Latest news with #PoliticsWest
BBC News
06-04-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Candidates clash in contest to be West of England Mayor
The six contenders in the election to lead the West of England Combined Authority (Weca) have taken part in the biggest debate of the went head to head in the BBC Bristol TV studio on Friday, for a special edition of Politics West focusing on the upcoming mayoral election. There was much talk of how to make it easier to get around on the area's congested roads and improving in a time of tight budgets, there was little talk of grander infrastructure plans. What does Weca do? The role of Weca mayor was created as part of a devolution deal giving more decision-making to English regions rather than focusing power in Westminster takes in the local authority areas of Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset (Banes) and South Gloucestershire and it is tasked with improving public transport, training and job opportunities, and supporting businesses. It also oversees the region's housing plans. The Conservatives were beaten into second place in the 2021 election and have strongly criticised what has happened since, which has seen the authority placed in special measures. The candidates criticised the outgoing Smith for the Conservatives vowed to "end the war on motorists" and to "completely redesign" the region's bus network. Liberal Democrat Oli Henman said there was no place for mayors with "big egos", adding: "The key thing her is someone who's actually got practical experience of bringing people together in the area."Labour's candidate insisted she would be different from the incumbent Labour mayor if elected."What you're getting with me is a very different type of candidate, I've come with different experience," said Labour's Helen Godwin. "This is actually about how we move forward." All six candidates advocated for better buses, and criticised cuts to some subsidised no one talked up the possibility of delivering previously mooted projects like a tube network for Bristol or a trams in Bristol and Bath. "It's pie in the sky there's going to be an underground in Bristol, it's not a big enough city for that," said Arron Banks from Reform UK. "It's not going to happen."Independent candidate Ian Scott was also sceptical about funding for big projects, and accused the government of favouring other regions compared to the West. "West Yorkshire are in the Premier League, West of England are in the Third Division," he Henman did voice support for a regional light rail system "in the longer term" and the possibility of a regional investment fund to attract private investment. The line-up includes one who has previously been a mayoral candidate – but for a different party."I've left one party because it ceased to serve the needs of the people I want to represent," the Greens' Mary Page said of the Liberal Democrats. "The biggest challenge now is climate change."There will be more debates taking place before polling day on 1 May – but all six candidates knew none would be bigger than this.
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Headlines: Jockey's comeback and green cycle lanes
Here's our daily pick of stories from across local websites in the West of England, and interesting content from social media. Cheltenham Festival is a popular talking point with the event getting under way on Tuesday. This video by the racecourse focuses on jockey Jack Kennedy, documenting his recovery after his sixth leg break. South Gloucestershire's first green cycle track was laid at the weekend. The idea is to make the lane look more distinctive. A clip from BBC's Politics West posted by Charlie Watts on Bristol's shortest cycling lane has had some decent views on X. Fleming Way continues to be one of the big discussion points on Swindon pages and groups, as buses tested the new road layout at the weekend. And Salisbury Cathedral shared this image to mark five years since the first lockdown – showing it as a vaccination centre, with the word 'hope' illuminated on the floor. Make-up free pageants a must for 'real' beauty Ex student sells university startup for millions Buildings cut into ancient monument could be removed There are plans for an 18-storey tower block in St Philip's says Bristol Live. It would replace a warehouse on Wincombe Trading Estate. You can read our write-up here. More student housing, this time in Bath as the £13m Hollis Wharf development is "nearing completion", according to Somerset Live. And "don't rip up Cheltenham's flagstones", says the chairman of the local civic society. Andrew Booton is accusing the town and county councils of "trying to fix Cheltenham on the cheap" with tarmac, Gloucestershire Live reports. Follow BBC West social channels in Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.
BBC News
10-03-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Headlines: Jockey overcomes leg breaks to ride at Cheltenham Festival
Here's our daily pick of stories from across local websites in the West of England, and interesting content from social media. What to watch on social media Cheltenham Festival is a popular talking point with the event getting under way on Tuesday. This video by the racecourse focuses on jockey Jack Kennedy, documenting his recovery after his sixth leg Gloucestershire's first green cycle track was laid at the weekend. The idea is to make the lane look more distinctive.A clip from BBC's Politics West posted by Charlie Watts on Bristol's shortest cycling lane has had some decent views on Way continues to be one of the big discussion points on Swindon pages and groups, as buses tested the new road layout at the Salisbury Cathedral shared this image to mark five years since the first lockdown – showing it as a vaccination centre, with the word 'hope' illuminated on the floor. Our top three from yesterday Our pick of local website stories There are plans for an 18-storey tower block in St Philip's says Bristol Live. It would replace a warehouse on Wincombe Trading Estate. You can read our write-up student housing, this time in Bath as the £13m Hollis Wharf development is "nearing completion", according to Somerset "don't rip up Cheltenham's flagstones", says the chairman of the local civic society. Andrew Booton is accusing the town and county councils of "trying to fix Cheltenham on the cheap" with tarmac, Gloucestershire Live reports.
