Summary
THE cost of the Greater Bristol Bus Network has risen by nearly Pounds 9 million - and most of that is being paid for by tax payers. The project to improve bus routes across Greater Bristol was originally expected to cost Pounds 70 million, but now that has risen to Pounds 78.8 million. First Bus has chosen to spend an extra Pounds 2.5 million on the scheme, but the rest is coming from the four local authorities involved - Bristol City, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire and Bath & North East Somerset councils. They say they have chosen to spend more money on the project to make it better, for the benefit of bus passengers. The GBBN aims to improve 10 "showcase" bus routes, giving buses priority over other traffic, providing new vehicles, real time information at stops and improving bus shelters. The 12.5 per cent rise is referred to in a report to a meeting of the West of England Partnership transport group, due to take place at the Winter Gardens in Weston-super-Mare on Friday.
The Evening Post understands that much of the extra public cost has come from Bristol City Council choosing to spend more on its share of the project. Originally Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire and B&NES councils were supposed to contribute Pounds 1.7 million towards the scheme. Now they will be paying closer to Pounds 6.6 million. The amount of money coming from developers' contributions - so-called section 106 money paid in exchange for planning permission - is also going up. Bristol was supposed to provide nothing from its section 106 money but this has now risen to Pounds 216,000. North Somerset's developer contribution has gone from Pounds 210,000 to Pounds 335,600, while South Gloucestershire has risen from Pounds 5,160,000 to Pounds 6,004,000. Bath has never provided money from section 106 funds. First's contribution has also gone up from Pounds 20 million to Pounds 22.5 million, paying for an extra 15 buses on the routes.See the full content of this document
Extract
Bus Network Costs Rocket by Pounds 9m
The Pounds 78.8 million now includes Pounds 42.3 million grant funding from the Department for Transport, ...
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