Weca mayoral elections: Oli Henman

On Thursday 1 May voters in the West of England will decide on their next regional mayor.

You can find more information about the election and the candidates here.

The West of England Combined Authority (Weca) is a local authority encompassing the council areas of Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset (BANES) and South Gloucestershire. The Authority is led by the West of England Mayor.

Mr Henman is a councillor for the Bath ward of Walcot.

"It's a really dynamic area but it is also an area of contrast and I think everywhere in our region you do have pockets where things are more difficult," he said.

"We know that a lot of residents have been finding life tough over recent years and I really believe in making things better and more sustainable."

Mr Henman previously lived in Sussex and stood unsuccessfully for the constituency of Lewes in the 2019 general election. He moved to Bath not long after.

"This is definitely an area I've always loved and enjoyed," he said.

"I've spent a bit of time working closer to London but moved back a few years ago to be closer to family and bring up my kids here."

Mr Henman is also Bath and North East Somerset Council's cabinet project lead for climate emergency and sustainable travel.

He believes the region has "the potential to be a driving force in that transition".

"The money that's been available [to Weca] has not been well allocated and a big part of that has been a lack of trust and a lack of collaboration," said Mr Henman.

The authority has received hundreds of millions of pounds for transport projects from the Government in recent years but has been beset by political rows.

"It's a combined authority and we need to have proper interaction between the West of England administration with the three local councils (Bristol, Bath and North East Somerset and South Gloucestershire) - that collaboration has not been happening," he said.

Mr Henman says that bringing back a "minimum level of service" to all communities - whether rural or urban - is one of his priorities.

He also wants to take buses under public control by franchising, and "urgently review the options for a mass rapid transit system".

Mr Henman said that bringing North Somerset into Weca "would make sense".

The council is not currently part of the authority after rejecting the chance to join in 2017, but in September 2024 it submitted an expression of interest in formally joining.

Mr Henman says he wants to "create meaningful and quality" jobs in the green sector to help young people get into work.

He says he would also push for greater investment in the areas of hydroelectric and tidal power.

Follow BBC Bristol on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.