace.com/portwayparkandride

Portway Park and Ride. - For Shire Newspaper

This is another item I have sent for inclusion to the local community publication - Shire Newspaper - for their November edition.

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Proposed Portway Park And Ride Expansion.

So Bristol City Council want to expand the Portway Park and Ride in time for when Cabot Circus opens next September. Now remember this is a proposed project that is open for public consultation and the leaflet delivered to residents in Avonmouth and Shirehampton is very glossy and just says what the Council want you to know. There is 'hidden phrasing' and no explanations. There are many questions that need to be answered and clarified. Remember back in 2000 this began as a 550 car parking space Park and Ride. And after the 99 bus route was scrapped many years ago the Council were going to provide something that would cover this long forgotten and needed bus service for the locals. Now Bristol City Council couldn't get the additional land they wanted for various reasons but if they had would they still be making a proposal for expansion especially as they cannot fill the 320 spaces they already have, if it was a Park and Ride only with no local input?

I did go along the 'exhibition' and spoke to a Council Officer there and these are answers given so far that day. (I have also e-mailed other questions to the Local Councillors and the Environment, Transport and Leisure Department as well which will be put on the web site.)

Park and Rides have to be able to support themselves and dare I say it make a profit to survive and re-invest. Bristol City Council have already admitted "that the present site is not used to capacity" and "the Portway Park and Ride has fallen below our expectations and has been slow but there has been an 8% increase in usage in the past year". Now this is for 320 car parking places five and a half years after it originally opened. Questions on how the P&R is being financed and how it is being supported have been asked and await reply. Of course rush hour to and from the site means it is busy in the morning and early evening when people leave work/school/college/home, but in between time, the P&R buses run empty or have very few passengers. I asked what was the catchment area for the Portway Park and Ride? "Local people of course and people from across the bridge in Wales".

The "be ready for future projects" and "other city centre projects attract more journeys" quotes in the leaflet are in fact talking about the development of Castle Park (the buildings bit) and the Bristol Arena (which I wish the organisations would make a decision on and it is next door to Temple Meads railway station). I wanted clarification of these phrases. And with that in mind I was told "We may be looking at extending the opening hours of the Park and Ride". What extension would this be? Not midnight and gone surely if the Bristol Arena audience is included? And Christmas shopping extensions all year round instead? Are local people who live next to/across from this site in particular aware of this? No. Because it is not mentioned in the leaflet. It is hidden under the aforementioned phrases . And what is 'the new amenity building for staff and passengers' and where will it be built because it's not marked on the map?

New things always attract great interest and Cabot Circus will be a great curiosity, but once that dies down and interest levels out people revert to habit. There is plenty to choice for people these days, support your local shops, go to Cribbs Causeway, Gloucester, Cardiff, Swindon even London. Shop online, entertain at home. Society and consumer demand is continually changing that you cannot keep up.
So what if the Portway Park and Ride expansion went ahead? Where did their research information come from? Who did they ask? Say if the research they were given is incorrect? It has happened before. When the Government grants run out and the Park and Ride again falls below expectation with no money in the kitty to keep it running, what then? Does it go bust and the site is closed leaving people that use the service high and dry? Do they try and get someone else to take it over? Do they go cap in hand to the Council and ask the city (that's all Bristolians many of which won't be using the service for obvious reasons) for a hand out to keep it running because it expanded beyond the demand of the service? How long would that continue? And who would lose out? It's the people who are currently using the service. Why should they suffer? They didn't do the market research, were unlikely to be included in the current research that Bristol City Council have used so far in the leaflet, and were not responsible for the purse strings either.

People may not be interested in how a project or service is financed or supported now but when the money runs out and the service is withdrawn people then sit up and take notice. Only recently the 57 bus was withdrawn without public involvement in the decision.

