Mayor hits back in row of underground transport system for Bristol

Bristol’s mayor Marvin Rees has slammed his Labour colleague for his lack of ambition over plans to transform the city’s transport system.

Rees has long held ambitions to build an underground system in Bristol as part of mass transit system.

But metro mayor Dan Norris, who represent the wider area, has publicly stated the plans will never happen.

Rees is currently serving his final term as mayor after people in the city voted to get rid of his post and return to a cabinet system.

A mass transport system was a key promise from Rees and is calling for £15m to be spent on developing plans for the system.

After Dan Norris made his position clear Marvin Rees issued a statement which also attacked opposition councillors.

He said: “I remain committed to the mass transit system including the use of underground in central areas.

“The lack of ambition of both Bristol City opposition councillors and the combined authority is staggering.

“Bristol residents recently made it clear that transport is the number one dissatisfaction in the city and without the mass transit, there is no plan for improvement, particularly as the city continues to grow. We cannot keep spending money improving ways to bring people into the city when residents cannot move around the city.”

Rees has claim an underground network could be built in ten years even though it would cost billions and there is no sign of any support from central government.

He said: “We created the combined authority to find and build big solutions to transport and regional housing and it is currently failing on both.

“The WECA board is due to consider the next tranche of investment in the mass transit system at its meeting in March. I will be strongly arguing for the continued investment and the development of this crucial infrastructure that will finally allow Bristol and the city region to match other British cities who have shown ambition and built effective transport systems.

“Any growing city with a major economy must have a world class transport system and we have the opportunity to build one in a sustainable low carbon way.

“Delivery of infrastructure has to stay ahead of the growth of population and the economy. Ours has lagged behind for decades and we created WECA to change that. Any delay or change of direction now is simply repeating the failures of the past and failing Bristol.”