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southbristolvoice June 2016 No. 8
www.southbristolvoice.co.uk 1st birthday giveaway
ELECTIONS: Labour take city, but Greens hold Southville P4
South Bristol Voice is one year old, and to celebrate we’ve got great prizes for readers
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Lots of tickets to top comics p20-21
New mayor vows to listen Pages 4-5 Bradshaw faces desperate RPS plea from traders Pages 6-7
Art show unites Jews and Muslims
Gasworks homes protest Page 13
Europe quiz: Jeremy Vine brings his Radio 2 show to South Bristol
Marvin Rees writes for the Voice
Balloon pioneer wants out of EU DON CAMERON, founder of the Bristol Balloon Fiesta, told BBC Radio 2 he’d like to leave the EU. His experiences running the UK’s biggest balloon factory in Bedminster have left him wanting to vote out on June 23, he said, when the Jeremy Vine show visited South Bristol. The 77-year-old boss of Cameron Balloons, which exports 85 per cent of its output, worth Continued on page 3
Page 9
EXCLUSIVE
A trail of discoveries
Bronte Shande and Rosina Buck of band Circe’s Diner (soon to play Glastonbury!) were just one of the attractions at the Southbank Arts Trail, with 150 artists in 60 venues. Report: page 31
Wildlife: Will you help hedgehogs? Pages 14-15 On Facebook www.facebook.com/southbristolvoice
We’re truly local & proudly independent… www.oceanhome.co.uk
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southbristolvoice Paul Breeden Editor and publisher
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Editorial team: Beccy Golding and Giles Crosse
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Intro:
Challenges for Marvin & Mark TO SAY that mayor Marvin Rees faces a challenge is to state the obvious. He inherits a city with serious transport problems, shortly to be made worse by a bigger Ashton Gate stadium and the arena. Air pollution is above legal limits, school places are short, there’s a housing crisis and inequality is rising. He has the prospect of a new “metro mayor” being
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appointed over his head. And there’s a looming £59 million shortfall in the city budget. His Green rival for mayor, Tony Dyer, warns the real figure will be worse, and people “should not expect too much” from Mr Rees. Mr Rees made Bedminster councillor Mark Bradshaw his transport chief. On pages 6 and 7 we outline the many challenges he faces in keeping Bristol – particularly South Bristol – moving. Labour took a convincing win across Bristol on May 5. Can the new regime show they will work for the whole city, not just their supporters?
How do I get in touch with ... My MP? Karin Smyth MP By email: karin.smyth.mp@ parliament.uk By post: Karin Smyth MP, House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA By phone: 0117 953 3575 In person: Surgeries on Friday November 13 and 27 at Knowle West Health Park, Downton Road, BS4 1WH, 9.1510.45 am. Call 0117 953 3575. My councillor? All councillors can be reached by post at Brunel House, St George’s Road, Bristol BS1 5UY Celia Phipps Labour, Bedminster By phone: 07469 413312
By email: celia.phipps@bristol. gov.uk Mark Bradshaw Labour, Bedminster By phone: 0117 353 3160 By email: mark.bradshaw@bristol.gov.uk Surgery at Marksbury Road Library, 4th Saturday of every month, 10.30am-12 noon Stephen Clarke Green, Southville By email: stephen.clarke@bristol.gov.uk Charlie Bolton Green, Southville By email: charlie.bolton@bristol.gov.uk By phone: 07884 736111
USEFUL NUMBERS Bristol City Council www.bristol.gov.uk 0117 922 2000 Waste, roads 0117 922 2100 Pest control and dog wardens 0117 922 2500
NEIGHBOURHOOD PARTNERSHIP The Greater Bedminster Community Partnership is the local forum that brings the public together with councillors, council officials and other bodies. Next meeting June 27, 2016, 7pm Bristol International Bowls Centre, South Liberty Lane BS3 2TY
0117 922 2900
Housing benefit 0117 922 2300 Social services 0117 922 2900
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EDITOR’S NOTE: South Bristol Voice is independent. We cannot take responsibility for content or accuracy of adverts, and it is advertisers’ responsibility to conform to all relevant legislation. Feedback is welcomed: call editor Paul Breeden on 07811 766072 or email paul@southbristolvoice.co.uk. All stories and pictures are copyright of South Bristol Voice and may not be reproduced without permission in this or any other plane of the multiverse. South Bristol Voice Ltd | 18 Lilymead Avenue, Bristol BS4 2BX | Company no. 09522608 | VAT no. 211 0801 76
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Help save the GBCP! Bustling Beddie group needs new blood
A COMMUNITY group which has won funds and wider attention for Bedminster – and brought about countless improvements in public spaces – is at risk unless new people come forward. The Greater Bedminster Community Partnership (GBCP) has helped plant gardens on derelict land, won grants for art projects to brighten forgotten corners, campaigned for all kinds of Bedminster improvements and given a voice to local people. It led last year’s Let’s Walk Bedminster project to make it safer and easier to walk the area, especially for school children. This year it has created Let’s Clean Bedminster, which aims to rid the streets of flytipping and
Planting in Luckwell Road, one of the activities backed by GBCP uncollected rubbish, working with the council. But at its annual general meeting on June 27, several longserving members are expected to step down – among them the two co-chairs, Stef Brammar and Matthew Symonds. Active members from the Marksbury Road area will also be lost because of boundary changes. “Where the partnership comes in is that it can co-ordinate all
the activities that go on in the community,” said long-serving secretary Ben Barker, who helped create the group before the council got involved. Other neighbourhood partnerships (NPs) in Bristol are chaired by local councillors, but the GBCP has always been led by residents, with councillors signing off the finances. Bedminster’s NP is known as probably the most active and well-supported in Bristol, with around 100 member groups. “I would encourage any local group with a constitution to get involved,” said Celia Phipps, recently re-elected Labour councillor for Bedminster. “It’s one of the most highly-regarded partnerships in the city.” The GBCP annual general meeting is on June 27 at 7pm at the International Bowling Centre, South Liberty Lane BS3 2TY. • Facebook: Greater Bedminster Community Partnership
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Balloonist exit
Continued from page 1 £3.3 million last year, said the firm had faced “big problems” since being subject to EU regulation. “It’s just been so bureaucratic,” he told Jeremy Vine’s seven million listeners. “It’s contributed absolutely nothng to safety.” Licensing used to be fairly simple when he just had to deal with the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority, “but now we have to get four separate approvals. “Having got an approval to manufacture, they told us you can’t repair balloons without another approval, which is a whole lot of time and expense.” The debate was balanced, however – Jeremy also spoke to Tristan Hogg, co-founder of Stokes Croft pie firm Pieminister. Without free access to workers from Europe it would be hard to staff his kitchens, Mr Hogg said. • The Jeremy Vine show was broadcast from the Park Centre, Knowle West, on May 25 with mayor Marvin Rees also guesting.