And what about Public Transport being available to all? I know of people who use shopping buggies because they have to. Door to door due to restricted mobility and disability. Now I did question this and what facility was available to people who use such equipment to aid them with as much independence as they possibly can get. And I should clarify I know one or two people who would use the Park and Ride if they could get their shopping buggies on board. Don't they have as much right to get to Cabot Circus as and when they want to on the Park & Ride as the next person? "In fact none of our buses can cater for that type of facility, I think it would be a health and safety issue." the Council Officer said. So if that is a health and safety issue doesn't overcrowding and standing in the aisles of a bus come under the same 'health and safety' rule? If that is the case should all passengers be sat down before the bus sets off? Coaches don't allow standing and aren't safety belts in use these days?Ok. I don't use the Portway Park and Ride because it doesn't take me to where I want to go. Although I recently made a trip to Blackboy Hill on the bus (the P&R does not go there) and the service hasn't changed, not a great service, dirty, not value for money and so on. But I do use the local train service from time to time and it is a superb service. It gets me to where I need to go pretty fast and links in with the other trains with great ease or am I just lucky with that bit? However I do know people who use the Park and Ride and don't want to see them lose out on a facility that they use because the "Council got it wrong". Leave the Park and Ride as it is and work on it's weakness before even considering expansion. If this was a business it wouldn't happen. If this was a property you couldn't afford yet you still bought it and couldn't make the mortgage payments, it would get repossessed. Don't expand. Wait at least six months after Cabot Circus has opened then do a re-assessment and see what demand is like then. After all it can always go back to the Planning Committee eighteen months down the line if research is proved and it doesn't take that long to get the work done on the additional extension.

A lot of information, and facts will be put online concerning the Portway Park And Ride so please check out the web site for regular updates: http://www.myspace.com/portwayparkandride and there is also a discussion group that you can join and add your own views and thoughts: http://groups.myspace.com/portwayparkandride If you don't have a computer at home you can visit your local library and read the web site and discussion groups there, you can even join in.

Community Spirit. - Written for the Shire Newspaper.

This is an item I have sent for inclusion to the local community publication - Shire Newspaper - for their November edition.

You may ask why this has been include in the Portway Park and Ride blog and the answer is a neigbour and several members of the community have raised the question about leisure and social facilities in the area and severe lack of them, in addition to the Shire newspaper running a very good feature called "Vision for Shirehampton".

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Community, Community, Community!

I have read the 'Vision for Shirehampton' features with great interest and the sad thing about it all is that society and communities have changed over the years. There isn't the care and attention there once was. If a public facility disappears it's "Oh well" and the fire to make a stand has fallen by the wayside. And today if something is happening outside your front gate most people aren't interested. I've over heard some people say "that society is all about me, me, me!" They could be right.

There are local communities out there that have no community newspaper, no community hall, no community association to fight for their area. We are lucky. We have the Shire Newspaper, we have the Public Hall and we have SCAF. Community spirit may be on the low side and apathy about to take over making it the best gift that Bristol City Council could ever ask for, but people still write into the Shire and that gives hope. However if you are reliant on Councillors to help out, response is not very good. Gone are the days when you could rely on your local Councillor. What are they doing for Shirehampton, Avonmouth or even Lawrence Weston for example? We vote them in and we can vote them out. They all make promises. Now is the time we them.

I have lived in Shirehampton all my life and not always seen it change for the better. More flats and houses get built and we loose social facilities. Shops close and we do need a good choice to be made available and if it isn't we go elsewhere. We do not need another charity shop or an Estate Agent or betting shop. There used to be 'Scoop Away' in the village many years ago. I don't know why it closed. We used to have a Cycle and Toy Shop, a Jewellery shop and a Record/Music shop too. All gone.

The swimming baths, Robin Cousins Sport Centre, - who bought that and what will it be used for? - Groveleaze Youth Club, Tythe Barn, the old Snooker Hall, The Portway Players, all gone. And what has been put in its place? Nothing! Buildings and land in the area get sold off and it's not re-invested into the communities. Why not? Where does this money go? The Portway Players have since moved out of the area along with other clubs and groups because there is no-where to 'house them'.

