Trams and electric trolley cars could be the future of the Bristol region's public transport rather than a costly underground, say Green councillors. The city council’s main opposition group fears a recent commitment from the West of England Combined Authority (Weca) that “tunnels may well be needed” at pinch-points in the city could rule out other options for a mass transit system that are less harmful to the environment.
Green Cllr Emma Edwards has submitted a motion to full council on Tuesday (March 15) calling for a £5million Weca feasibility study, recently announced by Bristol mayor Marvin Rees, to include other alternatives rather than “putting all our eggs in one basket”. An underground has long been championed by Labour mayor Marvin Rees, although he has previously said it is unlikely to mirror London’s tube network.
It received a boost in January when West of England metro mayor Dan Norris agreed an amendment tied to the combined authority’s investment fund formally accepting tunnels were likely to be required at areas including Temple Meads and Gloucester Road. Cllr Edwards’ golden motion, which is guaranteed to be debated at the Bristol City Council meeting on Tuesday, says: “There is a risk that alternative mass transit options, which might be at least as effective or have a better benefit-to-cost ratio, may not be taken forwards if all political focus is on underground rail.