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June 2016
Marvin: I want to hear from
New mayor says he wants local views on RPZs and 20mph
BRISTOL’S new mayor, Marvin Rees, has told South Bristol Voice that he wants local councillors to be at the forefront of a review of residents’ parking zones – and of 20mph zones. No details have been announced yet, but the mayor signalled his clear intention to give councillors a bigger voice in his administration. He has promised that no new parking zones will be introduced if local people do not want them. As well as Mr Rees’s convincing win over George Ferguson, the May 5 elections saw Labour gain seven seats to take control of the council. The party held both seats in Bedminster but failed to win Southville from the Greens. In his first week, Mr Rees announced a shake-up of home building, visited the city’s first family cycling centre in South Bristol, appointed a cross-party cabinet of senior councillors, and found time to write a column for the South Bristol Voice (page 17). Asked about his first week as
The vote for mayor
FIRST STAGE votes Tom Baldwin TUSC 1,876 Kay Barnard Lib Dem 8,078 Tony Britt Independent 877 Tony Dyer Green 10,000 George Ferguson Ind 32,375 Stoney Garnett Ind 1,384 Mayor Kudehinbu Ind 341 John Langley Ind 367 Charles Lucas Con 19,617 Marvin Rees Labour 56,729 Paul Saville Ind 545 Christine Townsend Ind 1,010 Paul Turner UKIP 7,115 SECOND STAGE After 2nd preference votes
George Ferguson Ind Marvin Rees Labour
39,577 68,750
CITY COUNCIL MAKEUP Labour 37 seats (up 7); Conservative 14 (down 2); Green 11 (down 3); Lib Dem 8 (down 1); UKIP 0 (down 1).
Ambition is for
Mayor Marvin Rees at the opening of the new Family Cycling Centre Bristol mayor, he said: “I expected there to be a huge volume of work. But actually what surprised me was the recognition on the street from the public. Someone came up to me today and said, ‘You are the new new mayor!’ and that is just what I want to be.” His priorities are the same, he said – headed by more housing, with a pledge to build 2,000 new homes in the city each year by 2020, 800 of them affordable. Other priorities, he said, are making sure that people can get their children into good quality schools, and working with the community and voluntary sector.
“I have been getting a lot of briefings into the scale of the challenges that we face,” said Mr Rees. “There are decisions that haven’t been made, that we now have to face, and that’s our intent. We want to get [these major challenges] sorted, so that we are not just firefighting. “Housing is one of my first priorities and that’s why I have appointed Paul Smith as my cabinet lead for housing. “We will be setting up a delivery vehicle to bring together partners who can help us build homes which Bristolians can afford to live in. “I don’t want any longer to see
The mayor’s dilemmas
MARVIN Rees faces a likely gap in the city council budget of £59 million as the Government cuts support for town halls. His Green rival for the mayoralty, Tony Dyer, believes the real shortfall could be up to £80m, and says people should support their new mayor but “should not expect too much.” However, the city’s Lib Dem leader, Knowle councillor Gary Hopkins, believes Mr Rees’s ambitious plan to build 2,000 homes a year is possible. The council owns plenty of land, and Bristol is a profitable place to build homes, he says. Other clouds loom for Mr Rees. He has to solve transport problems around Ashton Gate stadium and the arena (see pages 14-15). He must create school
places to meet rising demand, and cope with ever higher needs for social care for the elderly. He also has to take the extra role of leader of the Labour party on the council. Usually mayor and leader posts are split, but the party has a national policy uniting the roles, so former leader Cllr Helen Holland has stepped down. Then there is the prospect of a new “metro mayor”. A devolution package from Chancellor George Osborne promises Bristol, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and Bath councils £1bn if they can work under a regional mayor. So far the councils can’t agree a joint approach. In Bristol, Labour and Lib Dem councillors want a referendum on whether a metro mayor is needed. • MP’s warning to Labour: p19
THE OPENING of a new family cycling centre in South Bristol to serve the whole city could mark a new era for the popularity of twowheel transport in the city. The ageing Whitchurch Stadium athletics track, once used by Olympic gold medallist sprinter Jason Gardener, was closed in 2003. But now the track has been transformed, thanks to £400,000 of funding from the Department for Transport. For organiser Janine McCretton it’s a dream come true after years of hard work. the council selling off land onto the open market. We will be inviting our partners to say come on, build with us.” He has previously announced plans for a Bristol Bond to allow residents and businesses to invest in a city housing fund. “We know there are people who really want to invest in Bristol,” said Mr Rees. He claims developers have been put off building in Bristol because they didn’t find a willing partner in the council. Plans for private developments will be looked at closely to see how many affordable homes they provide, he says. “If a proposal
Local council seats
Winning candidates in bold BEDMINSTER votes Mark Bradshaw Lab 2,452 Celia Phipps Lab 1,756 Will Quick Green 1,390 Glenn Vowles Green 926 Richard Clifton Con 652 Judith Gordon-Nichols Con 569 Matt Ellis Lib Dem 360 Peter Main Lib Dem 160 Frankie Langeland TUSC 139 SOUTHVILLE Charles Bolton Green Stephen Clarke Green Robert Massey Lab Fred Jerrome Lab James Stevenson Con Ellie Villa-Vercella Con Lena Wright Lib Dem Richard Rankin Lib Dem
2,197 1,762 1,746 1,641 491 325 282 206
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the local councillors the region’s top cycling centre
“I’m so chuffed to see it all happen,” she said, after welcoming new mayor Marvin Rees to declare the centre open. She wants the site, off Bamfield, close to the new Hengrove swimming pool, to become the South West’s centre for cycling for families, the disabled and young people. One of her goals is to see future paralympic cyclists training at Whitchurch. The centre is open five days a week but is seeking funding and sponsors to open all week. One priority is to provide
includes zero affordable housing, that’s not a neutral action,” he says. “It’s harmful to Bristol, because it compounds the problem of inequality, and then you end up having to pay public
facilities where everyone can join in together. “Lots of people told us that they don’t send their disabled child to a disabled-only session, they want to come and cycle all together,” said Janine. The centre has a range of cycles for all abilities, from machines that can carry a wheelchair to several that can be operated by hand. The opening day attractions included a display of stunts by BMX rider Mattie Stemmings. Among future ideas are an annual bike chariot race. • betterbybike.info money on services that are then needed.” Told that it is not yet clear how much affordable housing will be included in the £100 million redevelopment of
Bedminster Green, he said “We will take stock of all that. Our priorities are to build houses that Bristol people can afford to live in, whether to buy or to rent. “The review of residents parking zones will be led by local councillors who will talk to local communities, schools and businesses, and come back with costed recommendations. “Then we will take a view of all the recommendations, because we don’t want to end up with a patchwork of different ideas. “I want them to come back to me with suggestions of where 20mph zones are working and where they are not working. “They [councillors] have to have the opportunity to speak up for their areas. We have to be investing in that kind of local democracy.” Mr Rees also has a City Office which includes representatives of the police and business.
