RAIL FARE HIKE FOR BRISTOL AND BATH COMMUTERS
West of England Metro Mayor Dan Norris has criticised the government’s announcement of a 5.9% rise in rail fares as a ‘nightmare before Christmas.’ It means an annual Bristol Temple Meads to Bath Spa season ticket will rise to £1,957 – up by over £100. Dan Norris said: “There is a cost of living crisis…
METRO MAYOR BACKS LABOUR’S “BOLD AND RADICAL” DEVOLUTION PLANS
Labour is to make handing new economic, taxation and law-making powers to metro mayors like the West of England’s Dan Norris a key part of its reforms to the UK political system. In a major speech this morning, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer vowed to deliver “the biggest ever transfer of power from Westminster to…
Let it Glow! Metro Mayor launches Bath Xmas light show
Mayor Dan Norris is urging local people and their dogs to explore local this Winter as he officially launched a magical Christmas light experience in Bath. The Enchanted Garden of Light, a spectacular light walk, is once again returning to the grounds of the American Museum and Gardens which will be illuminated with festive sparkle.…
Mayor Backs Building Blocks for the Future
An apprentice met Metro Mayor Dan Norris to explain how a West of England Combined Authority-funded course that uses LEGO bricks helped him build a pathway to a new career. Chris Dando is now a trainee support worker at St Mungo’s Bristol. Fred took part in the unique course hosted by acta Community Theatre which…
Well-set for high-skilled jobs: thanks to £80,000 Metro Mayor grant
Two dozen local people are taking part in a brand-new welding course fully funded by Metro Mayor Dan Norris’ West of England Authority so they can go on to get in-demand high-skilled jobs. The Mayor, who is responsible for skills and training, met learners taking part in the weekly hands-on training course (and had a…
HSBC TO CLOSE 3 BRISTOL BANKS NEXT YEAR – METRO MAYOR COMMENTS
HSBC is shutting 114 banks next year, including three Bristol branches, the firm confirmed today. The bank said the closures are due to fewer people using physical branches to do their banking. The number of people visiting an HSBC has fallen by 65% in five years, the firm said. The HSBC Downend branch will close…
TIS THE ‘BLEAK’ SEASON – MORE MISERY FOR SHOPPERS AS FOOD PRICES HIT RECORD HIGH – METRO MAYOR COMMENTS
Food inflation surged to 12.4% over the last 12 months to hit a new record amid predictions of dampened Christmas cheer for hard-pressed West of England households. Items such as eggs, meat, dairy products and coffee shot up, according to the latest data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC). This lifted fresh food inflation to…
METRO MAYOR: WEST OF ENGLAND SHOPS NEED YOU – PLEA AS XMAS COUNTDOWN BEGINS
West of England shops need people’s support more than ever. That was the message from Metro Mayor Dan Norris as residents were urged to back their local high street shops and local indies this Small Business Saturday later this week. There are a whopping 30,000 small firms across the West of England – from butchers…
SPARKS OF SUCCESS FOR MIDSOMER NORTON WORKERS
Metro Mayor Dan Norris launched a new training course for the region’s electrical engineers funded by a bumper £100,000 cash injection from his West of England Combined Authority. 30 local workers will take part in the free courses in which they will work towards gaining new qualifications enabling them to work in `Hazardous Areas’ in…
COME DRIVE WITH US: METRO MAYOR URGES WEST’S UKRAINE GUESTS
Ukrainian refugees are being encouraged to become bus drivers. Metro Mayor Dan Norris helped Stagecoach launch a special recruitment day to encourage the West’s Ukrainian guests to get behind the wheel. At the special open day would be drivers had a chance to try out driving a bus and meet current bus drivers who say…
£95,000 Metro Mayor investment for Ukrainians driving West of England net-zero goal
Ukrainian women refugees are helping to power the West of England’s transition to net-zero. Nineteen women who fled the conflict and found sanctuary in our welcoming region are now taking part in a 5-week West of England programme teaching them new green skills which they can then put into action in the workplace. The Mayor…
Be a road safety hero – Metro Mayor urges West of England schoolchildren
Freshford Pre-schoolers saw their school hall transformed into a busy road as they learnt to “stop, look and listen” this Road Safety Week. Their transformed hall had traffic lights, make shift pavements, zebra and pelican crossings that the pupils can practice crossing safely. After learning safety tips, the children invited Metro Mayor Dan Norris to…
Steer We Go: Metro Mayor in driving seat to recruit new HGV lorry drivers
The West of England Combined Authority is funding a new scheme to recruit and train lorry drivers to help meet a regional and national shortage, Metro Mayor Dan Norris has announced. Speaking from behind the wheel of an HGV at haulage giant GXO, the Mayor launched the scheme backed by top haulage firms. Up to…
