✅ As my colleague @tobywells.bsky.social points out, "franchising is such a good idea that it was universally supported by all parties" in the mayoral elections. ❌ But now she is in power, Labour's mayor is dragging her feet. 🚌 We need better buses, not more Labour delays and broken promises.

Green councillors are supporting the introduction of direct trains to Oxford, with an open letter to GWR. “These services will offer improved connectivity to and from our city, enabling and incentivising more of our residents to make sustainable long-distance journeys,” says @tobywells.bsky.social

We've been making steady steps forward in recent years, but now we need to take a huge stride. The political stage is set for a real alternative that challenges the elites and gives power to the people. We need to grab it with both hands with @zackpolanski.bsky.social as our next Green Party leader!

Local Councillor Ellie Freeman and I were pleased to see the Festival Way reopened after a long closure (with a well signed diversion route). It’s been done to a good standard, with a bat corridor and lots of trees. Although it could have been widened beyond 3m.

♻️ Bristol City Council are set to spend more money on tackling street litter and flytipping. ♻️ Green Council Leader, Tony Dyer, confirms that the Green Led Council will listen to the public and inject much needed investment into tackling street cleanliness.

The world did not end when the bridge was closed for two years between 2015 & 17. Twenty-four thousand pedestrians and cyclists use it daily; those numbers will only increase if motor vehicles are excluded. Bonus: the bridge will need a lot less maintenance!

This would be a big improvement when walking with the kids Agree with @tobywells.bsky.social that current layout is a poor use of space: “Prince Street Bridge carries far more pedestrians and cyclists than it does people in private motor vehicles, but they’re squeezed into a much smaller space”

About that claim that #Bristol is selling 1200 council homes...

WECA Scrutiny meeting is coming up on Monday 27th Jan. This time we have some scrutiny specific papers on: 🚍 Bus Franchising 👩‍🏫 Adult skills programmes I'd really appreciate comments and Qs from the public submitted to the meeting! westofengland-ca.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocume...

Working my way through the devolution white paper. It looks like the mismanagement of WECA over the past years means it won't be able to have greater control of its budget (integrated settlement) or greater levels of devolution.

It's brilliant news that more transport powers will be devolved. Local politicians know best what's needed & how to integrate the options locally. Now we need a mayor who will show leadership on this, which is something we've not seen from Labour.

My maiden speech today in the council chamber was about openness and transparency. The new committee model sets us up in good stead, but we are still not getting it right all the time. Culture shift is required across the council, for both officers and elected members.

The biggest obstacle to building more homes (that people can actually afford - that part always gets left out!) is not council planning committees. It's the systematic underfunding and weakening of local authorities, and Labour is to blame just as much as the Tories. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

In this coverage we also hear from @tobywells.bsky.social directly www.bristol247.com/news-and-fea...

Brilliant story about victory for people power pushing back against developers in Knowle. Super proud of my Green Cllr colleagues @edplowden.bsky.social who took an early stand and @tobywells.bsky.social and Cam Hayward who have worked hard for this outcome. www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol...

Hey UK folks, am I missing something? A transport minister with “the most compelling vision for transport that we’d seen in decades” resigns over a pretty irrelevant sounding thing in her past that was resolved and properly reported. Why do good people resign too easily and bad people never resign?

Transport secretary announces a progressive transport agenda, then "resigns" the next day over a minor misdemeanor from a decade ago which was already known about...

There are so many questions to be asked about this. Greens asked for the meeting to be webcast as there is significant public interest in understanding whether this is incompetence, cronyism or corruption - but we were told no. I worry about the impact it is having on trust in local politicians.

What is just as worrying is that we were asked to submit our questions on this *in advance*. There is no constitutional process for this and it stinks of trying to limit scrutiny of this decision by the previous Labour administration. Greens will be robustly challenging this in committee.

A one-page report to the Audit Committee at Bristol City Council outlines the results of its investigations into the council's 'Stepping Up' programme over the past 6 years. Read the full story here: www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol...

We have an emergency protocol in Bristol when the weather gets this cold. Being out in sub zero temperatures often results in death, here’s everything you need to know about what to do when you see someone sleeping out & rough. Action will save lives www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol...

