Latest news with #Weca
BBC News
29-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Care leavers to get free bus travel in and around Bristol for longer
People leaving care will now be able to use buses across the west of England for free until they turn 26 years 2023, a scheme has been in place allowing 18-21-year-old care leavers free bus travel across Bath, Bristol, North Somerset and South has now been extended to cover care leavers until their 26th birthday, which could save each of them up to £1,050 a year, according to the West of England Combined Authority (Weca)."We've got many more care leavers at risk of homelessness, health, addiction or mental health issues so this is really important," said Weca's mayor. Helen Godwin used to be a cabinet member for children's services at Bristol City Council, before she was elected as Weca mayor on 1 explained care leavers "often don't have the same outcomes" as young people who have not been in care. "We have many more care leavers who are not in education, employment or training," she scheme is being subsidised as part of a £16m bus grant secured by North Somerset Council and Weca, which takes in the local authority areas of Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol and South Gloucestershire."We've always tried to support our care leavers up to the age of 25, just because sometimes when life is more complicated it can take a bit longer for young people to get themselves into a situation where maybe there are in regular work or able to study," Ms Godwin added. The charity Barnardo's called for free bus travel for care leavers in 2023, following a pilot scheme in Cornwall. At the time, the charity's director of children's services, Hugh Sherriffe, said: "Leaving care is a very challenging time and having access to free travel can have a positive and powerful impact on so many areas of young people's lives, helping them to take up opportunities that might otherwise have been denied them."Leaders in the west of England have welcomed the extension, including South Gloucestershire Council's leader Maggie Tyrrell."The investment will make a real difference to some of our most vulnerable young people and help them access education, jobs and vital support networks," she said.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Plans for city centre road changes set to progress
A major step forward is expected be taken this week for big changes to several roads in Bristol city centre. Over the next few years, roadworks will completely revamp Bond Street, Union Street, Broadmead, the Horsefair, the Haymarket, and the Redcliffe roundabout. The changes include installing new bus lanes and bike lanes in a bid to cut congestion and air pollution. Bristol City Council is hoping to encourage people to swap car travel for bus journeys, walking or cycling, but needs to upgrade infrastructure first. Councillors on the transport policy committee were expected to sign off the latest stage of the works on Thursday, although some were already unhappy with the proposed plans. Ahead of the committee meeting, new images and details of the changes have been revealed. Green councillor Ed Plowden, chair of the transport committee, said: "The plans for the Broadmead area are about more than improving transport routes and mark the beginning of a huge regeneration of the area that will see new homes and retail and leisure facilities developed. "In preparation, we need to improve bus routes and create pedestrian-friendly spaces that make it easier and more pleasant to travel actively." New bus lanes will be installed on Bond Street, and a new cycle route will also be created through St Paul's running parallel with Bond Street. More news stories for Bristol Watch the latest Points West Listen to the latest news for Bristol Opposing the Bond Street changes is Liberal Democrat councillor Nicholas Coombes, who says they would cause congestion due to there being less space for cars. He added: "It is unrealistic to say that car drivers are going to switch to the bus before we even have plans for a park and ride." After a public consultation last summer, the city council is now planning to submit a full business case for the £4.52m Bond Street project to the West of England Combined Authority (Weca) for approval. Bus lanes, bike lanes and new pedestrian crossings were also planned for Redcliffe roundabout. Construction was expected to start next year, costing £6.25m. Major changes were also planned for Broadmead and Union Street, including pedestrianising the Horsefair and Penn Street, giving buses more priority, and building one kilometre of segregated cycle routes. These projects will be paid for from a fund called the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement, which the government gave to Weca. Travel proposals include car ban on key city roads Everything we know about Bristol's travel changes Bike paths and bus lanes approved by city council Bristol City Council transport proposals
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
New Weca mayor takes office after election win
Helen Godwin won the election on May 1st with 25% of the vote [PA Media] The new mayor for the West of England Combined Authority (Weca) has been sworn in. Labour's Helen Godwin retained the seat for the party with 25% of the vote - Reform's Arron Banks came second with 22% and Mary Page of the Green Party came in third with approximately 20%. Ms Godwin has now been sworn in alongside the leaders of the councils that make up the authority - Bristol, Bathe and North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire. "It's quite surreal but we worked really hard to be here and I think we're going to get a lot done," she said. "I really want to deliver for people and we've campaigned really hard over the last six months and I've learned a lot about the region that I didn't know and I want to bring all that knowledge into the role," she added. ADVERTISEMENT Ms Godwin has announced that the position of deputy mayor will be a rotating one during her tenure. The Weca mayor is responsible for allocating funding to areas such as