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Tony Dyer: ‘No single party has the answers to everything’
Just a day after being appointed deputy to West of England mayor Helen Godwin, Tony Dyer, leader of Bristol City Council, stressed the importance of collaboration between political parties, educational institutions, businesses and key stakeholders to “make the city fairer for everyone”.
Dyer was speaking at a business breakfast panel event at Watershed, hosted by the law firm Knights.
The panel also included professor Tom Sperlinger from the University of Bristol; Claire Miller, chartered architect at Askew Cavanna Architects; Ann Cousins, associate director for Climate and Sustainability Services at Arup and a member of the West of England Business Board; and Marti Burgess, partner at Knights and chair of the board of trustees at Black South West Network (BSWN).
Panellists discussed a range of issues including transport, education, business growth, gentrification, accessibility and the “north-south divide”.
Panellists discussed a range of issues including transport, education, business growth, gentrification, accessibility and the “north-south divide”
The audience included business leaders, charities, academics and other stakeholders.
Speaking to Bristol24/7 after the event, Dyer said political cooperation was “essential” in a changing political landscape.
He said: “What we’ve seen is the political environment is changing. We’re seeing a much more diverse number of parties. We’re moving away from having a two-party system.
“And I think in our context, it’s imperative that politicians from different parties find a way to work together, but at the same time, we need to do that while also keeping true to our values, whether that be me being a Green politician, or whether it’s Helen (Godwin) a Labour politician.
“I think what Helen and I have in common is that we both want what’s best for our residents, the city and the wider region. I believe we can work well together.
“We know each other well and get on well too. We won’t agree on everything, and nor will our parties, but we are committed to finding a way forward for Bristol and the region.”
A major focus of the panel was transport and connectivity, with concerns raised over long-standing infrastructure gaps and inequality in access.
The absence of a direct public transport link to Bristol Airport was highlighted during the panel discussion, alongside examples showing that in some cases it can be quicker to travel from Newport to the city centre than from Hartcliffe.
Dyer pointed out transport inequality has persisted for decades and needed “urgent attention”.
He said: “Transport and connectivity have been major problems for Bristol for decades and are among the few areas where the city has fallen behind other regions. Working with the West of England Combined Authority, the City Council is committed to finally addressing those challenges.
He also emphasised the need for long-term confidence from investors and businesses, alongside a clearer sense of shared purpose between the public and private sectors.
“Businesses and investors also want reassurance that there will not be a sudden change that puts their plans in jeopardy,” he said.
“We are working to provide that stability, but we are also keen to engage with investors about what they can do for the city as well. It is not just about what the city can do for them, but what they can contribute to Bristol too.”
Professor Tom Sperlinger, a nationally recognised authority on widening participation in higher education, described the university’s long-held desire for “a more civic role beyond its traditional Clifton base”
The discussion also explored the role of higher education in city development, particularly as the University of Bristol prepares to open its Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus in September.
Professor Tom Sperlinger, a nationally recognised authority on widening participation in higher education, described the university’s long-held desire for “a more civic role beyond its traditional Clifton base”.
Sperlinger, academic director for civic spaces at the university, has been closely involved in the Temple Quarter campus development since its inception.
He also highlighted the impact of the micro campuses in Hartcliffe and Barton Hill, where learners have gained micro-qualifications equivalent to the first year of a degree, with some progressing into further study or entrepreneurship with the newly-gained set of skills.
He said: “It has always had a presence in different parts of the city and region, though predominantly physically based in Clifton since it was founded as a University College in 1876, 150 years ago.
“The Temple Quarter represents a once-in-a-generation reorientation of the city as a whole.
“The wider Temple Quarter zone is a profound shift that improves connectivity to the east and to communities in Barton Hill and Lawrence Hill, as well as south through Totterdown and Knowle, and out towards Hartcliffe and Withywood.
“It is exciting for us at the university to be part of that wider regeneration and reorientation, and we have tried to be thoughtful about how we work with the communities and partners around us as we begin development.”
Sperlinger also pointed to wider inequalities that need addressing in educational participation, highlighting stark differences in progression rates to university depending on postcode.
Ann Cousins from WECA Business Board highlighted the importance of long-term investment and stability in driving regional growth, pointing to national frameworks such as Great British Energy and the National Housing Bank as mechanisms to support both public and private investment.
She also referenced the Temple Quarter project as an example of long-term planning that can anchor regional development.
The panel also discussed gentrification and regeneration pressures in parts of the city, alongside concerns about community engagement in decision-making processes.
Claire Miller, an architect based in Stokes Croft, spoke about community asset transfer, where local organisations take on control and stewardship of council-owned buildings and assets, helping to prevent dereliction and strengthen community ownership.
She said: “From a social fabric perspective, it is important in helping to reuse buildings that might otherwise fall into disrepair or dereliction. But what is also key is understanding the data and the return on investment for the city.
“Locality and other authorities on community asset transfer have estimated that for every £1 spent on community asset ownership, around £2.50 is generated in local economic benefit – a 150 per cent return on investment. Financially, it is a no-brainer, and it also benefits communities.
“I would therefore encourage councils, particularly Bristol, to consider this approach as part of regeneration discussions, ensuring that while new development takes place, long-standing communities are also able to retain assets and create long-term, generational impact.”
Speakers representing various sectors sat down for a panel event at Watershed, hosted by the law firm Knights
Marti Burgess said the discussion reflected the scale of the challenges facing the city but also a shared willingness to find solutions.
She said: “I think the discussion today ended up being a full and frank exchange about those challenges. We are going to need to come up with more solutions. It did not feel like we have fully cracked it yet, and that is largely because the problems are so big.
“But I think it shows the will is there. It was good to hear from Tony about the way he and the West of England Combined Authority are working closely together and developing plans that, hopefully over the next ten to 15 years, will start to address some of these major issues.
“These are not simple problems. They are the big, complex challenges you would expect a city like Bristol to be dealing with.”
There was an opportunity for the attendees to network before the panel event
Host of the discussion David Morris, partner at Knights, said: “It’s fantastic as a business in Bristol to be able to host events like this, where we engage the community, we bring in major stakeholders within the community and leaders within the city to discuss the challenges that we face as a city.”
All photos: Milan Perera
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