What we still have in the area for the time being is "Bob's Gym" in the old Bus Station on Avonmouth Road. It has another six months lease for the moment but the planning permission for more flats on that land was turned down recently, one of the reasons being lack of flood defences. Now "Bob's Gym" is an essential facility to the area. Men and women use it and it's a wide age range. If you want to keep in shape and keep fit then it's the place to go with the added bonus of being a social place too. It is a family run business by Bob and Jayne Warren and there are many who are thankful for their help, advice and spirit they give. Bob has helped many people recover from sporting injuries, road traffic accidents and operations for example. He is helping me recover from a knee injury. In fact if "Bob's Gym" wasn't around all I would have is the physiotherapy that is being provided by the NHS and recovery would be much slower. Yes I know swimming would help but the Swimming Baths isn't exactly local is it and times aren't always convenient. Of course the argument could be join a gym like Fitness First, but membership fees and monthly fees are way beyond my budget. For "Bob's Gym" the membership fee for the year is £20 and then you pay £6.00 or session fee a week for using the gym facilities and of course expert advice is always on hand from Bob and Jayne. It is highly important that we support our local facilities and when under threat of closure make a stand against it and fight to keep them open.

We do need a youth centre for the older children and teenagers, we need facilities that we can use to keep the community fit, healthy and access to all with a social element. Isn't the Government always going on about obesity rates and healthy eating and then local Councils close down facilities. Great move! A neighbour of mine mentioned a skateboard park. Now that it just one example. However a recent political leaflet recently delivered to my home did state 'they were working on improving local play facilities'. We need more than that in Shirehampton, Avonmouth and Lawrence Weston!

I'd like to see the return of "Shirehampton Carnival" one day soon. I loved that as a child. Get some community spirit moving. Maybe the local Councillors could look into grants that could be applied for to get this going? And wasn't there a Victorian Christmas Evening done in Shirehampton a little while ago? Expand that to a weekend of activities. It's worth looking into.

And of course we have SCAF who work hard on behalf of the Shirehampton Community but how many people know what they do and what they achieve working behind the scenes. Don't they deserve more support in the future? After all a community working together makes it difficult for a local Council to break apart and do things we seem to feel we have no say in any longer.

Bristol Evening Post letter and other Media coverage.

Monday 24th September 2007 the leaflet for the Proposed Portway Park and Ride Extension fell through my letter box. And of course I read it. However several people I know who had the leaflet either tossed it into the recycling bin or was just put on the side and ignored. How do I know this? I asked. Which got me to thinking if leaflets that concern the community got this treatment (yes even I am annoyed with the amount of junk mail that I get through my letterbox) how else could I spark a reaction?

I did an interview with BBC Radio Bristol that day about the subject for the drive time show but the Council did not comment that evening and Radio Bristol were hoping to get a response on the proposed Park and Ride expansion from Bristol City Council the following day. I don't know if the Council did respond and I forgot to ask. Oops sorry about that.

BCfm e-mailed for an interview as long as they could get a Council representative and someone from the bus company to present their views. No further feedback as yet.

BBCi will be doing something soon, again in the hope of getting a response from the Council.

And then the local paper. I emailed the Bristol Evening Post letters page with a somewhat cynical and sarcastic in parts letter. After all if logic, common sense and facts don't always work why not throw around a few ideas and scenarios and see what happens. Would common sense prevail? Would there be a response. I just want people to know that this is happening now and have their say. So we'll wait and see.

In the meantime below is a jpeg of the letter and some points have been clarified with more information to follow in the blogs soon.

On the 27th September the Bristol Evening Post printed my letter about the Portway Park and Ride expansion. (A larger version of the 'Soapbox' letter is on the main blog page under the Park and Ride leaflet pictures.)

