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HINTS AT MAJOR TRANSPORT OVERHAUL |
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10:40 - 25 January 2007
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Tony Blair has dropped his
strongest hint so far that public transport in
Bristol faces a radical overhaul.
The Prime Minister yesterday said his
Government was preparing legislation which will
beef up local control over public
transport.
He made his comments following
calls from Bristol North West Labour MP Doug
Naysmith for a powerful passenger transport
executive to be created in the Greater Bristol
area.
Bristol is one of the only large
urban areas in England not to have a PTE in charge
of public transport.
Merseyside, Greater
Manchester, Tyne and Wear, South Yorkshire, West
Yorkshire and the West Midlands all have PTEs
which are charged with ensuring buses and trains
are properly "integrated".
They are
accountable to Passenger Transport Authorities,
which are made up of local
councillors.
Speaking at Prime Minister's
Questions in the House of Commons, Dr Naysmith
said such a system was needed to improve Bristol's
"dire" public transport.
He said: "Despite
increased investment in public transport in recent
years the situation for my constituents who use
First Group's disastrous commuter trains and
unreliable and expensive buses is
dire.
"Does my right honourable friend
agree with me that the abysmal state of public
transport in the Greater Bristol area would be
greatly improved by setting up an integrated
transport system such as is found in areas with a
passenger transport executive?"
The Prime
Minister said the Road Transport Bill, due out
later this year, would make significant changes to
the way public transport is managed in cities like
Bristol. |
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