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.
