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News - latest at top
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Contact details for protest letters
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New report says traffic congestion costing greater Bristol area £350m a year
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13 Oct 2007: A new report titled “Our Transport Future” from the four West of England Partnership authorities says traffic congestion costs £350m a year in the area. They pledge to work together for a slice of Government money next spring. Elfan ap Rees (North Somerset executive member for highways and strategic planning) said “Our priorities in North Somerset include a Portishead rail link ...”. See Evening Post article 13 Oct 2007. See also Transport Plans page including link to download report.
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Prime Minister petitioned on-line to reinstate rail link
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29 Sept 2007: Our chairman Alan Matthews urges all local residents to sign the new on-line petition. See Evening Post article 29 Sept 2007.
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13 Sept 2007: A new online petition to the Prime Minister has been launched to reinstate the Portishead line. See Clevedon Mercury article 13 Sept 2007. Click here to see or sign petition.
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Traffic jams increased more quickly in North Somerset
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13 Sept 2007: A report released by pressure group “Campaign for Better Transport” shows that North Somerset traffic grew by 25% between 1995 and 2005, the seventh biggest growth in the country. See Clevedon Mercury article 13 Sept 2007.
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Fears that West will lose out on Government £10bn
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28 July 2007: New Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly has unveiled a White Paper pledging £10 billion to be spent on the network over the next seven years. West MPs and transport lobby groups fear the West will yet again be forgotten when the full details of where the Government cash injection will be spent across Britain's rail network. See Western Daily Press article 28 July 2007.
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Unified Transport Authority wins council backing
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27 July 2007: Bristol City Council have backed a unified transport authority to control and improve road and rail networks in Bristol. A full meeting of Bristol City Council agreed to support and push forward with the new strategic transport authority (STA), which will involve the four councils of the former Avon area. Neighbouring councils have yet to back the STA in a vote. See Evening Post article 25 July 2007.
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Portishead Railway reopening raised in Parliament
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July 2007: Stephen Williams, Bristol West MP, mentioned the Portishead railway in a House of Commons debate. See extract
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Local Election results - changes in Transport chiefs
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May 2007: Local election results have caused changes in key transport officials in both North Somerset & Bristol Councils. See councils’ web sites on Links page, or see updated addresses page for contact details.
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Tory call to protect old railways
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26 April 2007: Disused railway lines should be protected from property developers in case they are needed for future transport routes, the Tories have said. See BBC News web site article 26 April 2007
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Network Rail think passenger trains run through Pill
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6 April 2007: Network Rail has felled a row of trees alongside the redundant railway station in Pill. Network Rail said it had to provide a safe and reliable railway for passengers, and trees in that condition could fall on the track. But parish council chairman Gerry Hunt said this was "laughable" because passenger services stopped running in the 1960s. He said: "If this statement means that trains will imminently return, we will be delighted, as this council and most others in North Somerset have been lobbying for this to happen." See Evening Post article 6 April 2007.
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Meeting with Under Secretary of State for Transport
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Mar 2007: Alistair Lindsay, a member of this Group, handed a copy of the proposed phased opening of the Portishead Line (see below 25 Jan 07) to the Under Secretary of State for Transport Tom Harris MP, during his visit to Exeter to discuss rail problems with the local Authorities. See photo
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Government Road Pricing threat to rail schemes
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20 Feb 2007: The Department for Transport has established a £1.4 billion fund for investment in local transport but has told councils that any bid for a share of the money must include congestion charging. Ten areas identified by the DfT as possible locations for the trials (one of which is Bristol) have all been told that they will have to accept congestion charging if they want funds for bus, tram and rail schemes and to relieve congested road junctions. See The Times article 20 Feb 2007.
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Portishead line in Evening Post magazine feature
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17 Feb 2007: PRG Chairman Alan Matthews talks about the problems and the reopening prospects in a feature article in ‘Seven’ magazine local railway special. See Evening Post Seven magazine article 17 Feb 2007.