Marmalade sandwich, Mr Norris? Metro Mayor and Paddington team up to launch Winter Wonderland festive extravaganza
Is it the North Pole? Is it deepest, darkest Peru? No, it’s Christmas at Cribbs Causeway that is back bigger and better than ever before. Metro Mayor Dan Norris, who is running a Shop Local campaign, was at the Christmas Grotto alongside Santa and Paddington Bear as the trio launched Cribbs’ Winter Wonderland extravaganza. Paddington,…
IT’S OFFICIAL – THE WEST OF ENGLAND CAN NO LONGER AFFORD THE TORIES: METRO MAYOR RESPONDS TO AUSTERITY AUTUMN STATEMENT
Following the Chancellor’s austerity Autumn Statement this afternoon, Metro Mayor Dan Norris said: “West of England residents were already facing the biggest hit to incomes on record – now they face a recession while being forced to stump up with £55 billion of tax rises and cuts to public services to clean up the mess…
FIRST BUS TIMETABLE REDUCTIONS – METRO MAYOR REACTS
Reacting to the announcement from First Bus of “temporary” journey cancellations on some of their buses due to the issue of bus driver shortages, Metro Mayor Dan Norris said: “This news from First is disappointing. Under 20 of buses they run will now make fewer journeys, especially in off-peak time. “I understand the dilemma that…
INFLATION HITS STAGGERING 11.1% – METRO MAYOR COMMENTS
Inflation rose to 11.1% in October from 10.1% in September, the ONS has announced. It means inflation remains in double digits and is at the highest level for 41 years, heaping more pressure on households. Most economists had been expecting a rise to 10.7%. Sky-high energy prices and the soaring cost of food were two…
METRO MAYOR DEMANDS SUPPORT FOR HOMEOWNERS AS MORTGAGE RATES SPIRAL
Another 25,400 West of England households face paying over £400 more in their mortgage repayments every month because of the Tories’ failed economic policies. Rising interest rates seen after the Conservatives crashed the economy are forcing families re-mortgaging as their two-year fixed-rate deals come to an end to pay thousands of pounds more a year,…
METRO MAYOR HAILS FIVE-MONTH LIFELINE FOR THREE BATH BUSES
Bathonians will be welcomed back aboard three buses later this month after they were granted a temporary reprieve, thanks to efforts led by Metro Mayor Dan Norris. After intensive talks with the West of England Combined Authority, led by Mr Norris, a new operator – the Big Lemon group – has stepped in to run…
FULL STEAM AHEAD: PORTISHEAD TO BRISTOL TRAIN LINE GETS MAJOR BOOST AFTER PLANNING APPROVAL
The long-awaited reopening of the train line between Bristol and Portishead has taken another important step forwards after ministers gave the green light for works to get underway (today Monday 14 November) Planning permission and necessary environmental consents have been granted by the approval of a Development Consent Order. This follows the additional funding agreed…
ECONOMY SHRINKS AGAIN AS RECESSION LOOMS – AUSTERITY 2.0 NOT THE ANSWER, SAYS METRO MAYOR
The Tories are taking the West of England to the brink of recession as a result of the party’s “disastrous economic policies” of the last 12 years, warns Metro Mayor Dan Norris. The UK economy shrunk by 0.2% in the three months to September, new figures reveal, as experts warn the country is heading for…
Poppies to Paddington: Metro Mayor boards memorial train with message from West of England
Poppy wreaths from people across the West of England were transported on a special memorial train to mark Remembrance Day today (Friday 11 November). Metro Mayor Dan Norris was aboard the train leaving Bristol Parkway station at 9.16am and carried a wreath bearing the message: “We will never forget the sacrifice of those from the…
TIME TO SCOOT: URGES METRO MAYOR AS “LIFELINE” YATE SCHEME BACKED
A scheme that provides mobility scooters and wheelchairs in Yate Shopping Centre is getting the word out about the vital help it provides to so many South Glos residents to lead independent lives thanks to the West of England Combined Authority, led by Metro Mayor Dan Norris. As well as producing a brand-new poster for…
Mini Bee Buddies! Bradley Stoke school buzzing after Mayor bee award win
Pupils at Wheatfield Primary School in the heart of Bradley Stoke are buzzing after scooping one of the top prizes in the West of England Bee Bold Awards organised by Metro Mayor Dan Norris. The Mayor presented the West of England Bee Bold Award 2022. The mini bee buddies beat off stiff competition to win…
Let’s get sustainable! Skills Bootcamp to help West of England companies go green launched by Metro Mayor
Eco-minded West of England workers – from the food sector to construction and everything in between- will receive expert advice on how to reduce their companies’ carbon footprint, thanks to a brand-new Skills Bootcamp launched by Metro Mayor Dan Norris. The Skills Bootcamp in sustainability is a completely free nine-week course to help budding business…