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Higher turnout
TURNOUT, city council seats Citywide 44.76 % Highest Westbury-on-Trym & Henleaze 60.56% Lowest Central ward 35.50% Bedminster 50.28% Knowle 46.83% Southville 53.20% Windmill Hill 50.99% TURNOUT, mayoral
44.87%
Police election INDEPENDENT Sue Mounstevens was reelected as Avon & Somerset police and crime commissioner, polling 118,547 votes across the region. Labour’s Kerry Barker was second with 100,565 votes, due mainly to a strong Labour vote in Bristol. Turnout was 44.46 per cent in Bristol – roughly double the turnout in other areas such as Bath and North Somerset, where there was no mayoral election. The turnout across the region was 26.64 per cent.
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Appeal to clean up the Malago as a community “WITH its beautiful stream and old willow trees hosting wildlife, Malago Greenway is a little paradise, right here under our noses. Sadly, it has been neglected for a very long time,” Bedminster resident Raluca McKett wrote to the Voice. Litter, dog mess, even abandoned shopping carts are spoiling the view and making it less friendly for the families living around, she added. “This could be a wonderful community space, but in order to make this happen we need to work together as a team: you, me, the neighbour next door. So why don’t we all get together, clean it up and claim it back for us?” With the support of local businesses, residents are planning a clean-up event and picnic on Saturday June 4 from 10am-12pm. Litter-pickers and black bags will be provided, and the council will get rid of the rubbish that is collected. Treats for the picnic are being provided by East Street Fruit & Vegetable Market and Krakus, the East Street delicatessen. Meet at 10am on Malago Greenway, the part stretching between Parson Street/Lynton Road and Marksbury Road. Sustrans will also be attending to provide information on how the Greenway cycle route is being developed. • Details:raluts@gmail.com
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June 2016
The man whose job TRANSPORT – by road, rail, foot or cycle – is one of Bristol’s biggest issues, and now it’s Mark Bradshaw’s problem. The long-serving Labour councillor for Bedminster has been appointed as the city’s cabinet member for transport by new mayor Marvin Rees. Few, if any, of the the other cabinet members in College Green have such a tough portfolio – just look at the list of issues (right), which is by no means exhaustive. But he is looking forward to the challenge. A year ago, he was sacked by former mayor George Ferguson after falling out with him over the sale of the Avonmouth port. Then, he was assistant mayor for place, with responsibilities including transport and regeneration. “This will be the first time I am able to concentrate on transport. The mayor has recognised that housing, transport and schools are major projects in their own right.” Cllr Bradshaw ran against Marvin Rees for the Labour nomination as mayoral candidate last year. He lost, taking 43 per cent of the local party’s vote to Mr Rees’s 57 per cent, but is happy to work with his former rival. Though Cllr Bradshaw has been away from the job for only a year, he has a lot to catch up on. Some decisions were put on hold during the mayoral election, “which is only right and proper,”
Advice from a pharmacist by Ade Williams, Bedminster Pharmacy HAY fever is the most common allergy in the UK, shared by one in four people in Bristol. As pollen counts increase and peak from late May-August, sufferers experience sore, itchy eyes, sneezing attacks and nasal congestion which can blight the summer. For some it can have a significant impact on their wellbeing and productivity. Hay fever can start in early childhood but later onset is common. While there is no cure, symptoms can be relieved with treatment. Your community
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pharmacy is well placed to help you with diagnosis and to recommend the best treatment which is compatible with any existing medical conditions or prescribed medications. The options include antihistamines, which block the body’s allergic reaction to pollen, and corticosteroids that reduce inflammation and swelling associated with hay fever. These products come in tablets, liquid, drops, sprays and can be used alongside non-medicinal products.
