They don't give up or give in, despite LTN's being an abject failure in London, Exeter, and other places. It's either pig ignorance or divine intervention which makes this bunch believe they know better than elsewhere.
The changes have also banned the election of new "directly elected council mayors", so Bristol was ahead of game on that change. But council mayors already in place will not be forced to stand down, so we could end up with a situation where we still have some council mayors in 20 years time. This doesn't deliver on the promise to "simplify governance arrangements".
Another justification to ban council mayors was to "avoid the potential confusion caused by the establishment of new regional mayors for strategic authorities and for councils". I don't think anyone ever mixed up Dan Norris and Marvin Rees.
These changes are "preventing authorities from wasting taxpayer funds on needless changes to systems of governance". But this change will mean that Bristol now has to "waste taxpayer funds on needless changes to systems of governance".
The new model appears to be to have a Regional Mayor, with local council leaders who effectively work for the Regional Mayor. Does this mean more cuts in Council Funding with more funding channeled to the regional area (WECA in our case)?
It is very patronising to suggest that we are "too stupid" to understand the existing three council models, but it will mean that councils don't have to have any more of those pesky referendums on local governance models. Perhaps they could go one step further and only have Council Elections once every 10 years, that would make it even simpler for the "dumb masses".
Stalin was reported to have said "I consider it completely unimportant who in the party will vote, or how; but what is extraordinarily important is this—who will count the votes, and how."
Jim McMahon has taken another approach, which is to remove the ability for us to vote on the local democratic model that we want to use.
He is proving the point made by Emma Goldman, which was "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal."
Right, so it's happening. All of it. Every last glorious, nonsensical bit. It's almost… beautiful, in a tragicomic sort of way, to watch the promises of 'simplification' unravel into an even more tangled mess than before.
I suppose we should commend the architects of this grand vision for their consistency. They promised to simplify, and by 'simplify' they clearly meant 'make things less comprehensible for anyone outside the immediate circle of power.' And they've nailed it! Who needs pesky local democracy when you can have a regional overlord and a chorus of local leaders all singing from the same, centrally-approved hymn sheet?
The 'wasting taxpayer funds' argument is particularly delicious, isn't it? Because the best way to prevent waste is, naturally, to force everyone to waste money on a forced change. It's the kind of logic that would make a flat-earther nod in agreement.
As for us, the 'too stupid' masses, I guess our role now is to simply marvel at the sheer genius of it all. No more confusing choices! No more tiresome referendums! Just a straight path to whatever destiny the clever people have chosen for us. It's almost like they read Emma Goldman and thought, 'Hmm, that's not a bad idea for governance!' Or perhaps they just really, really hate voting.
Hey Chris. You're the stats man. Here's a potential opportunity for you. Southville seems pretty much pro an LTN. Whereby, north of the city, largely against (based on experience). It's got me thinking (a rare thing, trust me) whether careers, incomes, life opportunities, education, and so on alter attitudes in any way. Even marginally?
I am from a traditional Irish Alcoholic family, but I can manage a coffee. North Street would be my preferred location, but I can travel further afield.
So, am I, oddly enough, Chris. Then it all went south from there. I would prefer city centre for now. Only because my mobility scooter battery is on its last legs, and, while I await a replacement, I daren’t venture too far.
And talking about Planters, I have produced some analysis of "Planter" reports on FixMyStreet (spoiler alert : they are going up dramatically). https://bristol-uncovered.uk/planter-maintenance-in-bristol/
They don't give up or give in, despite LTN's being an abject failure in London, Exeter, and other places. It's either pig ignorance or divine intervention which makes this bunch believe they know better than elsewhere.
The changes have also banned the election of new "directly elected council mayors", so Bristol was ahead of game on that change. But council mayors already in place will not be forced to stand down, so we could end up with a situation where we still have some council mayors in 20 years time. This doesn't deliver on the promise to "simplify governance arrangements".