1. The Photo. -Ooops the Bristol Evening Post used an old library photo from their archives of the previous company that was running the service. They'll use updated pictures in the future I am sure, but the picture is used to enhance the letter.
2. Delivery of leaflets to the right area. - Before the Park and Ride was built and it was a proposed project the Council got a company to deliver consultation leaflets to the area to Sea Mills and Stoke Bishop. Yes I know they begin with S. Easy mistake to make. Shirehampton and Avonmouth residents didn't see these leaflets and I only found out about the proposed project and leaflet by accident. So I typed up an information sheet got it photo-copied and delivered it myself to people in Avonmouth and Shirehampton otherwise they would not have known about it and we would not have had our say. The Council were apologetic for the mistake and refunded me my printing costs.
3. The allegation to expand the Park and Ride across the allotments. - This is true. I was handed a two page letter by a concerned member of the public that was dated the 19th January 2004 from the Allotments Manager of the Environment, Transport and Leisure Department. This was advising that a proposal to make the allotments surplus to requirements would be made to the Allotment Panel sometime in February 2004. This would involve obtaining Secretary Of State consent to change it's use from allotment use, as required under section 32 of the Allotments Act 1908. A minimum of 12 months notice would be given to all tenants to quit and other points besides. The letter also said "Most of the site has been unoccupied for many years and has been earmarked as a potential Park and Ride extension for some time". I may put this letter online with name and contact details removed of my source. Anyway I approached Radio Bristol with this information and they ran a radio piece about it. The Council gave no comment.
4. Why expand a dead duck, a white elephant? - Information will be following on this so keep reading the blogs because what the Council expected to happen didn't go the way they predicted.
5. How is it being financially supported? More information will be following on this.
6. The traffic going the wrong way. - A traffic survey was done by locals on the Portway and the Cumberland Basin. This should be online soon, however a lot of the traffic is heading towards Avonmouth Docks and Industrial estates.
7. Shortfalls have been reported in the past. - Local Councillor Spud Murphy has raised this point several times and even in their own leaflet Bristol City Council admit 'The present site is currently not used to capacity'
8. Lets move further down onto the Daisy Field .... make Shirehampton one big car park. - I recall along the line that the Park and Ride is expected to be 1500 car spaces. So what will happen next. It was part of the 'ten year plan' which is revised every ten years so I will be checking this out again as it was revised a couple or so years ago.
9. Park and Rides are fine as long as they are put in the right place. - I am not anti Park and Ride because they do work well when they are in the right place. I have used the Bath Park and Ride so they do work well. Check out the web links for more information. The Portway Park & Ride should have been off the motorway exit. Quite a few years ago the land opposite Cosco had no buildings. Think about it, road access, roundabouts, could have saved money, got a lot done and more use out of it catching commuters right off the motorway.
10. I haven't used the Park and Ride. - This is the Portway Park & Ride. At least I admit to that. I could mislead you all into believing I do but I don't. It really doesn't take me to where I want to go.
11. I used to use the bus ..... it hasn't changed. - Unfortunately my car was vandalised recently and I had to get to the top of Blackboy Hill/Whiteladies Road. So I caught a bus from the high street (the Park and Ride would not get me there). Can't say it has changed but that is my personal opinion of First Bus buses.
12. Disabilities ..... the Park and Ride isn't exactly advantageous. - A disabled person who relies on a shopping buggy to get around cannot get on the Park and Ride or any bus for that matter. Should changes be made because the shopping buggy is a legitimate disability aid to try and help with independence.
13. The Park and Ride Expansion will be an even greater disaster. - Shouldn't the Council work on strengthening the weaknesses of this Park and Ride first and the fact that it admits it is not currently used to capacity. A business expands because its successful and is making a profit so they can invest their own money and the bank loan and make even further profit for both. Or to put it another way, you don't go and buy a house that you know that you can't afford, get a mortgage and then find you can't keep up the repayments. What happens? Your home is repossessed by the bank or building society. What you try and do is save money for a deposit buy a property you can afford, do it up when you can, invest some money if you can into home improvements, build on it, then you may decide to sell and move up the property ladder to a bigger place. (I know difficult in this day but this is the only way i can explain it)
14. Damage limitation is needed and expansion refused. - Scenario. The Park and Ride is expanded and again the Council find their research is incorrect. Grants continue to be thrown at it to keep it open and the spaces are not filling up. When the grants run out what then? How does it support itself? Does it go bust and in debt? Does it close completely? What answer does the Council have to the problem? Who knows? What I am saying is leave the Portway Park and Ride as it is because people are using it. Why should they be left high and dry because the 'Council got it wrong'. The Council should wait and see what happens once Cabot Circus opens. Is that too much to ask? After six months the initial excitement will die down and level off. Re-assess the situation after that six month period. It can always go back to the planning committee and it wouldn't take that long to build the expansion to the P&R.