NO MORE COP OUTS ON NATIONAL AIRPORT STRATEGY – METRO MAYOR ADDRESSES STOP BRISTOL AIRPORT EXPANSION RALLY
Metro Mayor Dan Norris addressed residents campaigning against the expansion of Bristol Airport as the High Court challenge to the decision to allow the airport to expand gets under way. In his speech, the Metro Mayor urged the Government to set out a “national airport policy with the environment centre stage” during the COP27 talks…
GOVERNMENT U-TURN WOULD BE BEST BIRTHDAY PRESENT FOR CHANNEL 4, SAYS METRO MAYOR
Channel 4 privatisation being dropped from the Government’s Media Bill will be “the best birthday present for the 40-year-old Channel”, said Metro Mayor Dan Norris. Number 10 has signalled that proposed sale championed by both Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak during the Tory leadership contest in the summer could be quietly dropped. “That’s a U-turn…
A dose of nature: thanks to £49,000 Metro Mayor grant
It’s official – gardening is great for mental health. Anyone who looks after their own garden or allotment could have told you that, but now Metro Mayor Dan Norris found out first-hand just how true this is when he saw how one much-loved community garden is making a real difference thanks to a grant from…
Bang Out of Order
A Bristol Animal Charity and well-known animal lover Metro Mayor Dan Norris are joining forces to call on all residents to be mindful of the needs of animals as Bonfire Night approaches. Speaking from Bristol Animal Rescue Centre (Bristol ARC) the Mayor highlighted heart-breaking research about how many animals suffer at this time of year.…
“They really are saving patients’ lives – here in Bristol and around the world”: Metro Mayor visits one of Bristol’s biggest exporting successes for International Trade Week
Metro Mayor Dan Norris marked International Trade Week with a visit to one of Bristol and the world’s biggest and best medical manufacturers helping transform the NHS and healthcare and emergency services worldwide for the better. Limbs & Things, the multi-million pound, 200-strong firm exports its first-rate medical simulation products to more than 40 countries…
INFLATION NATION LATEST: BIGGEST INTEREST RATE RISE IN DECADES – METRO MAYOR COMMENTS
The Bank of England has announced its biggest interest rate hike in 33 years today – adding an average £1,100 a year to mortgage bills for hard-pressed West of England residents. The Bank voted to up its rate by 0.75 percentage points – from 2.25% to 3% – to try to cool runaway inflation -…
DON’T MISS OUT! METRO MAYOR ISSUES £400 WARNING T0 WEST OF ENGLAND RESIDENTS ON PREPAYMENT METERS
Over 14,000 West of England residents using prepayment meters could be missing out on as much as £400 in energy bill support this winter, Metro Mayor Dan Norris has warned. Discounts on energy bills were due to start on 1 October for all West of England households, with a reduction of £66 or £67 per…
VOI SEVERS TIES WITH RUSSIA – METRO MAYOR COMMENTS:
The e-scooter operator Voi has confirmed that two of its shareholders with links to Russia have been removed by the company after international efforts spearheaded by West of England Metro Mayor Dan Norris. Mayor Norris has consistently called on the e-scooter provider to reconsider its controversial shareholders with Russian links. Two of Voi’s shareholders came…
DARK NIGHTS: REMEMBER YOUR LIGHTS – SAYS METRO MAYOR, AS CLOCKS GO BACK
As the clocks turn back this weekend, Metro Mayor Dan Norris is encouraging cyclists not to be caught out by making sure their bikes are fitted with lights before they get back in the saddle. British Summer Time will officially end at 2am this Sunday 30 October, meaning not only an extra hour in bed,…
CORRIE STAR MAYOR JOINS MAYOR DAN NORRIS TO URGE U-TURN ON CHANNEL 4 SALE PLANS
Mayor Dan Norris welcomed former Corrie actor and current Mayor Tracey Brabin to Bristol as the duo call on the Government to u-turn on its plans to privatise Channel 4. The Mayors have branded the sell-off plan “destructive”, “illogical” and “anti-growth”. In discussions with Daniel Fromm (Channel 4 head of factual entertainment) and Emily Shields…
Roar-some! Dinosaurs to roam free in Aston Court this weekend
Metro Mayor Dan Norris was transported back 230 million years when he got up close and personal with some roaring ancient dinosaurs stopping off in Ashton Court. The Mayor met some of the 50 life-size Jurassic, Triassic and Cretaceous beasts, including an 18m tall T-Rex that breathes and sways its tail as it hunts for…
METRO MAYOR: £435,000 TO SAVE “LIFELINE” COMMUNITY BUS SERVICES
Community minibuses used by many older and disabled people are returning to the streets of Bristol thanks to a £435,000 cash injection from Metro Mayor Dan Norris. Elderly residents and those with disabilities were left high and dry after Bristol Community Transport suddenly pulled the plug on its Dial-a-Ride and community group transport services last…