transport, housing and job opportunities. Transport in particular will be a key issue for the new mayor - with much of the region relying on buses to get around. Ongoing transport issues "All the way through the campaign we talked about buses and people spoke to me about buses," said Ms Godwin. "Whether they're in the centre of Bristol, the centre of Bath or the surrounding towns and villages - people are dissatisfied with the reliability and accessibility of the service. "My priority is to unpick all of that and figure out what we can deliver quickly and over the medium term so people feel the difference," she added. ADVERTISEMENT The new mayor will have to work with three councils to organise new transport routes - including Bristol where discussions around a mass transit system have been ongoing for years. "Transport and connectivity is a key challenge," said Green councillor Tony Dyer, leader of Bristol City Council. "It's kind of a chicken-and-egg situation that in order to get a better transport system we need to improve public transport, and at the same time we need to remove some of the space currently available for cars," he added. Ms Godwin takes over the position of Weca mayor from Dan Norris, who was arrested on suspicion of rape and child sex offences in April. Follow BBC Bristol on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Related internet links Related Internet links
BBC News
07-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Helen Godwin takes office as new Weca metro mayor
New Weca mayor takes office after election win 7 minutes ago Share Save Joe Skirkowski BBC West Share Save PA Media Helen Godwin won the election on May 1st with 25% of the vote The new mayor for the West of England Combined Authority (Weca) has been sworn in. Labour's Helen Godwin retained the seat for the party with 25% of the vote - Reform's Arron Banks came second with 22% and Mary Page of the Green Party came in third with approximately 20%. Ms Godwin has now been sworn in alongside the leaders of the councils that make up the authority - Bristol, Bathe and North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire. "It's quite surreal but we worked really hard to be here and I think we're going to get a lot done," she said. "I really want to deliver for people and we've campaigned really hard over the last six months and I've learned a lot about the region that I didn't know and I want to bring all that knowledge into the role," she added. Ms Godwin has announced that the position of deputy mayor will be a rotating one during her tenure. The Weca mayor is responsible for allocating funding to areas such as transport, housing and job opportunities. Transport in particular will be a key issue for the new mayor - with much of the region relying on buses to get around. Ongoing transport issues "All the way through the campaign we talked about buses and people spoke to me about buses," said Ms Godwin. "Whether they're in the centre of Bristol, the centre of Bath or the surrounding towns and villages - people are dissatisfied with the reliability and accessibility of the service. "My priority is to unpick all of that and figure out what we can deliver quickly and over the medium term so people feel the difference," she added. The new mayor will have to work with three councils to organise new transport routes - including Bristol where discussions around a mass transit system have been ongoing for years. "Transport and connectivity is a key challenge," said Green councillor Tony Dyer, leader of Bristol City Council. "It's kind of a chicken-and-egg situation that in order to get a better transport system we need to improve public transport, and at the same time we need to remove some of the space currently available for cars," he added. Ms Godwin takes over the position of Weca mayor from Dan Norris, who was arrested on suspicion of rape and child sex offences in April. Follow BBC Bristol on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.
BBC News
04-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Headlines: House explosion and mayoral election results
Here's our weekly round-up of stories from across local websites in the West of have a daily round-up as well. Make sure you look out for it on the website and the local section of the BBC News app. What have been the big stories in the West this week? On Tuesday a terraced house on Lancaster Road in Yate was completely destroyed in a suspected gas explosion. Bristol Live covered the explosion in a live blog that detailed how the residents who received minor injuries were lucky to be alive. Bridgwater Mercury reported on a diesel leak from the Morrisons depot in Bridgwater which polluted a nearby river. Environmental specialists equipped with hydrocarbon-absorbent socks and a boat were on site to coordinate the clean-up operation.A distressing incident in which a pregnant cat died, after being dumped alive in a bin bag on the outskirts of Bristol was reported by Gloucestershire the story about the woman who had her eyesight saved in time for her wedding with pioneering surgery was reported on by ITV News West Bristol the biggest story for the second half of the week was the start of the double murder trial of Yostin Andres Mosquera. He is charged with the murders of Albert Alfonso, 62, and Paul Longworth, 71, on or before 11 July last year in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Then it became the tale of who would win the Weca election with voters going to the polls on Thursday. Labour's Helen Godwin won the race, with Reform coming in second, as reported by Bristol24/7. Wiltshire and Gloucestershire also had their council elections, which was reported by Gloucestershire Live and the Salisbury Journal. Top five local stories for the BBC in the West Something longer to read BBC News spoke to three women from three different branches of the military who had experienced rape and sexual abuse while seaman Jennifer Gibson told us how she had been "devastated" after she says she was raped and sexually assaulted while serving in the Royal Navy. Explore more with our daily round-ups
