Features / 10 Questions
10 Questions: Helen Godwin – ‘We’ve had too many years of this region not having a true champion as our regional mayor’
Helen Godwin has been mayor of the West England for just over a year, having previously been a Labour councillor for Southmead and a member of former Bristol mayor Marvin Rees’ cabinet before standing down to join PwC.
She grew up in Stapleton, went to school in Cotham and college in Filton.
Away from WECA, Godwin has recently become an adviser to Active Travel England and was previously a director of Bristol Rovers Community Trust.
is needed now More than ever
Helen Godwin was recently joined by transport secretary Heidi Alexander and Active Travel England national active travel commissioner Chris Boardman on the Railway Path
1. What do you think about being called the TikTok mayor? (@marthafiddz via Instagram)
“I only heard this for the first time the other week and am not sure that it’s supposed to be a compliment. To be honest, if we’re reaching different communities when sharing our work to improve the region for everyone – including the TikTok generation – then I’m happy about that! I really enjoy doing social media and showing people what we are up to. And I love being mayor so am glad that’s coming across to people.”
2. Do you think WECA and the individual authorities do enough to engage with the public, and truly encourage them to participate in local politics? (Colin Hewitt via Facebook)
“We try and reach as many people as possible through the press, including Bristol24/7, and on social media. I’m always out and about across our region but I’m sure there is more we can try to do. We’re always looking to do more to engage with more people across the West of England and welcome people’s feedback and ideas.”
3. During your election campaign, you pledged to support the end of the use of bailiffs in the region and investigate funding WECA can provide to aid local authorities in this. What progress have you made? (@alextuckerofficial via Instagram)
“We’re making progress to help tackle the housing crisis, and my position on bailiffs hasn’t changed since I voted repeatedly to protect things like the Council Tax Reduction Scheme that help stop people falling into debt in the first place. If or when the combined authority adds a precept to people’s council tax, I would expect a fuller conversation with local councils around ensuring that bailiffs are only used, if ever, as a last resort.
“In the meantime, the new Renters’ Rights Act is a big step forward and we co-funded the WE Rent campaign to help make people more aware of the changes to the law that protect tenants. I’ve also secured £45m to get more new homes built, including affordable homes. We are continuing to work with councils on what more we can do together.”
4. What’s happening for older white collar workers 45-50+ displaced by redundancy and skills programmes? There seems little available to help keep us working until 68. Flexibility is really important for parents with kids of school age. (@tweetyracks via Instagram)
“Our new Skills Strategy focuses on how we can support working-age adults to navigate barriers to work: whether that’s childcare, a language barrier, transport, or the challenges of working with chronic illnesses or poor mental health. We want to create an environment where flexible working is valued and where people are supported back into work in a way that works for them, and this includes people who are struggling to stay in work for different reasons.
“We also know the world is moving quickly in terms of technology and AI so we want to make sure that the West of England is a place where lifelong learning is encouraged and well-funded. I’m really excited to start to deliver on the Skills Strategy alongside our colleges and training providers, but also bringing more employers into the conversation so we can tailor courses and training that will secure the right jobs for people.”
5. When are people, especially disabled and/or visually impaired people, going to be able to walk in Bristol without being endangered or obstructed by the scooters, electric bikes etc? (@bambiredux via Instagram)
“I share and appreciate these frustrations. Since being elected, my Scoot Safe campaign with the police & crime commissioner, Clare Moody, has tidied up our streets and improved the e-bike and e-scooter trial. We’ll continue listening to Disabled people where issues are raised as we continue to improve the trial.
“Our new fines for bad parking have had a huge impact, with almost 29,000 fines to date having the desired effect – alongside strengthened enforcement for dangerous riding. The proportion of Dott vehicles that are left poorly parked has fallen by around two-thirds since August last year. Over 99 per cent of journeys now end properly parked and we’re installing dozens of new marked bays to make things even easier – and looking at physical infrastructure to help too.”
