We’ve got the wheels turning

[Helen pictured at a First Bus tree planting @JonCraig_Photos]

Helen Godwin is marking her first anniversary as the elected Mayor of the West of England, and reflecting on the last twelve months while setting out her priorities for the future.

The milestone comes just days after the landmark English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act received Royal Assent (on Wednesday 29 April), meaning more decisions are will be taken in the West of England rather than Whitehall. The new law is set to see the Mayor and combined authority secure a raft of additional powers, including in transport, strategic planning, economic development, and health.

Reflecting on her first year in office, Helen Godwin, Mayor of the West of England, said:

“As mayor of my home region, I’m proud of the difference that we’ve made over the last year. Our region’s voice is being heard at last, as we work to make the most of devolution. We have already secured some £1 billion of government funding during the last twelve months – including our first £45 million of funding from the Brownfield Housing Fund to get more homes built, including more affordable homes, and £25 million from the Creative Places Growth Fund to support the creative businesses that help make our region so special.

“Since last May, we have shown what working in partnership can achieve. Together, we have secured the green light for the long-overdue Portishead Line, and I was proud last week to sign the £200 million contract that will see trains reconnect Portishead and Pill to Bristol. Building more links with North Somerset remains a top priority, with a recent consultation showing that people across the West back them joining the combined authority so that we can secure more funding and make even more of a difference.

“From more than a million free bus journeys through Kids Go Free over the summer, Christmas, and Easter school holidays, to securing £23 million for local families through the national campaign to scrap the two-child benefit cap, we have started to deliver real change that people can see and feel. The same is true for the better balance that we are striking with the Dott trial through the Scoot Safe campaign. More than 26,000 fines have been issued for poor parking, with that number falling over recent months as more than 99% of journeys now end properly parked – tidying up pavements around the West.

Looking to the future, Helen added:

“We have got the wheels turning at WECA over the last year, and now is the time to accelerate to deliver more for people across our region. The Devolution Act becoming law is a huge step forward, just like plans to empower us to set an overnight visitor levy and see more of existing national taxes raised here, stay here.

“Our ambitions match the West of England’s potential as we look to do more, faster. People will see new train stations at Bristol Brabazon and Charfield open over the coming year, and more of our first 250 new green buses roll out too – all as we decide how best to take more control of our bus network and develop mass transit plans for key routes.

“In the coming weeks, we will be banging the drum for the country’s fastest-growing regional economy at a major investment conference in Leeds. Bristol Temple Quarter and the Brabazon and West Innovation Arc new town are both among the UK’s biggest regeneration opportunities, which we will continue shouting about to help get more homes built, with the right transport links.”

“We will also, building on our Child Poverty Action Plan and the Youth Guarantee’s pilot year, be taking a big step forward with a new Skills Strategy to ensure that every child and young person has the opportunities that they deserve. With the Western Forest’s first trees planted, and exciting news to come for nature in our region, there is a lot to look forward to for people across the West of England.”