THE BIG ISSUES
Residents parking Fixing the existing zones Southville & Bedminster traders Reversing the loss in revenue since RPS The arena Keeping roads clear, managing parking Ashton Gate stadium Transport and parking Park & Ride Making full use, eg for football matches
Ashton Gate station Finding a workable site and plan Metrobus Getting it running South Bristol Link Protecting residents in South Liberty Lane MetroWest Giving Bristol a joined-up rail system Roads Fixing bottlenecks like Temple Circus Buses and trains Increasing capacity as demand grows Co-operation Doing all this in concert with other West councils and transport companies
he says, which means there is a series of issues he will have to attend to in the next two months. Among the first is the review of all 20mph zones and residents parking – Labour has promised not to introduce any more RPZ without local support. RPS is also top of the agenda for retailers in Bedminster and Southville. Several have told the Voice that trade in the North Street and East Street areas has dropped dramatically since residents parking zones were introduced last autumn (see panel p7). Some shopkeepers say takings are down by a quarter; one, Derek Knapman at hardware shop Lion Stores, reckons it has dropped by a half. Traders complain that there are too few spaces available, and they are only free for half an hour – and that is not obvious from the signs on the meters. It also
appears shoppers are put off coming to the area, not realising that parking might be easier than they fear. Cllr Bradshaw is prepared to listen. Marvin Rees has pledged that councillors will have a central role in relaying the issues with RPS zones – and with the 20mph limits – to Cllr Bradshaw and the rest of the cabinet. “I want to do it on a consistent basis,” he said. “But an RPZ is there to support a local community and its business, not undermine it. That’s why we said we won’t do any more RPZs unless people want them.” Extending the period of free parking near shops, having better signs to advertise free parking and altering the hours when restrictions operate will all be considered. An hour’s free parking is possible; in some locations
The transport conundrums on Mark Bradshaw’s desk
This column by Ade Williams of Bedminster Pharmacy aims to show how all local pharmacies can offer help and advice on a range of conditions, helping to ease the pressure on GP surgeries Bedminster Pharmacy is among the pharmacies across Bristol that can offer free, NHS-funded treatment, subject to criteria, for patients who would otherwise make GP appointments to obtain a prescription for such items, thus relieving pressure on GPs and allowing quicker treatment. It’s possible to prevent hay fever with basic precautions: • Showering and changing clothes after being outdoors; • Staying indoors, avoid grassy areas when the pollen count is
high (shut windows & doors); • Vacuum regularly; • Whenever possible, keep pets out of the house during the hay fever season; • Avoid smoking indoors as this can worsen symptoms; • Use an air purifier to extract pollen particles. Always remember, the team at your local pharmacy is always able to offer you free advice and cost effective help. • Bedminster Pharmacy, Cannon Street, Bedminster BS3 1BN; 0117 985 3388
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will be unclogging Bristol High roller: How the new bridge over Winterstoke Road will look when it is built this year, finishing in the winter. It will allow the new Metrobus to avoid congested Cumberland Basin.
maybe more than a hour, he said. “Thirty minutes free parking isn’t enough if you are stopping for two or three things – going to the Post Office, having a cup of coffee, visiting a shop.” He will also look at extending parking privileges to nurses and others in the caring professions.
DRIVEN CLOSE TO RUIN BY RPS VICKY Harrison of art shop Paper Village in North Steet – and creator of Briswool – says RPS has almost closed her business. “North Street is in crisis with not just me but many other smaller shops experiencing drops in sales to virtually nothing. I’ve borrowed some funds to keep going but if not I would have had to close,” she posted on Facebook. She pleaded with shoppers to give the area’s small traders a
The £192 traders’ permit which allows plumbers and others to park in any RPZ, is poorly used and will be looked at too. Asked how the council will measure support for changes to RPS, or 20mph zones, he said it would be by talking to residents, councillors, businesses and the chance: “Tell your neighbours, friends and people at work. Think hard about what our area would be without these shops. “People can park. You get half an hour for free and there are bays in many streets.” She told the Voice: “You won’t believe how many people have told me they won’t come to North Street any more.” One major reasons is that half an hour is not long enough for them to park, she said. “We are looking at losing a lot of our independent shops by the end of the year.”
Ask the vet: How can I tell if my pet has worms?
I
T CAN be difficult to tell if your pet has intestinal worms as during early stages of infection they may show no signs at all. However, if a worm infection is left untreated, you may see symptoms such as loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhoea, a pot belly, ‘scooting’, dull coat or excessive licking of the bottom. It is important to remember that even without these symptoms your pet could still have worms.
In the UK cats and dogs can become infected by roundworms, tapeworms, hookworms, whipworms and lungworms and, unless you treat your pet regularly, worms are difficult to avoid. Worm eggs are often passed in the faeces of an infected cat or dog. The eggs can then lay dormant in the soil for up to a year, which means you are also at risk of carrying the eggs into your home on your shoes or your pet’s fur. Tapeworms can be
neighbourhood partnerships – the bodies which unite councillors, residents, police and other bodies across a city district such as Bedminster. There is plenty more in Cllr Bradshaw’s in-tray. Virtually no one in South Bristol can understand why the Long Ashton Park & Ride can’t be used by visitors to Ashton Gate stadium. Cllr Bradshaw says the Portway Park & Ride can be used too for visitors – especially rugby fans – from further afield. With the stadium about to complete its upgrade to 27,000 capacity, people who live nearby can expect even more traffic, congestion and problem parking. “Residents are faced with intolerable pressure with parking and traffic.” There is an urgent need to get a management plan agreed with the police and council, he says. A new Ashton Gate station is a thorny problem. The old one is
not up to modern standards; a new site will be needed, with platforms long enough for football trains. Rolling stock, signalling and track capacity are all problems to be solved. Cllr Bradshaw doesn’t want to see a situation like the one at Coventry’s new Ricoh stadium, which is served by a new station but which has no rail service during matches because its single-carriage trains are too small. Metrobus, with its new bridge over Winterstoke Road, will need a close eye to make sure it delivers the promised benefits. In South Liberty Lane, where the road is to be joined to the South Bristol Link road, “We have to talk to the traffic management people about how the local community can be protected from lots more through traffic,” he says. It is also an opportunity to improve the lane’s junction with Winterstoke Road. Other problem junctions include the Temple Circus roundabout near Temple Meads – one of the most important, and most congested, in the city. Plans to replace the roundabout with traffic lights, freeing up open space for pedestrians and cyclists and improving traffic flows, are well advanced. Work is due to start this summer, though there’s no date yet. It’s yet another weighty problem for Cllr Bradshaw to get to grips with.
with Ashton Veterinary Surgery, Duckmoor Road transmitted by an infected host such as fleas; for this reason we strongly recommend eliminating fleas as an important part of worm control. If your cat or dog likes to hunt birds and small mammals, be aware that these can also carry tapeworms. Roundworms can also pose a risk to humans, in particular to children. It can cause blindness – though this is very rare. To treat intestinal worms, we advise using prescription treatments that are reliable
and well tested. Our usual recommendation is a monthly treatment of drops on the back of the neck (that will also prevent flea infestations) and a palatable worming tablet to be given at least every three months. However, we do base our worming recommendation on your pet’s lifestyle so the frequency or product will vary. Call Ashton Veterinary Surgery on 0117 953 0707 to find out about treatments and which will suit your pet best.
