As Bristol’s bid to become the European Capital of Culture hots up the Evening Post has taken a close look at what’s good and bad about the city.

And with help from its sister magazine Venue, it has put together a wishlist of ideas to tackle the hottest issues.

The newspaper has launched the campaign to boost an application to become the European Capital of Culture when the UK next hosts the title in 2008.

It is running alongside a similar push from the Western Daily Press, which is also based in Bristol.

The last UK city to be given the award was Glasgow in 1990 and the title brought a host of benefits – both financially and culturally.

Belfast, Newcastle and Liverpool are already well advanced with their applications and the feeling locally is that if Bristol gets its act together it could clinch the title at a stroll.

The Bristol reporters have targeted the city’s Saturday night scene, asking why it is not more of a family affair, and condemning the gangs of drunken youths who cause problems.

The “new” Bristol city centre has also come in for criticism, as the area is despised by Bristolians. There were also calls for a new concert hall and securing local shops for local people.

It is also looking at whether the city should have an elected mayor to give a real focus to who runs the city, as well as a new push to build affordable housing and a proper memorial to the victims of the city’s slave trade.

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