News / Politics
Now you see it, now you don’t
Former mayor George Ferguson may always be remembered for his red trousers and cycling, but some at City Hall are trying their best to make sure he’s not remembered at all.
When he became the city’s first elected mayor, he went about making his mark by changing the name of the Council House to City Hall and installing his very own cycle parking stand right outside in resplendent red.
But it’s been four months now since he was unceremoniously dumped outside his old office by the victorious Marvin Rees and the rising Labour Party who swept back to power in Bristol.
And his legacy continues to be dismantled. Where the special parking space once was there now lies just a few bolts in the ground and black paint covering the word “mayor”.
Tom Brook, Labour councillor for Bishopston & Ashley Down, tweeted a picture of the removed bike stand, saying: “Love how Ferguson’s pretentious red mayor cycle stand has been removed from outside #Bristol City Hall.”
The move follows the announcement that Rees is also reviewing the name City Hall which may be dropped in favour of its old title.
A Bristol City Council spokesperson said: “The current mayor of Bristol does not feel it is necessary to have a reserved space for a bike. He has therefore requested that the ‘mayor’ stand be painted black and for the markings on the ground to be removed.”
The council added that due to resurfacing all bike stands will be temporarily removed over the coming weeks.
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