New bus services
From April 6, the No 77 will link Clifton and Whiteladies Road
Residents have long been asking for a return of the No 9 bus route to reconnect Clifton and Clifton Down. However, First Bus could not make that service viable. Their argument was that too many buses got caught up in too much traffic in the city centre.
We have long been told that we should not remove parking spaces until there was a better bus service, and we counter-argued that, in this case, one did need to put the cart before the horse (pardon the transport metaphor!). By increasing bus gates, closing routes to private vehicles, promoting active travel though limiting parking, people are now using buses more and, as a result, First Bus can improve their service.
Your local councillors have long been calling for improved bus services and from April 6 the new No 77 service will run through Clifton to loop around Alma Road and Whiteladies. It will continue to Horfield Common and the Gloucester Road. And it will run roughly 3 times an hour. Good news!
Until recently Clifton had only the No 8 bus running five times an hour. Now, that runs six times an hour and there is also the No 5, taking people into the Centre. The No 505 is a valued service taking people to Southmead and now we welcome the No 77 bus!
Improving rail services locally
The latest good news on local rail services is that the West of England Combined Authority has confirmed that funding is in place for the reopening of the Portishead to Bristol Temple Meads Railway line. This follows Bristol City Council’s leader, Green Councillor Tony Dyer meeting with the Department of Transport in February along with other leaders in the region, subject only to final confirmation in the Government’s comprehensive spending review. This news follows other good news on the railways locally. Services to Gloucester from Bristol Temple Meads are now half hourly resulting in a 27% increase in passenger numbers in a year. And the region is applying to Government for funding for an hourly direct service from Bristol to Oxford following the successful recent pilot with journey times as low as 1 hour 11 minutes. These improved services are helping boost employment and convenience for local residents, tackle vehicle congestion on our local roads and lower our region’s carbon footprint through reduced car use.
Pedestrianisation of Princess Victoria Street progressing well
Paula and Jerome have been working closely with Council officers, local traders and the project manager to ensure that work is progressing to agreed timelines and that the high specification is maintained. We have worked with local businesses on colour schemes for planters, trees, etc. So, no surprises like the bright orange bench this time!
We agreed with the contractor that the work would be done in a phased manner to ensure that the south side will be finished early to get hospitality venues using the outside space. We are looking forward to people being able to enjoy the open space this summer.
Improving waste collection
After challenges in waste and recycling collections for local residents at the end of 2024 significant improvements have taken place over the last few months. In the last week of February there were only three streets in Bristol where scheduled collections were missed. Clifton Village new processes for commercial waste collection were introduced at the end of 2024 and this has reduced commercial bins being inappropriately left on the streets. Your Green councillors are working hard to ensure that good waste collection standards are achieved and maintained!
Lion pub Cliftonwood to reopen
After being closed for nearly a year we are pleased to hear that the refurbished Lion pub in Cliftonwood is scheduled to reopen at the end of March. So hopefully by the time you read this, this popular local eating and watering hole will be back in action at the heart of the local community!
Jerome Thomas: cllr.jerome.thomas@bristol.gov.uk
Paula O’Rourke: cllr.paula.orourke@bristol.gov.uk