Get your ideas in by August 13 to be part of the City Conversation with Labour’s candidate to be the first elected mayor of Bristol, Marvin Rees.

Last week he held the first in a series of policy roundtables with experts from across Bristol, chaired by Cypriot origin Lord Andrew Adonis, former Secretary of State for Transport and representatives from Bristol’s transport operators, major transport Unions, passenger groups and key pressure groups.

The discussion was around Bristol’s transport system and how the city can and should be better connected – a critical issue especially for those living south of the river.

Speaking after the event, Mr Rees said the process was “not some abstract exercise to connect points on a map”. Rather, he wanted to ensure Bristolians felt part of the city and had fair access to opportunity.

“It’s about ensuring we have a transport system that services our economy and allows us to develop in a way that does not destroy our natural world,” he added. “It’s about ensuring we have a transport system that supports rather than undermines our ambition to make Bristol a city that presses forward and doesn’t leave people behind.

“I invite you to take part in a conversation over the coming weeks, about how we unleash Bristol’s potential. Out of the ideas put forward between now and the closing date for submissions – August 13 – Labour will build the policy platform that I will stand on as Labour’s mayoral candidate and which I hope to enact as Bristol’s first elected mayor.”

The elections this November for both Bristol’s first directly elected mayor and a Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) mean there’s a real buzz developing. Labour’s PCC candidate for Avon and Somerset is Bob Ashford, an impressive candidate with much experience in crime prevention and a strong background in the Labour Party and wider community.