Rapid Transit Network

NPN Administrators worked with
the lead Officers to organise a series of Community Involvement (CI)
discussions on

- Line 2 Long Ashton Park and Ride to Bristol Temple Meads
(see BRT Line 2: Long Ashton to Bristol Temple Meads) and

- Line 3 Hengrove to City Centre
(see BRT Line 3: Hengrove to City Centre
for further details)

For further information on either of these projects see the West of England Partnership website.

For information about how your group can get involved in these discussions
contact the NPN Administrator.

UPDATE JULY 2011

Major Scheme Business Cases (MSBC) submissions were made for each rapid transit scheme. In the case of AVTM, (the first of the MSBC submissions to be made, during March 2009) ‘Programme Entry’ was awarded by the Department for Transport (DfT) in March 2010. The process was subsequently suspended pending the Comprehensive Spending Review (CSR), before NFHP and SBL could be awarded the same status. A Transport and Works Act Order (TWAO) application for AVTM was made to the Secretary of State in June 2010. Following the statutory objection period, the TWAO process was also put on hold, pending the outcome of the CSR at which point the DfT issued new Major Scheme Guidance in Autumn 2010.

Following the CSR, AVTM was placed within the ‘Development Pool’ (those schemes where value for money has already been established by the DfT) with NFHP and SBL placed in the ‘Prequalification Pool’ (those schemes with a valid Programme Entry Bid lodged with the DfT prior to the suspension of Major Scheme guidance). In December 2010, scheme promoters were invited to submit an Expression of Interest restating their intent to proceed with their schemes. As a result of this, in February 2011, NFHP and SBL were successfully admitted to the ‘Development Pool’ with all three schemes then invited to submit a ‘best and final’ bid for funding (BAFFB) to the DfT on 9 September 2011. An announcement is to be made in December 2011 over which schemes have been successful in achieving ‘Programme Entry’.

AVTM -= Ashton Vale to Temple Meads and includes city centre anti clockwise loop

NFHP= North Fringe to Hengrove Package

SBL = South Bristol Link

The next stage of bidding for the scheme to get 'programme entry' government funding is September 2011. Cabinet paper this week on website- Cabinet meeting 21 July 2011 [from which quote above is lifted]- BCC is up against all other schemes in the country for all three lines- so all have to be able to stand alone.

A series of meetings have been organised with NPN and groups on mailing list have been contacted to tell them about these meetings. If you wish to attend these meetings please contact the Network Administrator

AVTM Line 2 Monday 18th July and 1st August

NFHP Line 3N Tuesday 26th July and 2nd August

NFHP Line 3 S and SBL Thursday 14th and 28th July

Central area Wednesday 13th and 20th July

Whole system Wednesday 27th July

Briefing papers for the meetings have been circulated to those members who have indicated they will be attending the meetings, and are available to download from the link at the bottom of the page.

UPDATE JUNE 2011