Great to see this legislation coming forward, WECA needs to be gearing up to take advantage of it ASAP.

From @edplowden.bsky.social : “I would like to see the metro mayor do what some of the other combined authority mayors have done: announce that they’ll use their own funding to maintain the £2 fare cap." (1/2)

A glitch has occurred in Totterdown. Nothing to see here. Please move on.

Yes! Some more Bristol Green councillors have arrived here 😄 Please follow @lisastone70.bsky.social & @is0belrussell.bsky.social!

Well done to everyone involved in the investigation and the court case. I hope the families can take some comfort in knowing that justice has been done, although of course nothing can compensate for the loss of the 2 boys.

don't know if it's properly escaped British containment yet but I really need the whole world to know that Rivals is maybe the single most entertaining TV show made this year, I promise you that even if you think "horny Brits who work in TV in the 80's" isn't your thing: it will be your thing

I'm actually missing the algorithm a bit. I don't have time to scroll through everything, so with chronological I could miss important posts. Are there any feeds I can use that will curate my feed?

I am thrilled to announce I will be the @thegreenparty.bsky.social candidate for Mayor of the West of England combined authority. As Deputy Leader of Bristol City Council I bring experience and a commitment to collaboration to the role.

I'm actually missing the algorithm a bit. I don't have time to scroll through everything, so with chronological I could miss important posts. Are there any feeds I can use that will curate my feed?

Look what just arrived! @garethdennis.bsky.social

Emma Edwards: "Unlike Westminster, where one party has all the power and responsibility, we have a committee system, where there is a chance for all parties to contribute."

We'll be giving a live account of Bristol's Full Council meeting this evening. The meeting begins at 6pm and you should be able to watch it online here 👇 www.youtube.com/live/CJodx8r...

Arnos Vale Cemetery is such a lovely place for the community with a rich history. Now maintained by a trust on a long lease from the council. It's a constant uphill struggle for a dedicated group of volunteers to maintain the site so it is accessible and remains a haven for nature.

When local authorities say they can't afford to subsidise buses, remind them that every car parked for free on a road means they've found the money to subside driving

There are a bunch of Bristol's Green councillors on Bluesky now. Here's a thread of introduction to them with their wards, positions and committees, policy specialisms and interests... 🧵

Another city region's Metro Mayor has committed to retaining the £2 bus fare cap - that's now Liverpool and Manchester. Plus of course London's standard bus fare of £1.75. When will Dan Norris follow suit? www.bbc.com/news/article...

Great work from @tobywells.bsky.social here 👏 Calls for metro mayor to 'hold scooter firm to account' over price hike www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol...

As of this morning, Dott scooters in Bristol have silently increased in price by 37.5% from 16p/min to 22p/min. I'm investigating with WECA as I was told pricing was part of the contract with the provider...

Posted a bit more info about my solar/battery setup in response to a Q, if anyone is interested.

Absolutely wild that the West of England Combined Authority Mayor, Dan Norris MP, is saying it'll take at least 6 years to start on a mass transit scheme for the sub-region. Here's what Green councillor Toby Wells (@tobywells.bsky.social) had to say about it in the WECA scrutiny committee.

Just spotted that my solar install crossed 1MWh generation without me noticing. Installed this July on a 2 bed terraced house. I haven't bought any energy from the grid since then other than to top up my battery at 3-5am when it's cheap.

Spotted whilst litter picking in Knowle West

I am one of a handful of British conservationists who believe that HS2 is a climate solution and a net positive. We have a toxic environment around the discussion where so many people have entrenched based on disinformation they cannot discuss it. Ask me any question. The key here is “ask”.

Compelling pitch from @garethdennis.bsky.social about the need to enshrine modal shift targets in law at national level and then cascade them down to local (and hyperlocal) level

Please don't sit on this thing that looks exactly like a bench

First conference!

WECA are still at level 2 - need to step it up!

It's 10 years since Jake died and drug related deaths continue to rise. Meanwhile more than 110 Jakes die every week in the UK alone 💔. There's political will within Bristol for change. Here's one measure that could save lives. www.bristol247.com/opinion/your...

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