Labour Voices Pedal Path Protest

bristol | community | news report Wednesday March 19, 2008 17:02 by Paul Smith - Bristol West Labour Party info at bristolwestlabourparty dot org dot uk

Paul Smith (PPC Bristol West) has joined forces with two Labour Councillors representing areas served by the railway path to call on local people to join the celebration on 30th March.

Brenda, Paul and Faruk on the Path

Labour Voices Pedal Path Protest

Parliamentary candidate for Bristol West, Paul Smith has joined forces with Faruk Choudhury (Cllr Easton) and Brenda Hugill (Cllr Lawrence Hill) in calling on local people to join the celebration of the Bristol-Bath railway path on 30th March.

Paul Smith said, “The Path has been put under threat by consultants working for the West of England Partnership. They see it as a clearway uncluttered by traffic ready made for buses; we see it as a public open space shared by walkers, cyclists and nature. This threat reminds us of the 1960s plan to solve Bristol’s traffic chaos by concreting over the harbour, that was stopped by popular protest and so should this”.

Brenda Hugill commented, “The people of Lawrence Hill are overwhelmingly against this proposal which seeks to destroy one of the few amenities they have. We have already seen the community divided by the M32 and the inner ring road. Now is the time to stop carving this area up.”

Faruk Choudhury added, “I went to the public meeting in Easton and heard the unanimous voices against the rapid transit plan. As your councillor I will take those views back to Bristol City Council. I fully support the campaign to keep the Bristol-Bath cycle path as it is now.

ENDS

The event on 30th is being organised by a broad alliance of people opposed to the plan to run rapid transit buses down the railway path. The main event starts in Fishponds at 2.30pm and progresses to College Green for a rally at 4.30pm. Full details can be found at www.railwaypath.org