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Voice Concorde winners get a tour of the Blue Glass secrets DELIGHTED winners of the South Bristol Voice competition to win a special Bristol Blue Concorde commemorative penny were treated to a demonstration of glassblowing at the Bristol Blue works in Arnos Vale. The Voice asked for memories of Concorde to win a Bristol Blue Penny to mark 40 years since Concorde first flew commercially. We received many touching stories of personal connections with the supersonic plane. Angela Leslie of Ashton treasures her memory of flying on Concorde with her husband, who sadly died six months later. Angela and her husband were passengers on what turned out to be Concorde’s last-ever day charter flight in 2000.
Supersonic prize: Winners Angela Leslie and Jimmy Neale, centre, are presented with their Blue Pennies by Blue Glass marketing manager Sharon Crapanzano, left, and head glassblower Aaron Golding “When we landed, the pilot said to my husband, ‘How was that?’ and my husband said, ‘I’m so happy I could kiss you,’ at which the pilot said, “No thanks, but I’ll kiss your wife instead!’ “I will always remember it. The pilot said that over the
Atlantic we were the highest and fastest human beings on Earth. The sky was navy blue because we were on the edge of space. “My face was aching from smiling so much when we landed. It was worth every penny of the £600 each we paid.”
June 2016
Jimmy Neale of Arnos Vale regrets he never flew on the plane – but he did spend 27 years working at the plant where it was built and first flown, at Filton. Jimmy said BAC staff were offered flights in Concorde for a discounted rate of £300, but it seemed a lot of money so he didn’t go. He regretted it, especially when he found out that travel agents were selling the same package for £3,000! “I remember the first flight of the prototype,” said Jimmy. “They weren’t sure how much of the runway she would need to take off, so they had her backed right up to the perimeter fence at Filton. When the pilot opened up the engines she took off, and blew the fence down!” Bristol Blue marketing manager Sharon Crapanzano showed the winners around the Bath Road glassworks, and glassblowers demonstrated how a wineglass is made by hand. Other winners were Matthew Jackson, Ella Wheatcroft and Elizabeth Sheppard.
Wessex Glass & Locks repair/upgrade/replace 0117 977 0033 and 0117 977 4012
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Established over 35 years ago, our family-run business offers a one-stop shop for window and door maintenance. We repair, upgrade and replace: • Locks for windows, doors, patio sets and French doors • Handles, locking and two stage handles (vent) Why fit new • Window hinges, restrictors and gaskets if we can • Misted double-glazed units and glass of all types repair? • Upgrades to locks and handles on existing doors • Simple lock change, moved house or lost set of keys from £54.00 • uPVC doors from £550.00 Wessex Glass Co, Stanley Hill, • Composite doors from £775.00 New for 2016: Wood Totterdown burner glass & parts • uPVC windows from £235.00 BS4 3AY
• Winter care packages from £49: adjust a window, new handle and 12in hinge • Free surveys and advice on eliminating draughts
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Unique show to unite Jews and Muslims
Exhibition for artists from both faiths
AN UNUSUAL collaboration between artists from Muslim and Jewish backgrounds is about to open in Bedminster. The Grant Bradley gallery in Bedminster Parade is hosting an exhibition called British Muslim and Jewish Art, backed by the Arts Council, from June 2. It’s been organised by Bristol group Salaam Shalom, which aims to create dialogue between Muslims and Jewish people. The exhibition brings together 13 regional and national artists, and forms part of the Salaam Shalom Shared Spaces Festival. It includes a specially commissioned collaborative work between Jewish artist Tom Berry and Bristol-based Muslim poet Shagufta Iqbal. The success of the group’s first exhibition in 2015 led organisers to decide to expand the project to include a wider range of artists and hold a festival celebrating broader creativity within the two cultures. Recognising the sensitivity over the use of images within Islamic and some parts of Jewish traditions, the exhibition combines a range of art forms. These include geometric design, calligraphy, paper cuts, ceramics and mixed media works from artists including Louise Block, Maryam Golubeva, Josh Baum and Vaseen Mohamed. The exhibition runs for one
Giving a say to the over-55s OLDER people can make friends and influence their community at Greater Bedminster Older People’s Forum (GBOPF). The forum serves anyone over 55 in Bedminster, Southville, Windmill Hill and Ashton. Meetings provide a chance to meet police, council officers, councillors and voluntary groups. “You can express views about how your neighbourhoods can be improved and be engaged in issues such as arts events, street safety and more,” say organisers. The forum meets next on Wednesday July 13, 10am-12pm when Lew Pedlar, editor of Remember Be’minster, will give a slide show. Agata Palmer of Community Access Support Service will talk about access to mental health services. It’s at Monica Wills House, West Street. If walking enter behind Tesco. Details on 0117 305 2365.
Detail from Paper Cut by Maryam Golubeva, part of the Shared Spaces exhibition month as part of the Shared Spaces Festival, which includes live music and poetry, a historical archive of Bristol’s Muslim and Jewish communities, art workshops, talks, dialogue events and film screenings. Salaam Shalom project manager Rebecca Bellamy said: “This extraordinary exhibition celebrates some of the positive contributions Muslims and Jews are making to British culture. “Our range of events accompanying the exhibition, and the exhibition itself, are spaces for conversation and collaboration between all communities.” • sharedspacesfestival.co.uk.
