I’M thrilled to be writing the first of what will be many columns for your local Voice newspaper.
It’s the honour of my working life to represent you, as your Mayor.
The rest of my articles will, I’m sure, be full of news and updates, including about investment across the West of England: Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, and South Gloucestershire.
But I wanted to start by sharing a little bit about who I am – and how I’ll be a different Mayor to those who have gone before.
I’m proud to be from and for the West of England. I grew up in Stapleton, went to college in Filton, and have worked across our region, including as a local councillor and in business.
My family are spread across the West Country and I’m raising my kids here. It’s home.
We’re all so lucky to be here in the West – but I want life to be better for everyone, particularly when it comes to transport.
I’ve worked with other regional mayors, like Andy Burnham in Greater Manchester, so I know that we’ve got some catching up to do.
Getting around, especially by public transport, should be much easier than it often is now. From congestion to ghost buses, there’s a lot to get sorted.
I want to hit the ground running, and to work with our local councils, businesses, and residents to make things happen.
Whether you voted for me on May 1 or not, I’m excited to work for you to deliver real change.
In that collaborative spirit, I started as I mean to go on.
In my first week in office, I said again that politicians need to put politics to one side to get the best for all of us in the West Country.
I began by announcing that my first Deputy Mayor will be Councillor Kevin Guy (B&NES). This important job, vacant since 2021, will now rotate cross-party between the council leaders, with each taking a year in turn.
We all need to roll up our sleeves and pitch in. You deserve nothing less, and that’s the only way that we will ensure better buses, lay the Bristol to Portishead Line, build new affordable homes, and help create the jobs of the future.
In the meantime, stay in touch and up to date, including by following me on social media: just search for Mayor Helen Godwin on Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, TikTok, or follow the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority on other channels like LinkedIn.