METRO MAYOR: MORE BUS DRIVERS MEANS BETTER SERVICES
There are jobs for around 200 bus drivers and if we find them, people will enjoy better services. That’s the message from First boss Doug Claringbold and Metro Mayor Dan Norris as they meet to get to grips with the bus driver shortage next Wednesday at 1.15pm (Lawrence Hill Depot, Easton, Bristol BS5 0EX). The…
Black businesses celebrated by Metro Mayor
To celebrate Black History Month, Metro Mayor Dan Norris will meet some of Bristol’s Black and minority-led companies to discuss the history of Black businesses and entrepreneurs, and their contribution to the West of England’s prosperity, past, present and future this Wednesday at 1.15pm (Newlands Lane, Bristol BS16 7PT). The Metro Mayor will be given…
Jobs boost for care leavers: thanks to £720,000 Metro Mayor grant
Over 150 care leavers across the West of England are gaining new skills to help them secure good jobs thanks to a £720,000 cash injection from the West of England Authority, led by Metro Mayor Dan Norris. The ‘Jobs First’ Mayor visited the scheme as part of National Care Leavers Week, as he met some…
Race to Zero: Metro Mayor launches new campaign to slash emissions – one small step at a time
A campaign to help West of Englanders reduce their reliance on dirty fossil fuels and embrace a greener future through simple, practical steps was launched by Metro Mayor Dan Norris. Action Net Zero’s “Beacon of Hope” campaign will reach out to West of England communities to offer them practical advice, guidance and support on how…
Life’s a playground: thanks to Metro Mayor grant
Bristol youngsters will be able to follow in the footsteps of half a century of local residents before them at Felix Road Adventure Playground, thanks to the vital work of Kilburn Street-based Eastside Community Trust. Bristol faces a shortage of ‘playworkers’ but £15,000 of funding from the West of England Authority, led by Metro Mayor…
Pick up a pumpkin
With Halloween fast approaching Metro Mayor Dan Norris found out about one of the best places for local people to source their seasonal squash as he grabbed a wheelbarrow to get pumpkin picking at Avon Valley Adventure and Wildlife Park. The Avon Valley Adventure and Wildlife Park has a spook-tacular treat on offer with the…
Metro Mayor hits the high street to see £275,000 Bedminster facelift
From a shop selling wool and other lush fabrics, to a craft beer bar, to architects, local people have been setting up shop in Cannon Street, East Street and Bedminster Parade thanks to £275,000 of investment from the West of England Combined Authority, led by Metro Mayor Dan Norris. Mayor Norris took a walk through…
Palm Oil
Palm oil is in nearly everything West of Englanders use including deodorant, shampoo, toothpaste and lipstick as well as treats like pizza, doughnuts and chocolate. But the detrimental effects of this edible veg oil on the world’s remaining rainforests are well known and documented. Now researchers at the University of Bath say they have hit…
Metro Mayor urges passengers to “Get On Board” as bus fares go down
Passengers will benefit from new cheaper single and return fares starting later this month across West of England buses, Metro Mayor Dan Norris has confirmed. All single adult tickets in Bristol and Bath will be reduced to £2 for adults while returns will cost £3.50. Outside of the two cities there will also be sizeable…
METRO MAYOR: BUSES SET TO BE SAVED
Vital bus services used by thousands of passengers in Bristol are set to be saved, thanks to efforts led by Metro Mayor Dan Norris. Bus services run by Bristol Community Transport were cancelled on 2 September after the operator decided to stop running them at short notice. But after intensive talks, the West of England…
METRO MAYOR ANNOUNCES PAULTON SCHOOL BUS SET TO BE SAVED
Students and parents have reacted with delight after Metro Mayor Dan Norris announced that the 82 bus service which serves communities in Radstock, Midsomer Norton and Paulton is set to be saved. There has been fears that school children would be left high and dry after First announced they would no longer run the service,…
Her Majesty the Queen: 1926 – 2022
Commenting on the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II today (Thursday 8 September), Metro Mayor Dan Norris said: “This is an immensely sad day. Her Majesty The Queen has been a constant presence during all of our lives and during so many periods of immense change, not just in the West of England and…
“PEOPLE WILL DIE”: ENERGY BILLS TO HIT £3,549 FROM OCTOBER – METRO MAYOR COMMENTS
Commenting on the announcement from Ofgem today (Friday 26 August) that the energy price cap will jump to £3,549 in October, Metro Mayor Dan Norris said: “The country is galloping towards a winter emergency. Local people already struggling to make ends meet will be even more worried after today’s announcement. “The government simply cannot allow…
Butterflies and mini-beasts: Metro Mayor enjoys Blaise Museum buzzy bee fun