Toy library is open for playtime SOUTH Bristol’s Toy Library now has a regular venue. From June 10, on Fridays from 2-4pm, the toy library will be running free swap and play sessions during term time at Oasis Academy Marksbury Road primary school. Organiser Annie Berry said: “We really encourage anyone who cares for a child – grandparents, foster carers,
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extended family and parents, to come along.” If you decide to borrow a toy there is a membership fee of £10 for the year, with charges from 20p to £2 for two weeks. New summer toys include slides and water play tables. A few volunteer roles are also available. • southbristoltoylibrary.co.uk Facebook: southbristoltoylibrary
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June 2016
Plea to put residents first ‘Community facilities mustn’t be forgotten’
CAMPAIGNERS in Windmill Hill have asked the council to make it clear that the local community will be the first priority in the redevelopment of Bedminster Green. Members of WHaM, the Windmill Hill and Malago planning group, voiced dismay at the release of a pre-application document by developer Urbis, which is proposing to build 800 homes on the five hectare site. Once open space is taken out, this equates to 380 homes per hectare – a much higher density of housing than the surrounding area. Terraces in Totterdown have about 120 homes to the hectare. Even the flats planned for the old Imperial Tobacco
High hopes: St Catherine’s Place, next to the Bedminster Green site offices in Bedminster Parade – Regent House and Consort House – will only be 213 homes per hectare, say campaigners. They fear this will mean a number of tower blocks of between eight and 14 storeys. WHaM believes the same number of homes could be built in blocks of no more than five
storeys – although they accept this could mean less open space. “We feel that our efforts to positively engage in a discussion about the content and form of development has been largely disregarded by Urbis,” said Carlton Bodkin, speaking on behalf of WHaM. “We think it is important for the council to take some control of the development to ensure that other services are included. “We think it should be somewhere to be proud of, where people meet, can socialise and, importantly, access essential infrastructure and facilities, such as doctors or dentists,” he said. Urbis said a medical centre, community centre and dentists are all aspirations for the scheme. The quality of the scheme depends on a high density of homes, but the scheme will not be overly crowded, said Richard Clarke, Urbis managing director.
“It’s high density compared to somewhere like Emersons Green, but not compared to an inner city high rise,” he said. He promised there would be extensive consultation before any planning applications are submitted, and apologised that a meeting to discuss the housing element with the community had been cancelled because of illness. “Our aim is to build a lot of homes for Bristol, a lot of good homes, which will be bigger than the required space standards.” They will be of high standard with excellent insulation to minimise fuel bills, which will be reduced further by a district energy centre, said Mr Clarke. The energy centre application should be made shortly, he said. Urbis is aiming for up to 30 per cent of the homes to be affordable, partly made possible by rising house prices in South Bristol, he said. No affordable housing was included in St Catherine’s Place, the 16-storey block given planning permission in 2014, when values were lower. However, Urbis is looking to the council for help to pay for some of the public amenities such as the open space and the new Bedminster railway station. St Catherine’s place will have an expected 188 homes, to be owned and let by property firm Longharbour. The wider site, between Malago Road and East Street, is planned to have university accommodation, retirement homes, and housing for sale and rent.
Plenty of fun activities at half term HALF term fun is in store at Windmill Hill City Farm and Ashton Park sports centre. On Tuesday May 31, the Ape Project holds outdoor activities for children of all ages at the farm in Philip Street, from 11am-3pm. On Wednesday June 1, it’s time to get messy with mud play and seed sowing from 10am12pm, also suitable for all ages. Later on Wednesday, try a comic book workshop for ages 8-12, 10am-3pm. This costs £24, lunch included. Booking essential. On Thursday June 2 there’s pizza-making, 9.30am-12pm, £2 per pizza. On Friday June 3 there
will be farm tours at 1pm, 2pm and 3pm. £1 per person. Over at Ashton Park sports centre in Blackmoors Lane, there’s also a full programme. For those who want to improve their cycling, there are sessions in BikeAbility, levels 2 and 3, on Tuesday and Wednesday. Try hip-hop dancing on Tuesday, archery on Thursday, and canoeing on Friday. Sailing sessions are held each day. For more details, visit the website or call Ashton Park sports centre on 0117 377 3300. • ashtonparksports.com • windmillhillcityfarm.org.uk
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June 2016
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News Take the Big Green challenge
BRISTOL’S Big Green Week is coming. As well as events in Victoria Park, in Whitchurch and at Windmill Hill City Farm, the organisers are challenging South Bristolians to make their own positive steps towards a greener future from June 11 to 19. These include holding street parties on June 11 – not only to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday but to get neighbours talking to each other and forge stronger communities. “We’re trying to get people to engage and think about the impact they they make as an individual,” said Shanks Raj, one of the Big Green Week directors. Other challenges include changing the way you travel;
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GET GROWING GARDEN TRAIL June 4 and 5 Bristol’s secret fruit and veg growers on show, among them: Andy’s Haven, Park Centre, Daventry Road, Sat 11am-3pm Bramble Farm, Stockwood Crescent, Knowle, Sat & Sun 11am-5pm Springfield allotments, Andover Road, Knowle, Sat 11am-3pm Dean Lane orchard, Warden Road, Bedminster, Sat 2-4pm Totterdown Sprouting, Park changing what you eat so you take less out of the environment; recycling more; using less energy in the home; or buying more goods locally. Among scores of events citywide, on Saturday June 11, Windmill Hill city farm in Philip Street hosts Garment Revival from 2-3pm, devoted to making old clothes out of new. Old clothing can gain a new look by
Street, Totterdown, Sun 1-4pm Windmill Hill city farm, Philip St, Bedminster, Sat & Sun 9am-5pm • bristolfoodnetwork.org screen printing a design on it. Sunday sees a session of green-tinged poetry from collective The Spoke at the Tobacco Factory bar in North Street, Southville, 7.45-9.30pm. Also on Sunday, women can sample jogging with the This Mum Runs group, starting at the top of Sandy Park Road, Brislington, at 8am. All week, 151 Luckwell Road,
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Bedminster, a typical Victorian house, will be transformed with natural materials – hemp, lime and clay – to make it better insulated and drier. On Monday June 13, the new Family Cycling Centre in Whitchurch (see page 4) hosts a Heart Health cycle ride and a picnic with sports nutritionist Alison Preston. There are also dance workshops in Victoria Park, and a green business session at Filwood Green business centre – details on the website below. Supporting local firms and keeping money in the local economy – such as by using Bristol Pounds – is a major theme of the week. “We’d like to see people consuming less and thinking about every penny they spend and where it goes, so that they support local entrepreneurs sourcing local goods, rather than handing money to multinational corporations that might end up in tax havens,” said Shanks. • biggreenweek.com
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Buying + Selling
ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
First-time buyer? Here’s what you need to know. Whilst exciting, buying a home can be an overwhelming experience. To help you understand the process, Rebecca Browne, Conveyancing Associate at Barcan+Kirby, has some practical advice for first-time buyers. Understand the costs
Protect yourself
The property price is only part of the overall cost involved. When looking at what you can afford, make sure you’ve considered any extra costs, such as legal fees, stamp duty, mortgage arrangement fees and moving costs.
