All eyes have recently turned to north Bristol – specifically a large airport hangar that has been officially earmarked as an alternative location for the city’s arena.

As debates rage over the best site for the long-awaited project and political opponents trade shots, to a background chorus of “just get on and build it,” one MP is taking preemptive action to secure infrastructure funds.

Darren Jones has launched a petition calling on the region’s metro mayor, Tim Bowles, to commit at least £50m to a new transport fund for north Bristol.

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“We’re in desperate need of transport funding in north Bristol, but we’re going to have to wait years for any new money from national Government,” said the MP for Bristol North West.

“With so many new houses and now the potential for the Bristol Arena in north Bristol, we must bring that funding forward now.

“That’s why I’m calling on the metro mayor to fund a North Bristol Transport Fund with at least £50 million of new funding.

“If Bristol City Council decides to move the Bristol Arena to north Bristol, which is likely to attract private sector funding, then public sector funds should be diverted to vital transport upgrades instead. This must happen before massive developments in the area open to the public.”

Conservative Tim Bowles promised to be a pioneer for change when he was voted in as the region’s first metro mayor in May 2017 and took control of new, devolved spending powers for transport, economic infrastructure, education and housing.

He declined to comment on the petition at this stage.

Mayor Marvin Rees announced this week that a final decision on the arena’s location will be delayed until the spring and the latest report will be heard at a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, January 23.

Read more: ‘We have to get Bristol Arena project right’