Metro Mayor Dan Norris got ‘buzzy’ as joined Blaise Museum for a day of fun, bee-themed activities. With summer flowers now in full bloom, the Blaise estate became a hive of activity, with the Metro Mayor joining Head of Collections and Archives Ray Barnett and Bristol families for a fun day out to teach locals…
RAISING A STINK: METRO MAYOR URGES ACTION AFTER WESSEX WATER FOUND TO HAVE PUMPED RAW SEWAGE INTO LOCAL RIVERS AND LAKES FOR “MORE THAN 565,000 HOURS”
Wessex Water spent more than 565,000 hours pumping raw sewage into the West of England’s waters since 2016, new figures obtained by Labour show. According to Labour’s analysis of data from the Environment Agency, the water firm spent 565,066 hours discharging sewage between 2016 and 2021 into the natural environment, including bathing spots such as…
Pets and the cost of living crisis
The cost of living crisis is affecting everyone and that includes our pets too. Sadly the Dogs Trust says the number of owners speaking to them about giving up their dog has “risen to the highest levels” since 2014. My cocker spaniel Angel and I thought this article from the BBC had some great tips:…
Bus cash won’t solve driver crisis
Metro Mayor Dan Norris has cautiously welcomed a government U-turn that will provide additional funding for buses but warned that there will still be cuts in October due to the bus driver shortage. The eleventh-hour change of direction by the Government will see Covid emergency funding extended for a further six months which bus companies…
ARE WE THERE YET? INFLATION HITS 10.1% AS PRICES ROCKET
UK inflation has surged to a fresh 40-year high amid soaring food prices, heaping yet more pain on cash-strapped West of England households as the cost-of-living crisis deepens. The ONS said today (Wednesday 17 August) inflation had hit double digits in July, rising to 10.1%, up from 9.4% in June and remaining at the highest…
THE DOCTOR CAN’T SEE YOU NOW
14% who try to make a GP appointment in Bristol and South Glos don’t get one, whilst over 15,000 locals were forced to wait over a month, it can be revealed. New figures from NHS England show that a shocking 14% of people in both areas could not get an appointment to see or speak…
BACK SEVERN ESTUARY PROJECT TO HELP “TURN THE TIDE” ON ENERGY CRISIS, METRO MAYOR URGES
The energy price crisis should lead the Government to look again at harnessing the vast tidal power in the Severn Estuary, according to Metro Mayor Dan Norris. Mayor Norris backed Labour’s comprehensive plan to deal with rising energy prices announced by Keir Starmer today (Monday 15 August), including looking again at the case for a…
A&E IN CRISIS: 7,500 WEST OF ENGLANDERS WAITING MORE THAN FOUR HOURS FOR EMERGENCY CARE – METRO MAYOR COMMENTS
Over 7,500 patients are having to wait more than four hours in overwhelmed A&E departments at Royal United Hospital in Bath and Southmead Hospital in Bristol amid the worst NHS crisis on record, figures from the NHS can reveal. Shockingly, today’s monthly NHS statistics revealed over 300 had to wait more than 12 hours to…
COST OF LIVING: END “SCANDALOUS” ENERGY PREPAYMENT PREMIUMS, SAYS METRO MAYOR
The Government must put a stop to “scandalous” premiums that poorer West of Englanders who use prepayment meters face, says Metro Mayor Dan Norris. There are over 42,700 households in the West who are ‘pay-as-you-go’ energy customers, meaning they pay for their gas and electricity in advance, either online or from credit bought in shops.…
Creativity Works: First rung on creative career ladder for Bristol and South Glos youngsters, thanks to Metro Mayor cash
Lushly layered and thrilling harmonies rung out across Creative Youth Network on Silver Street as Metro Mayor Dan Norris popped in to see how a £10,000 cash injection from the West of England Combined Authority he leads has supported the next generation of creative young West of Englanders. The Metro Mayor met some of Bristol…
KICK IN THE TEETH: 98% OF NHS DENTISTS UNABLE TO TAKE ON NEW PATIENTS
A survey has found the majority of NHS dentists in the West of England are not able to offer appointments to new adult patients. 98% of NHS practices across the South West, including the West of England, were not accepting new patients, according to the research from the BBC and British Dental Association. The survey…
RIP OFF: HIGHEST ENERGY BILL CHARGE INCREASE FOR WEST OF ENGLANDERS
West of England households are paying the most in electricity “standing” charges in the whole country, it can be revealed. Metro Mayor Dan Norris said he was urging the Government to step in after research showed West of Englanders’ are forking out more on the charge on monthly energy bills – which can’t be reduced…
COST OF LIVING: MORE SUPPORT NEEDED FOR POORER HOUSEHOLDS, LABOUR LEADERS WARN
Metro Mayor Dan Norris has joined forces with Gordon Brown, Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford and other local leaders in warning that the Government’s cost-of-living support for poor households is not enough to protect them through the “most serious cost-of-living crisis in decades”. Almost all of the 16,400 people on Universal Credit across the West…
