The annual transport settlement for Bristol City Council has indicated that it could be one of the first local authorities to introduce the controversial road charging component of the new Transport Bill. Assuming that these provisions of the Bill pass through parliament unscathed, Bristol will be on course for introduction of charges by 2004. However, before that date it will be necessary to have introduced measures to improve public transport. While the annual settlement has made no more allowance than £500,000 for development work prior to the submission of a planning application for the first light rail line, there is a clear local feeling that the pledge to fast track the city as one of the first able to implement road charging will bring forward the necessary funding for the light rail scheme.
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