Selfie time for regional mayors with special guest Darren Jones
6. Why have you opposed the pedestrianisation of Park Street? (@medialator_ via Instagram)
“There was a bit of a back and forth with the council on this one, and people will remember that I raised concerns during the election campaign about the knock-on impact on traffic and air quality outside the Children’s Hospital and BRI. We looked at a compromise, suggesting a peak-hours-only trial for the bus gate, but that didn’t come off. The city’s transport committee ultimately decided not to progress the proposals, after a divided response to the public consultation from residents and businesses.
“It’s important to say that council leaders and I continue to enjoy a good working relationship, despite this difference of opinion. I was delighted to recently appoint councillor Tony Dyer as regional deputy mayor for the coming year, and look forward to continuing to secure new funding together to invest in the West.”
7. What are you doing to tackle the rise of people parking their cars on the pavement? (@mattdod via Instagram)
“This is something that I campaigned on when I first ran to be a councillor, knowing that it can often mean mums with kids pushed into the street. As cabinet member for children, I introduced School Streets in part because of pavement parking. So I’m delighted that the prospect of new powers to enforce against pavement parking and look forward to working with councils to take action in the near future.”
8. Why has Bristol become such a cesspit? Council tax through the roof just to be wasted. (Steve Bould via Facebook)
“I’m proud to be a born-and-bred Bristolian, and love living in our part of the world. While I don’t agree with you, nobody could deny that there’s always more to do and we’ll keep working with our councils and other partners on that. Tens of millions of pounds of new funding that we have secured can help breathe new life into brownfield sites, with public realm improvements, and we’re looking carefully at how best to invest for the future.
“The combined authority does not currently have any role in setting council tax, as we are funded through national government. My aim is to add to what our local councils are doing, including through a pipeline of regeneration opportunities with Homes England; for instance around Bristol Temple Meads and Temple Quarter.”
9. Why will you neither protect Brislington Meadows nor speak out against the awful airport expansion? Clearly. Unambiguously. All those cute videos with birds mean absolutely nothing. (Anita Bennett via Facebook)
“Readers may know that, thanks to new laws giving us more powers, regional mayors outside of London will soon be able to call-in planning applications. They’ll also be aware that North Somerset, where the airport is, are in the process of joining the combined authority. Mindful of that responsibility, I’m starting as I mean to go on and think most people will understand that I can’t prejudice any future role that I might have.
“More widely, like residents across Bristol and our region, I know there’s a housing crisis and that people need homes and to be able to afford to be here. It’s also true that the West Country’s environment is part of what makes living here so special. We’re investing £5m through a new Nature Fund to support projects through our Local Nature Recovery Strategy. This will make a huge difference at landscape-scale sites, adding to the amazing work being done already to plant the new Western Forest.”
10. What have you actually achieved? How much investment into the South West from your recent Asia trip? How many jobs and which companies? All seems to be social media over substance. (John Smith via Facebook)
“We’ve made a lot of progress in the last year: rolling out more new green buses; building five new train stations, including finally starting work to reopen the line between Portishead and Bristol; and securing around £1bn from government. That includes the most money we’ve ever gotten for transport, including to help develop plans for mass transit – with trams as an option for those key routes. Last summer, we started Kids Go Free on buses in the West of England. Through that offer, and our £1 child fare cap, families have saved millions and will keep saving until 2029. Kids Go Free is now going to be a £100m national scheme this August because of how well our programme went. That’s something to be proud of.
“When the government’s investment minister invites me to join him to meet dozens of international investors and make the case for our region, I’ll be there. We’ve had too many years of this region not having a true champion as our regional mayor. This is the fastest-growing regional economy in the whole country and investors can see our exciting potential. It’s my job to showcase that. I’m confident that we’ll have even more to celebrate over the coming years, as we follow up on conversations with investors to secure more investment and jobs for the West. As a result of the trip you mention, a team of trade commissioners and ambassadors will be in Bristol in July – and that will mean more people promoting our region for investment from all over the world.”
All photos: WECA
Read next:
Our newsletters emailed directly to you