Metro Mayor urges groups to “Bee the Change” as £1 million pollinator fund launched
New grants of between £10,000 and £100,000 for West of England projects supporting the region’s bees are on offer. The new funding was launched by Metro Mayor Dan Norris at Grow Batheaston this week. Whether it is planting blooming wildflower meadows in schools, installing bee-friendly green roofs on community buildings or working hand in hand…
Idles of March: Mayor bangs drum for Bristol music studio
Metro Mayor Dan Norris met some of Bristol’s budding band members as he found out how £15,000 from the West of England Combined Authority that he leads is helping the next generation of musicians to succeed. The Mayor toured Factory Studios on Maze Street and even met homegrown heroes Idles who were practicing there on…
TRAINING ACADEMY TO GIVE DISADVANTAGED GROUPS “BASIC BUILDING BLOCKS” FOR WORK LAUNCHED BY METRO MAYOR
A new training academy that will support 50 people facing challenges with their mental health, homelessness, or overcoming addiction to find jobs has been launched by Metro Mayor Dan Norris. Funded by £80,000 from the West of England Authority, led by Mr Norris, and delivered by the Bath charity Developing Health and Independence, the ‘West…
Full steam ahead! Metro Mayor launches ‘Wickham Wednesdays’
Ever wanted to experience being a real-life Wickham trolley driver? Well now you can at Somerset and Dorset Railway as their popular Wickham Wednesdays returns. Loco-obsessed Metro Mayor Dan Norris officially launched a season of fun as he hopped aboard and took a ride in the famous Midsomer Norton vehicle. The Metro Mayor who is…
Wildlife ‘superhighway’ backed by Metro Mayor
Connecting habitats between the Mendip Hills and the Cotswolds to create a “superhighway” for birds, bees and other animals has been given the thumbs up by Metro Mayor Dan Norris. West of England Nature Partnership’s Ian Barrett met the Mayor to explain how the limestone peaks of the Mendip Hills in the east and Cotswolds…
Workers’ rights? They’re cracking! Wallace & Gromit’s makers first to sign up to Metro Mayor’s Good Employment Charter
The West of England’s first-ever Good Employment Charter was launched by Metro Mayor Dan Norris as part of a push to develop good jobs, deliver opportunities for workers to progress and help local and regional employers succeed. First to sign up is the world-famous, four times Academy Award-winning animation studio Aardman. Over 60 businesses have…
On track: Beeching cut set to be reversed as Bristol to Portishead train cash voted through
A cash hole in the project to reopen the Bristol to Portishead railway line has been plugged (today, Friday 29 July 2022). Metro Mayor Dan Norris called an emergency meeting of the West of England Combined Authority he leads after he and Cllr Bridger, leader of North Somerset Council, secured a promise of £15.5m of…
COST OF LIVING: 3,620 SOUTH WEST MILITARY VETERANS COULD BE ON BENEFITS, METRO MAYOR URGES ACTION FROM MINISTERS
Metro Mayor Dan Norris has accused ministers of failing to support West of England veterans during the cost-of-living crisis after figures obtained by Labour showed around 3.5% of all veterans, or 70,000, could be on benefits. The Government has admitted 33,800 veterans are currently in receipt of Universal Credit. But the first-time figures, released by…
COMMUNITIES URGED TO MAKE “BIG CHOICES ON BUSES” THIS SUMMER
Community leaders are being encouraged to hold “big choices on buses” meetings by Metro Mayor Dan Norris who wants local people to be a key part of the important conversation about the future of public transport across the West of England. The Metro Mayor will kick off the discussion by holding a series of “big…
Bird is the word: Metro Mayor goes wild for conservation at birds of prey centre
School’s out for Summer and parents will be looking for some great days out to keep the kids entertained. Luckily the West of England has some amazing places to visit, according to Metro Mayor Dan Norris, who is running a regional Explore Local campaign. To kick off the Summer holls, the Metro Mayor went wild…
South Bristol residents tell Metro Mayor community space should be kept for BS13 community
Local people gathered in Bedminster Down to meet with Metro Mayor Dan Norris, explaining to him how saving a much-loved community cafe and arts space would see it go from strength and strength, as they look to raise enough money to buy the building. Zion Community Art Space has provided a lifeline for thousands of…
INFLATION RISES FOR NINTH MONTH IN A ROW TO 9.4% – METRO MAYOR COMMENTS
UK inflation soared to a fresh 40-year high of 9.4% last month, figures from the ONS showed, as the cost-of-living crisis deepens further for Bristolians. Inflation, which stood at 2.5% last June, has now risen for nine months in a row and the Bank of England is expecting it to peak at above 11% when…