Another justification to ban council mayors was to "avoid the potential confusion caused by the establishment of new regional mayors for strategic authorities and for councils". I don't think anyone ever mixed up Dan Norris and Marvin Rees.
These changes are "preventing authorities from wasting taxpayer funds on needless changes to systems of governance". But this change will mean that Bristol now has to "waste taxpayer funds on needless changes to systems of governance".
The new model appears to be to have a Regional Mayor, with local council leaders who effectively work for the Regional Mayor. Does this mean more cuts in Council Funding with more funding channeled to the regional area (WECA in our case)?
It is very patronising to suggest that we are "too stupid" to understand the existing three council models, but it will mean that councils don't have to have any more of those pesky referendums on local governance models. Perhaps they could go one step further and only have Council Elections once every 10 years, that would make it even simpler for the "dumb masses".
Stalin was reported to have said "I consider it completely unimportant who in the party will vote, or how; but what is extraordinarily important is this—who will count the votes, and how."
Jim McMahon has taken another approach, which is to remove the ability for us to vote on the local democratic model that we want to use.
He is proving the point made by Emma Goldman, which was "If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal."
https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-statements/detail/2025-06-24/hcws736
Right, so it's happening. All of it. Every last glorious, nonsensical bit. It's almost… beautiful, in a tragicomic sort of way, to watch the promises of 'simplification' unravel into an even more tangled mess than before.
I suppose we should commend the architects of this grand vision for their consistency. They promised to simplify, and by 'simplify' they clearly meant 'make things less comprehensible for anyone outside the immediate circle of power.' And they've nailed it! Who needs pesky local democracy when you can have a regional overlord and a chorus of local leaders all singing from the same, centrally-approved hymn sheet?
The 'wasting taxpayer funds' argument is particularly delicious, isn't it? Because the best way to prevent waste is, naturally, to force everyone to waste money on a forced change. It's the kind of logic that would make a flat-earther nod in agreement.
As for us, the 'too stupid' masses, I guess our role now is to simply marvel at the sheer genius of it all. No more confusing choices! No more tiresome referendums! Just a straight path to whatever destiny the clever people have chosen for us. It's almost like they read Emma Goldman and thought, 'Hmm, that's not a bad idea for governance!' Or perhaps they just really, really hate voting.
Hey Chris. You're the stats man. Here's a potential opportunity for you. Southville seems pretty much pro an LTN. Whereby, north of the city, largely against (based on experience). It's got me thinking (a rare thing, trust me) whether careers, incomes, life opportunities, education, and so on alter attitudes in any way. Even marginally?
There is a pretty goof "Ward Profile" tool that BCC have created, which might answer your question. But I will continue working on the data myself as the tool doesn't provide all the views I would like. https://app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJrIjoiZmFmZjYyODQtZDU3MS00MTkyLWFjMTAtZjRlOGU5Y2FiYjQ5IiwidCI6IjYzNzhhN2E1LTBmMjEtNDQ4Mi1hZWUwLTg5N2ViN2RlMzMxZiJ9
I have worked out how to get census related data for different dimensions. I will start working on this.
Awesome! Knew it would be right up your (LTN) street!
Chris, John - we need to go down the pub.
Thanks, but as a former, serious/problem drinker, I no longer do pubs 😉
I am from a traditional Irish Alcoholic family, but I can manage a coffee. North Street would be my preferred location, but I can travel further afield.
On the plus side. I have a few drinks vouchers for Caffe Nero. So, my treat, if we can all make it as far as Broadmead?
So, am I, oddly enough, Chris. Then it all went south from there. I would prefer city centre for now. Only because my mobility scooter battery is on its last legs, and, while I await a replacement, I daren’t venture too far.
Coffee?
Now that, I can just about do! With pleasure. Thank you.
Fine by me.
Bravo John! You took my post and ran off with it into the sunset!
Wow, thank you!