This will probably be the largest purchase you make, so make sure you’re protected, not only in terms of the legal ownership but also what happens to the property if you die.
Arrange finances early It makes sense to arrange your mortgage before you start viewing properties. All lenders will be able to give you an agreement in principal – this lets you know how much you can borrow based on your income and outgoings. Make sure you’re familiar with the different types of mortgage and have your deposit organised early, ready for when your solicitor needs it.
Find the right property Whilst it’s unlikely to be your ‘forever home’ you’ll probably be there for several years, so it makes sense to research the area properly.
When looking at what you can afford, make sure you’ve considered any extra costs. When you find a property you like, try to view it at different times of the day and make notes of any obvious alterations – such as walls which have been removed and replacement windows. Check that the appliances and services are in working order.
Ensure the property is structurally sound If you’re taking out a mortgage, a valuation report will be carried out by the lender. However you should consider getting an independent survey completed – this will be more comprehensive and highlight any potential problems.
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If the property is a joint purchase, you can hold it as joint tenants so if one of you dies, the other will automatically inherit their share. Or you can hold the property as tenants in common. This means that, should you die, your share will pass under the terms of your Will. Choosing the right solicitor can make all the difference when buying a home, helping the process to progress smoothly. Barcan+Kirby has six offices across Bristol and Gloucestershire and a team of solicitors experienced in all areas of buying and selling. Professional advice, simply stated.
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0117 325 2929 info@barcankirby.co.uk www.barcankirby.co.uk @barcankirby To advertise, contact sales@southbristolvoice.co.uk or Paul on 07811 766072 or Emma or Hollie on 0117 908 2121. This firm is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. No: 568743.
June 2016
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Protest over demolition at gasworks site THE CONSTRUCTION of 107 homes on the site of the old gasworks in Bedminster Road has come under attack from a neighbour, who says the builders are abusing the planning rules. Redrow Homes is building 91 homes for sale on the open market and 16 “affordable” homes under planning permission granted a year ago. Now it has asked permission for builders to start work half an hour earlier, at 7.30am instead of 8am, from Monday to Friday. The planning permission allows work from 8am-6pm, Monday to Friday. But a resident of Bedminster Road has objected to the request, telling the council the demolition workers on the site are flouting the permitted hours already. They have also been abusive and brought clouds of dust and noise, he claims. “As a resident who lives backing on to this development the noise and dust is horrendous at the moment, let alone extending the hours,” he wrote. “It is impossible to sit in your garden while the demolition work is going on because of the noise and dust.” He said a calibrated decibel reader used to
record the noise showed 95-115 decibels – above the 85 decibel legal limit for ear protection. He added: “My wife approached a demolition worker who started to break concrete at 7.45am on a Saturday morning and was given a volley of abuse. He carried on regardless. “There are a lot of young children and elderly people living in the area who are not able to or are too frightened to complain about bullying demolition workers for fear of reprisals.” The homes will include apartments, terraced housing, semi-detached and detached houses. The affordable homes will consist of six one-bedroom flats, five two-bedroom flats, three two-bedroom houses and two three-bedroom houses. The open market homes will be 12 two-bedroom, 57 threebedroom and 22 three or four-bedroom houses. A spokesperson for Bristol city council said the complaint would be investigated. A Redrow spokesperson said: “Redrow is committed to ensuring that all contractors work within allowed hours and we will continue to cooperate with the local authorities to minimise disruption to the community.”
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June 2016
Can we make our streets A Windmill Hill project is signing up residents to find and help our prickly garden friends. Local ecologist and hedgehog champion, Alex Morss, explains
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HERE are our hedgehogs? Back in the 70s and 80s, snuffling, prickly shadows often scurried around under the Ford Cortina and Tomahawk bikes in our garage. They always brought a thrill and a dash for the cat food in hopes of encouraging close encounters. Splatted spines on country lanes were another sad but regular sight. I often wonder why I don’t see them any more. Now the answer is clear from conservation charities, who say
HEDGEHOG FACTS • Hogs mainly eat slugs, beetles, caterpillars and worms. If food is scarce they will enjoy meat cat or dog food (not fish), unsalted peanuts, sunflower seeds or meal worms. Do not give them milk or bread. • A group of hedgehogs is called a prickle. • An adult hedgehog has more than 6,000 spines. They become erect when the animal rolls into a tight ball as a defence. • Hedgehogs feed at night, and sleep by day in vegetation, underground dens or piles of plant material, wood or litter. hedgehogs have suffered a drastic decline in the last two decades. New results from surveys over
• A hedgehog’s temperature drops to 2 degrees C (36F) when it hibernates. • Females have litters of 3-6 young and can live for 7 years in the wild. • Their main predators are badgers, but sometimes owls, ferrets, cats and dogs. • Population declines are mostly due to predation, habitat loss, farm and garden chemicals and traffic. • There are 17 species of hedgehog, but only one is native to the UK. * They are related to shrews, not hogs or porcupines. the past two years suggest that decline is continuing – by as much as a third in urban areas
and a half in rural areas. Avon Wildlife Trust says Bristol’s gardens offer huge potential to help our hedgehog friends. Habitat loss has made gardens more important than ever, and research shows small city gardens are a female hedgehog’s favoured habitat, with rich invertebrate food, shelter for her hoglets and fewer wild predators. But a big problem is a lack of information about local populations, especially as most of their activity is after midnight. That’s why thousands of residents in Bedminster, Windmill Hill and Victoria Park are being invited to sign up to look for hedgehogs. If you live in this neighbourhood, you can join Avon Wildlife Trust’s My Wild City Project, focusing on these charismatic mammals in south Bristol this spring and summer. The aim is to help create a
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hedgehog-friendly? GET INVOLVED Sign up to Avon Wildlife Trust’s Windmill Hill Hedgehog Project at: https://wildlifetrusts.wufoo.com/forms/z1o08fbs1w14sug/ Email your queries to: WindmillHillHedgehogs@outlook.com Find out about Hedgehog Rescue at: www.hedgehogrescue.co.uk