COST OF LIVING CRISIS: WEST OF ENGLANDERS FACE £454 EXTRA TO GROCERY BILL – METRO MAYOR COMMENTS
West of England shoppers will see their supermarket bills rocket by more than £450, adding pressure to the serious cost-of-living-crisis, according to a new report. Butter, milk and dog food are set to see the largest price hikes.Metro Mayor Dan Norris said the eye-watering hikes will leave local people struggling as he took aim at…
SIGNIFICANT PAY INCREASE FOR WEST OF ENGLAND BUS DRIVERS
A pay rise for bus drivers has been welcomed as a key step to help fill the over 100 vacancies for bus drivers in the West of England. New First bus drivers will see their base pay going up from over £24k to just over £27k. One of the issues driving cancellations and timetable changes…
WE CAN’T MAGIC UP BUS DRIVERS, WARNS MAYOR, AS BUS COMPANIES ANNOUNCE CUTS
Severe bus driver shortages coupled by the withdrawal of Covid funding by the Conservative Government means local people face more bus cuts. The majority of bus services in the West of England are run commercially, with the remainder fully or partly subsidised by the West of England Combined Authority, led by Mr Norris. Of the…
Feeling hot, hot, hot
Dan Norris, West of England Metro Mayor, has called on regional employers to step up protect workers as temperatures soar and the government dither. With climate change bringing higher temperatures to the UK more often, the Mayor is calling on the government to create a long-term plan. He says it’s vital to adapt to keep…
UK HEATWAVE: KEEP STAFF SAFE, METRO MAYOR URGES EMPLOYERS
Metro Mayor Dan Norris is urging West of England employers to make sure their staff are protected from the sun and heat as the Met Office issued its first ever red alert for hot weather. A red warning for extreme heat in the West of England has been issued for Monday and Tuesday, meaning there…
NUMBER OF COVID DEATHS PASSES 200,000 – METRO MAYOR DEMANDS GOVERNMENT APOLOGY
Metro Mayor Dan Norris has called on the Government to apologise to West of England bereaved families after ONS figures showed more than 200,000 Covid deaths have been reported across the UK The Metro Mayor said ministers should “address the families, apologise and ensure lessons are learned as quickly as possible” in the face of…
METRO MAYOR WARNS TORY CANDIDATES: DON’T DITCH NET ZERO
Conservative leadership candidates hoping to succeed Boris Johnson as prime minister should not ditch or backslide on the Government’s green agenda, according to Metro Mayor Dan Norris. The intervention from the Metro Mayor comes amid mounting fears the winning candidate will dismantle the UK’s net-zero commitments. Leadership hopefuls Kemi Badenoch and Suella Braverman have both…
JOB-READY, LIFE-READY: £710,000 CAREERS EDUCATION BOOST FROM METRO MAYOR
The West of England is “leading when it comes to careers education for young people” and could “teach the rest of the country a thing or two”, according to Metro Mayor Dan Norris. The Metro Mayor made the comments as he addressed the West of England Combined Authority’s annual careers conference attended by over 90…
Local artists bring a splash of colour to St Pauls with new murals, thanks to Metro Mayor grant
St Pauls is already one of most vibrant areas of Bristol, but is now an altogether more colourful place thanks to a £10,000 community art project funded by the West of England Combined Authority, led by Metro Mayor Dan Norris. Spray-can in hand, the Metro Mayor put the finishing touches to a 3.6-metre high mural…
Metro Mayor and First launch West of England’s first-ever ‘tap on, tap off’ bus payments
Traveling by bus is about to become easier than ever thanks to Metro Mayor Dan Norris. The Metro Mayor has teamed up with First Bus to launch “Tap On, Tap Off” (TOTO), a simple way for people to pay for their bus travel using their contactless card or device without having to buy a ticket…
METRO MAYOR: PAUSE CHANNEL 4 PRIVATISATION DURING TORY LEADERSHIP CONTEST TO PROTECT BRISTOL JOBS
The end of Boris Johnson’s premiership gives Channel 4 and it’s Bristol Creative Hub a “lifeline” against privatisation, according to Metro Mayor Dan Norris, and the sale of the much-loved broadcaster must be shelved while the Conservatives choose a new leader over the coming months. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, led by Johnson…
Top in the country: Metro Mayor hails institute boosting West of England tech skills
Metro Mayor Dan Norris marked the third anniversary of the UK’s leading technology institute currently supporting more than 800 West of Englanders gain sought-after tech skills next week. The Metro Mayor spoke at the institute’s birthday celebration event at Bath’s Bailbrook House Hotel on Tuesday at 6pm (Eveleigh Ave, London Road W, Bath BA1 7JD). Since its…
Sweet harmonies rung out across Three Ways School in Odd Down as Metro Mayor Dan Norris joined an orchestra with a difference at one of their rehearsals.
