A new bus depot in South Bristol is a “total game-changer”
Local Transport Minister Simon Lightwood visited Bristol to officially open the refurbished Hengrove Depot(Image: PAUL GILLIS / Reach PLC)
The Government’s Local Transport Minister has pledged to ‘continue to engage’ with Bristol and the West of England on the possibility of a mass rapid transport system for the city – and backed the long-running campaign to take back control of the current bus services.
In a visit to South Bristol, minister Simon Lightwood officially opened the newly-refurbished Hengrove bus depot, and hailed the public-private partnership between the Government and First Bus that will soon see the roll-out of ‘no emission’ electric buses on most routes in the city.
A total of 99 new electric buses will be on the streets of Bristol and the West of England by the end of the year, including a fleet of 74 operating out of the Hengrove depot, which includes all the First buses in South Bristol and up to Cribbs Causeway.
The news that the Government was investing £20 million in the West of England, to support First’s own investment of £70 million, was first revealed by Bristol Live back in April. On Tuesday, June 3, with the conversion of the Hengrove depot to house and service the electric buses, the transport minister Simon Lightwood arrived to see what the money has been spent on.
“I’m here today to open the refurbished Hengrove depot which has been electrified for a fleet of 74 zero emission buses which will serve Bristol and surrounding areas,” he said. “We invested £20 million to unlock vital investment by First Bus to deliver these vehicles which will deliver that cleaner, greener transport option for people here.
“When I speak to passengers about their experience with zero emission buses they find the whole experience far superior than that of diesel buses,” he said.
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Mr Lightwood’s visit came after another successful vote on a new transport bill which will increase the powers and abilities of local councils to take back control of bus services in franchising arrangements – something which has been the subject of long-running discussion in Bristol for years including a Bristol Live campaign – as well as giving local authorities the power to set up their own municipal bus companies too.
“I think obviously as part of the Bus Services Bill, which had its second reading just last night we’re re-empowering local leaders to take back control of buses,” said Mr Lightwood. “Almost nowhere in the developed world allows private operators to do whatever routes they want, charge whatever they want.
“So we’re giving areas throughout the country the opportunity to franchise to continue with the enhanced partnership model or we’re also lifting the ban on municipal bus companies so local authority operated bus companies as well,” he added.
Local Transport Minister Simon Lightwood with Metro Mayor Helen Godwin at the new electric Hengrove bus depot(Image: PAUL GILLIS / Reach PLC)
One of the reasons previous metro mayors have given for not going through with franchising in the West of England – unlike in northern cities like Manchester and West Yorkshire – is that the Bristol and Bath region doesn’t have a mass rapid transit system – an underground or tram network – that would provide the bulk of the revenue to fund the franchising switch.
Mr Lightwood said a mass rapid transit system was still in the hands of local leaders – with Labour’s new metro mayor Helen Godwin present.
“When it comes to rapid transit, that is generally a devolved matter, so it will be up to local leaders here in Bristol to work that up,” he said. “Obviously we can continue to engage with areas like Bristol on their ambitions and look at what we can do together,” he added.
Metro Mayor Helen Godwin said the new zero-emission buses would be a ‘game-changer’ for Bristol.
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“I promised to work with Government to get our region moving,” she said. “The first of over 230 brand-new, comfy, electric buses for our region are a great start in a new chapter for the West of England, as we work with local councils and bus operators to deliver the best for the West.
“£29 million secured from Government and £120 million from First Bus has already electrified the Hengrove depot with new charging infrastructure, as well as the one in Weston-super-Mare. This landmark investment in our wider area will also see a fully electric fleet at Hengrove by next summer and will soon turbo-charge the depots in Bath and Lawrence Hill too.
“These new zero-emission buses are a total game-changer for bus passengers across the West Country, with phone chargers at every seat. I was glad to welcome the Minister to our region to see them today, and discuss with him how we can further improve bus services in our region including through the new powers promised by the Bus Services Bill,” she added.