Toby Wells 💚
@tobywells.bsky.social
Green party councillor for Knowle, Bristol. Passionate about transport, planning & sustainability.
Brilliant question-comment from woman in the audience (before this clip) as the Reform candidate rails against career politicians. "I'd rather have a career politician than a plumber who's a sexist." 👏👏👏👏👏👏
Saul Staniforth@saulstaniforth.bsky.social · 2mo agoRobert Kenyon (Reforms candidate in Makerfield) is asked about comments he's made about women. Sarah Wakefield (the Greens candidate) then asks him if he'll apologise. He doesn't Sarah goes on to point out Reforms policies on women (e.g. scrapping the equality act) are shocking
Pleased to get to pop along to the action held today by @thejuryalliance.bsky.social outside Bristol Crown Court. The right to trial by jury is an essential part of the checks and balances in our legal system. And the changes proposed, would likely actually cost more! #Bristol #defendourjuries
🎉 It’s happening! Direct Oxford–Bristol trains start on Monday, running every two hours from Monday to Saturday. Weekday Oxford departures are at 0700, 0903, 1103, 1303, 1504, 1904 and 2103: the journey takes ~1hr10.
From Monday, direct rail services between Bristol and Oxford will run regularly for the first time since 2003. The Green Group lobbied the ORR to support the bid from @gwr.com. These services provide important additional connections as well as extra capacity between Bristol, Bath and Swindon.
How should WECA pay for franchising? We know that people in the West of England want more control over the buses through franchising. But there are a few different ways to fund it, with different pros and cons. Read our explainer below, and let us know what you think!
So happy to see the Portishead line actually progressing with spades in the ground! I love that a Pacer was the best they could find for the PR opportunity 😅
Simon Hickman@simonhickman.bsky.social · 3mo agoFirst passenger train up the Portishead line! WECA / Metrowest have hired a Pacer for the day to tour their proposed Network. Seen here between Ashton Gate Platform and Clifton Bridge.
Brussels has long carried a reputation as one of Europe’s most congested metropolises: a city of traffic jams, polluted air, and streets dominated by cars. Yet in recent years, the Belgian capital has become an unlikely case study in how bold political leadership can reclaim urban space for people.🧵
Green-led @bristolcouncil.bsky.social received a glowing peer review from @local.gov.uk this month. It specifically noted how moving to a committee system has strengthened democratic engagement and transparency. But the Labour govt wants to stop all of that… news.bristol.gov.uk/press-releas...
New report highlights Bristol City Council’s progress and ambition
news.bristol.gov.uk
It's happening! 📢 On Tuesday, MPs will consider an amendment to enable local leaders to ban pavement parking in their area. We need you to help us get this amendment on to the Bill. Ask your MP to agree to Amendment 265 when it's considered on Tuesday: https://bitly.livingstreets.org.uk/4tMU2Uq
Developers are expected to get approval for revised plans to redevelop a south Bristol shopping centre
Green-light due for revised plans to redevelop shopping centre
Developers have drastically reduced the number of new homes they will build
bristol247.com
France 🇫🇷 doubles electrification support to €10bn/year through 2030 — EVs, heat pumps, industry. The reason? The Strait of Hormuz crisis making fossil fuel dependence impossible to ignore. Geopolitical shocks don’t just raise prices. They change what’s politically possible.
Bristol’s Green leadership has been praised in a new, politically independent report from the Local Government Association. The evidence is clear: strong leadership, real collaboration, and a city moving forward together. We’re proud of how far we’ve come. And we’re just getting started.
For the first time ever, heat pumps outsold gas boilers in Germany in 2025. 48% of all new heating systems installed last year were heat pumps. Gas fell to just 39%. A decade ago, heat pumps had a 7% market share. The transformation has been remarkable.
Congratulations Yassin!!! The city's first Somali Lord Mayor! Can't wait to see you shine! 💚 www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
'Deep honour' as Bristol City Council's new Lord Mayor announced
Councillor Yassin Mohamud said he intended to
bbc.co.uk
Have just requested this for my birthday!
Stephen Frost@sfrost.bsky.social · 4mo agoChipped into the crowdfunder for this and delighted it is in my hands in time for the sunnier days. The map captures all the green & blue spaces in Bristol. On the reverse is a whole bunch of inspiration for getting outside in nature. Get yours here: www.urbangood.org/products/bri...
