West Country tram campaigners to meet politicians
The Bristol and Bath Area Tram Association is adamant light rail will end congestion issues
Campaigners in favour of a tram network connecting Bristol and Bath are hoping to meet with regional politicians today (8th October), to argue their case.
The Bristol and Bath Area Tram Association (BBATA) has organised two events, a private meeting during the day with politicians and transport officials, before a second in the evening with the public, during which they hope to convince a growing number of people that trams are the answer.
It's as the West of England Combined Authority (WECA), which represents Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire, continues to explore options for a mass transit system in the region.
David Andrews from Bath, who chairs the BBATA said: "We're going to keep up the pressure...
"The evidence for trams is so overwhelming. There's lots of research done which shows, if people can get to work quickly and cheaply, the whole economy thrives."
Former Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees, who left his role in May when the position was scrapped, argued passionately for an underground network.
Meanwhile Dan Norris who is Mayor of the West of England has been an advocate of buses during his time in the role, but Mr Rees' underground idea seems dead and Mr Andrews insists buses alone cannot be the answer.
"Buses cannot deliver passengers at the rate a tram can... The fact is a tram can deliver five times as many people on a road as can a bus and it can do it reliably and cheaply and regularly.
"Buses for congested routes just don't have that capacity. This is the message we're trying to convey."
Talk, talk, talk
It has been known for many years that the West Country needs an improved mass transit system, but politicians have never been able to agree on the best solution to the region's congestion.
Marvin Rees first put forward his underground idea in 2017, arguing it is the only logical way to get people out of their cars.
By being put on the same roads as the cars, trams, he argued, would simply get stuck in the same traffic. He also argued that work to install the tracks on major routes like Gloucester Road would cause huge disruption which could be avoided by tunnelling underneath.
However, a deadlock began in October 2023, by which point the idea had already been debated for six years, when regional Mayor Norris refused to spend any more money exploring the idea.
That impasse formally ended in July when WECA and its members agreed to explore other options, but Mr Andrews says he does not know whether Mr Norris backs the tram idea or not.
"WECA is reluctant really to engage with us, so we don't really know (Mr Norris' views)," he said.
"What I hear is they're veering towards a bus way... (but) we don't want that. We think we need a light rail between Bath and Bristol and for all of Bristol to be honest, because Bristol is a nightmare for traffic isn't it, everyone knows that.
"Buses alone cannot solve that, although buses are essential."
Greatest Hits Radio has contacted WECA for comment.
You can see more details about today's public meeting here.