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Property expert says showcase bus plans won’t work
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17 Feb 2007: A Bristol property expert says that the £42 million to be spent on showcase bus routes would be better spent on a ‘multi-level’ solution including reopening the Portishead line. See Evening Post article 17 Feb 2007.
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Phased re-opening proposal for Portishead line
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25 Jan 2007: A proposal to re-open the line in stages has been proposed by Alistair Lindsay, Labour Party Transport Co-ordinator. Green belt land at Portbury would be used for a car park to serve a new Portbury station and the first phase would run to Ashton Gate. See Clevedon Mercury article 25 Jan 2007.
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Severn beach line to get funding for half-hourly service
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26 Jan 2007: Bristol city Council are to re-instate funding to allow a half hourly service to be re-established from Dec 2007. See Evening Post article 26 Jan 2007.
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Tony Blair hints at major public transport overhaul
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25 Jan 2007: The Prime Minister hints at the possibility of a radical overhaul of public transport in Bristol. The greater Bristol area could get a Passenger Transport Executive giving more local control. See Evening Post article 25 Jan 07.
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‘Growing the Railways’ launch meeting
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20 Jan 2007: A meeting called by Transport 2000 to launch their new campaign included a call from Kerry McCarthy, MP for East Bristol for the Portishead line to be reopened. See Evening Post article 20 Jan 07.
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‘Station’ built in Portishead
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1 Dec 2006: Portishead company Hydrex Equipment UK Ltd have built a station complete with platform and ticket office in Portishead for £500,000, but it’s for training purposes only. It’s built alongside double track they’ve had to specially lay separate from the disused line, because they are not allowed to use the old line by the rail authorities. See Evening Post article 1 Dec 06.
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Bristol MP raises Portishead line in Parliament
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9 Nov 2006: Stephen Williams, MP for Bristol West, this week raised questions in Parliament over the government's decision to fund the freight train line between Portishead and Bristol while refusing to invest in a similar route for passenger trains. Mr. Williams said: "A new freight line has been built, at enormous expense to the taxpayer, from Portishead in Woodspring to the city centre in my constituency in Bristol—ironically, to import cars. It could also be used to reopen the passenger line to Portishead, but First Great Western tells me that under its franchise it is not allowed to argue for an expansion of its existing network. It must simply run existing services. Is not that absurd?" Read full text
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New Group calls for creation of a Bristol Transport Authority
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6 Nov 2006: A new pressure group, the Bristol Transport Alliance, is calling for the creation of a new Bristol Transport Authority together with increased funding for transport. The new group supports the reopening of the Portishead line amongst other proposals. Its manifesto was unveiled today. See website. See also Evening Post article 6 Nov 2006. The Portishead Railway Group supports this campaign.
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£750M to be spent on region’s railways
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2 Nov 2006: Network Rail is spending £750M on rail refurbishment, but this does not include anything for the Portishead line. See Western Daily Press article 2 November.
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Cycleway threat to Portishead railway
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1 Nov 2006: Plans to divert a cycle track onto the route of the disused railway line have been criticised. NS council say this is only temporary and the cycleways would be removed if the railway were to be reopened. See North Somerset Times article 1 November.
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Possible new Greater Bristol Transport Authority
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3 Oct 2006: A Greater Bristol Transport Authority could be formed in two years by the four local authorities. This should enable a more united approach on transport issues in the area. Transport Secretary Douglas Alexander said at the Labour part conference that new legislation will be unveiled in weeks to give councils the necessary powers. See Evening Post article “United front to cut congestion” 3 October.
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Regional Spatial Strategy - consultation ends
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30 Aug 2006: This document, prepared by the South West Regional Assembly, sets out the planning and transport aims for the region. Public consultation ended on Aug 30. See Local Government page under South West Regional Assembly. See also Evening Post article 22 Aug. See Draft RSS website.
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Portishead Flower Show - PRG stand
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28/29 July 2006: The Group had a stand at the Portishead Flower Show (see photo) at which we were pleased to meet many people and to explain our campaign. A number of new members signed up and we welcome them to the Group, and look forward to seeing them at our meetings. Mr P Mason won the prize for tickets for the Avon Valley Railway.