“Exceptional hardship” is granted (for proven habitual road crime offenders) in around 1 in 5 cases—yet the definition of exceptional is “rare and extraordinary”. In the UK, 5 people will die today in a road collision. We should prioritise safe travel, not leniency for repeat offenders.
Andy Cox@andy-cox.bsky.social · 4mo agoThe ban is right. I question where else repeated offending attracts mitigation like this. “Exceptional hardship” is lived daily by crash victims and bereaved families. My sympathy will always be with them—not the habitual road offender. Should we remove this provision? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Pedestrians now have less time to wait for the green man at stand‑alone push‑button pedestrian crossings
Shorter waiting times for green man at Bristol crossings
"Reducing waiting times at crossings is a simple but important change that helps everyone feel more confident when crossing the road"
bristol247.com
The Bristol Green group of councillors submitted a supporting letter for this application. Direct services to Oxford will provide important extra connectivity whilst also adding capacity between Bristol, Bath, Chippenham and Swindon.
Oxford Clarion@oxfordclarion.bsky.social · 4mo agoGWR is planning to introduce direct Oxford–Bristol trains this May, running every two hours Mon-Sat, if Network Rail approves. New documents submitted to the rail regulator say that the Government is backing the service, and that it is targeting the timetable change date in May.
In amongst the mayhem, the UK grid is showing some insights into what is possible in the coming years. Terrible weather so no solar for us, but we get free electricity regardless thanks to @octopus.energy Agile and extremely low carbon intensity generation Imagine being a fossil fuel shill rn
Gosh. A franchised Bus Service delivering services that people both need and want. Can't wait for this to happen in the West of England Combined Authority area. Might have to wait while though, because it's not in the Mayors Transport Vision.
CLondoner92@clondoner92.bsky.social · 4mo ago🐝 Bus satisfaction in Greater Manchester rose to 86% in 2025, the biggest increase in England, Transport Focus found. Improvements in value, punctuality and information follow Bee Network public control, with fares frozen and reliability improving. news.tfgm.com/press-releas...
It's WECA scrutiny tomorrow and I have so many questions written up that I could easily fill the entire 2.5 hours myself! Will be asking the mayor when we can expect some answers on much needed bus reform (cc @reclaimourbuses.bsky.social)
✅ As my colleague @tobywells.bsky.social points out, "franchising is such a good idea that it was universally supported by all parties" in the mayoral elections. ❌ But now she is in power, Labour's mayor is dragging her feet. 🚌 We need better buses, not more Labour delays and broken promises.
'The mayor must be more ambitious and back control of our region's bus network'
Green councillor Toby Wells says metro mayor Helen Godwin needs to deliver "desperately needed change"
bristol247.com
Green councillors are supporting the introduction of direct trains to Oxford, with an open letter to GWR. “These services will offer improved connectivity to and from our city, enabling and incentivising more of our residents to make sustainable long-distance journeys,” says @tobywells.bsky.social
Direct trains from Bristol to Oxford to start running again
If successful the services could eventually be made permanent
bristolpost.co.uk
We've been making steady steps forward in recent years, but now we need to take a huge stride. The political stage is set for a real alternative that challenges the elites and gives power to the people. We need to grab it with both hands with @zackpolanski.bsky.social as our next Green Party leader!
Local Councillor Ellie Freeman and I were pleased to see the Festival Way reopened after a long closure (with a well signed diversion route). It’s been done to a good standard, with a bat corridor and lots of trees. Although it could have been widened beyond 3m.
♻️ Bristol City Council are set to spend more money on tackling street litter and flytipping. ♻️ Green Council Leader, Tony Dyer, confirms that the Green Led Council will listen to the public and inject much needed investment into tackling street cleanliness.
The world did not end when the bridge was closed for two years between 2015 & 17. Twenty-four thousand pedestrians and cyclists use it daily; those numbers will only increase if motor vehicles are excluded. Bonus: the bridge will need a lot less maintenance!
Stephen Frost@sfrost.bsky.social · last yr.This would be a big improvement when walking with the kids Agree with @tobywells.bsky.social that current layout is a poor use of space: “Prince Street Bridge carries far more pedestrians and cyclists than it does people in private motor vehicles, but they’re squeezed into a much smaller space”
This would be a big improvement when walking with the kids Agree with @tobywells.bsky.social that current layout is a poor use of space: “Prince Street Bridge carries far more pedestrians and cyclists than it does people in private motor vehicles, but they’re squeezed into a much smaller space”
Busy bridge over Bristol harbour could close to cars
Councillors were split on whether the closure would be a good idea
bristolpost.co.uk