Mr Norris celebrated the achievements of the awe-inspiring ‘Three Ways School Open Orchestra’ benefiting from a £3,000 cash injection from the West of England Combined Authority he leads as he joined the young talented Bath musicians practicing for their end of year concert. Local charity Open Up Music is the brainchild behind ‘Open Orchestras’ ensuring…
METRO MAYOR FIRST TO SEE £70 MILLION RESEARCH LAB TO DECARBONISE TRANSPORT
Metro Mayor Dan Norris got a sneak peek of a new state-of-the-art engineering centre helping decarbonise the West of England transport sector and funded by a bumper £10 million cash injection from the Combined Authority next Wednesday at 1.15pm (Newlands Lane, Bristol, BS16 7PT). Located in the Bristol and Bath Science Park in Emersons Green, the 13,500…
Back to School: Metro Mayor visit boosts Bristol pupils’ democracy learning
Metro Mayor Dan Norris went back to the classroom to talk with the budding politicians of Barrs Court Primary School in Longwell Green as part of a drive to learn about democracy this Wednesday at 1.15pm. Mr Norris saw how pupils have been learning about the importance of democracy and how it works when he addressed…
Banksy’s of Tomorrow: Yate students showcase talent in heritage centre art exhibition
Metro Mayor Dan Norris is encouraging visitors to take a look at local children’s artwork being showcased at Yate and District Heritage Centre (Church Lane, Yate, Bristol BS37 5BG), this Children’s Art Week. The exhibition featuring work from 27 Yate students from Yate Academy can be seen at the Victorian stables-turned-heritage until Wednesday 6 July. With…
Reawakening the summer: Metro Mayor gets ‘Wake The Tiger’ preview ahead of July opening
A new tourist attraction is coming to St Phillips next month from the creative team behind the popular Boomtown festival, and it might just be the perfect place to explore with children in tow this summer, according to Metro Mayor Dan Norris, who got an exclusive preview. Dubbed a ‘fantastical experience’ blurring the lines between…
Pride of the West: Metro Mayor hails budding young engineers at awards ceremony
The winners of a competition inspiring the next generation of the South West’s top engineers has been announced. The “Leaders Awards” backed by the West of England Combined Authority, led by Metro Mayor Dan Norris, took place at the University of the West of England last Friday. Over a thousand pupils, aged between 4 and 18,…
Bristol garden cultivating wellbeing, thanks to Metro Mayor grant
This World WellBeing Week, Metro Mayor Dan Norris visited a much-loved community garden that is making a real difference thanks to a grant from the West of England Combined Authority, led by the Mayor. On his visit to Redcatch Community Garden, Mr Norris saw how the £7,500 cash injection is being used to fund training…
The big picture: Metro Mayor and his dog first to visit new outdoor photography gallery
It was take your dog to work day and so First Dog of the West of England Angel officially opened a new outdoor photography gallery. The brand-new open-air space from Bristol’s Royal Photographic Society and Martin Parr Foundation has been fully funded by the West of England Combined Authority led by Angel’s owner Metro Mayor…
Just Transition: Unions vital to net-zero plans, says Metro Mayor
At a discussion with trade union ‘green reps’, Metro Mayor Dan Norris vowed to work with unions to ensure a just transition to a “greener, cleaner and fairer” West of England economy. The Metro Mayor made the comments after talks with union environmental or ‘green’ reps on embedding the green agenda in the workplace held…
CHEW VALLEY SCHOOL WINS METRO MAYOR’S FIRST GREEN JOBS GRANT
Chew Valley school is the first of three West of England schools to win a new grant to encourage local youngsters to consider green careers. Metro Mayor Dan Norris visited the school on Wednesday at 11.30am during his second Jobs and Skills Summit to meet some of the students taking part. The school beat off…
Metro Mayor launches new Sustainability Champions programme
Two hundred eco-minded West of England workers became “Sustainable Impact Champions” helping their organisations reduce their carbon footprint, thanks to a brand-new scheme launched by Metro Mayor Dan Norris on Wednesday. The environmentally concerned West of England workers are being trained at workshops and through one-on-one mentoring as part of a wider joint £800,000 investment from…
Metro Mayor visits Bristol retrofit site
Metro Mayor Dan Norris met workers who are retrofitting four homes on Philip Street as part of the Mayor’s second Jobs and Skills Summit. The Metro Mayor talked to the insulation workers about what attracted them to their roles, how they gained the skills they needed and quiz them about their ideas on how to…
Metro Mayor meets bright young minds behind best of West of England clean tech
Metro Mayor Dan Norris met the bright young minds behind some of the West of England’s leading green tech initiatives, during the Mayor’s second Jobs and Skills Summit. The Metro Mayor met some of the skilled young engineers and entrepreneurs behind some of the region’s leading green initiatives during the indoor demonstration, as well as…