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Motorway expenditure wasted?
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29 July 2006: Today saw perhaps the first big test of the extra lanes recently completed on the M5 at a cost of £28 million. It seemed to show that the money was largely wasted. Severe congestion occurred as usual on the Gordano Valley stretch. See photos. This railway could be fully reopened for far less money.
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Another 150 houses to be built in Portishead
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20 July 2006: An extra 150 houses will be built at The Ashlands in Portishead after NSC councillors caved in to a developer's threats. The council had previously refused to give the go-ahead to increase the cap at The Ashlands from 1,500 to 1,650. The council will net almost £800,000 planning gain from the developer however, the majority of which will be spent on education. See Press article 20 July.
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Visit of Shadow Transport Minister to Portishead
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23 June 2006: Chris Grayling was brought to Portishead by local MP Liam Fox to acquaint him with the absurd situation regarding the reluctance of the Government Office for the South West/Central Government to seriously consider reopening the Portishead line. Present at the gathering, adjacent to the future intended station site, were local and district councillors and members of Portishead Railway Group. The Shadow Minister fully supported our case. Click here for fuller report. See also Press article 29 June.
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Greater Bristol Strategic Transport Study recommendations passed to Government
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21 June 2006: Final recommendations for the GBSTS have been passed to the Government Office for the South West. Reopening of the line was not included. Report is available on line. See Transport Plans.
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Rubber track proposal
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1 June 2006: A proposal to lay a rubber road surface over railway track was condemned by PRG Chairman Alan Matthews. See Press articles 1 and 7 June.
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Open letter to media signed by 14 organisations published
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18 April 2006: The letter signed by this Group and 13 other organisations, protesting at the lack of support by local authorities for Bristol’s suburban railways, is published in Evening Post. Click for letter.
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Joint Local Transport Plan submitted to Government
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April 2006: The 5-year Joint Local Transport Plan has been approved by all four local councils and has been submitted to the Government.
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1 April 2006: The new Greater Western Franchise begins operation.
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92,500 new homes planned for former Avon area
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11 March 2006: Members of the South West Regional Assembly have agreed a draft version of a document called the Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) which will create a blueprint for the way in which the region grows during the next 20 years. It shows the quota for the former Avon area is expected to be 92,500 new homes until 2026 building on a lot of green belt land. See Press article 9 and 11 March. The Evening Post comments that the Assembly is an unelected Government quango, which is unknown to most people. It says it is undemocratic and unacceptable. See Evening Post comment
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Congestion charge in 3 years
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10 March 2006: Bristol City Council have backed the Joint Local Transport Plan’s recommendations which includes the possibility of congestion charging within 3 years. See Press article 10 March.
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Portishead Railway Group looking for a loco
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9 March 06: We are looking for a loco to stand on the existing track to advertise the station site and the railway, and to support the Brunel 200 celebrations. Further details
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South West Public Transport Users’ Forum meeting
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Meeting held Taunton 4 March 06: This was an important meeting attended by Portishead Railway Group representatives. The new Greater Western Franchise and the cuts in rail services proposed for the new timetable from Dec 2006 were of great concern. The public is urged to write as soon as possible with their concerns to various bodies. Further details.
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Joint Local Transport Plan to go before Councils
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6 March 06: The 5-year Joint Local Transport Plan is to be submitted to Bristol City Council on Thurs 9 March and also to the other local councils shortly with submission to the Government at the end of March. The Evening Post reports that the Plan estimates that £350m per year is being wasted in traffic jams in the Bristol area. Unfortunately the Plan does not suggest much investment in railways in general. See press article 6 March.
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Severn Beach Line subsidy to be cut
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Feb 2006: Bristol City Council is to cut the £136,000 subsidy for the Severn Beach line, which will mean that the service cannot be improved in frequency. Portishead Railway Group supports retention and improvement to the Severn Beach line, since it is important to improve the whole local rail network. See Evening Post article 28 Feb 2006.
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21 Feb 2006: Members meeting held - see notes.
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Click for News stories from 2005
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