network of hedgehog-friendly streets. Matt Collis, My Wild City Project Officer, said: “We are inviting people to take part in our research – find out if you have hedgehogs in your garden, connect your garden with neighbours’ gardens, then re-survey for hedgehogs to measure change.” The Trust is lending residents mammal survey tunnels, an idea developed by the People’s Trust for Endangered Species (PTES) and the British Hedgehog Preservation Society. Pupils at St Mary Redcliffe and Victoria Park primaries have already been testing these tunnels, baited with food and ink, checking them each day for inky footprint trails and recording who has visited. The PTES says the hedgehog’s decline is due to a mix of problems, one being an increase HEDGEHOG TIPS •Try to avoid wood preservers, slug pellets, pesticides and herbicides - let hedgehogs do your pest control. • Make sure garden ponds have a gentle sloping escape route. • Leave compost, wood piles and garden cuttings, for insect food and shelter. • Check for hogs before you fork or burn garden waste. • Tidy away netting or wire
in garden security fencing that divides hedgehog populations and reduces their habitat. As hedgehogs love gardens, all it takes is a brick-sized hole in a wall or fence to bring them back. But they need lots of gardens in a neighbourhood to provide enough linked habitat to forage and find shelter – they roam a mile per night hunting for food and a mate. Yvonne Cox, co-founder of Bristol’s Hedgehog Rescue charity, does 20-30 visits a year to the area, to give talks and rescue injured hogs. On May 23 she visited school children at Victoria Park primary. Last summer Yvonne brought orphaned baby hedgehogs to Victoria Park for the bioblitz and was mobbed by a mass of enthusiastic people, so she knows local people are keen to help. “I definitely think hedgehogs are the nation’s favourite garden animal,” said Yvonne. “I have 16 hedgehogs here at present. I took 228 in 2015, generally from dog attacks, strimmer injuries or found during the day, for example with a heavy worm burden, or problems with netting, poisoning from slug pellets and rat bait.” Hedgehog Rescue always welcomes support, of cash, towels, newspapers, spare cages and hutches, cat and dog food – meat not fish – and volunteer hedgehog couriers (details above).
Small gardens are a hedgehog’s favourite habitat, but they are killed by rat poison and slug bait
Picture: © SAM HOBSON
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Green Capital: MP in dismay RULES to keep track of public money need to be rewritten after the controversy surrounding Bristol’s Green Capital accounts, says Bristol South’s Labour MP. Karin Smyth, who is a member of the Commons public accounts committee, says she is “dismayed” at responses to her queries on the Green Capital 2015 accounts. The council set up a private company, Bristol 2015 Ltd, to manage the £12.6 million budget for the year, with the council’s city director, Nicola Yates, made the firm’s chief executive. Bristol 2015 Ltd has provided a summary of its accounts to the council, but not a detailed list of expenditure. New mayor Marvin Rees has promised a review. Ms Smyth said she was not suggesting rules were broken. “But it has become clear to me that long-standing arrangements to monitor accountability for public money have become outdated.”
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She’s waiting for the chance to feel like she matters.
What are you waiting for? You can give a young person a new start in life. If you’ve just been thinking about fostering, now is the time to do it. And you really can do it. Especially when you have support, training and advice from the UK’s largest independent fostering agency. Call Foster Care Associates today on 0800 023 4561.
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June 2016
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Marvin Rees I’m asking you how we can make Bristol empowered
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S I SETTLE in to my first few weeks as Bristol Mayor I am reminded constantly how important it is to harness the energy, ideas and distinctiveness of our communities to create a Bristol in which every person has equal opportunities and can thrive and prosper. Local people know best what they need from their council and mayor. I believe in a style of leadership that is broader and wiser than the city council alone. I want to encourage a more consensual and collaborative relationship with the city. My focus is on what’s best for Bristol and its communities. So I will be asking you, as individuals and communities, to work with me in deciding how we deal with major challenges. Bristol is a great city but it is far from
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The Mayor’s view Marvin Rees tells us his vision following his election as Bristol mayor perfect. I believe we can all play a role in making it a city in which children get the best possible start in life; where economic background is not a factor in education and work opportunities, where we break the link between wealth and health and do development in a way that reduces inequality
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and makes the city more, not less affordable. That’s why I will set up a City Office in which I hope you will all play a full part. It’s here that your expertise and priorities can come together to deliver the city we all want and need. It’s here we will ensure that all the major elements that make up civil society will not just be consulted, they will be empowered to lead. This is the only way we will be able to exploit the opportunities and tackle the challenges of building homes the city desperately needs; making our urban spaces cleaner, greener and congestion free; tackling inequality; rolling back the child poverty that blights so many young lives and creating decently paid jobs and meaningful careers for our young people. Yes, these are big themes and challenges and different parts of the city each have concerns that are unique to them. Realistically there is often no quick fix. However, I believe solutions often lie in creative, collaborative thinking from the people who face these challenges. We don’t need a ‘one size fits all’ city, but a city that works for everyone and can give them the life and opportunities they want and deserve. Give me your thoughts and ideas about what works for your neighbourhood and community. Help me build a better Bristol. • mayor@bristol.gov.uk
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Homes could wreck our view
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I ENJOYED reading your article in the May edition on the South Bristol Skyline Walk, which rightly draws attention to its importance to both local residents and tourists. Of course, one of the main attractions of this walk is the views, a point underlined by your photo of Emily Ketteringham’s wonderful new panorama in Victoria Park. How ironic then, that on the Skyline Walk’s first anniversary, these very views are under threat. If they get their way, property developers Urbis will build a wall of glass tower blocks in the heart of Bedminster that will cut off the park from the city and destroy these lovely views forever. Some might regard a nice view as a luxury, but good views provide a sense of space which is essential to the health and wellbeing of people in densely populated areas. Your article describes the Skyline Walk as one of the lasting legacies of Bristol’s Green Capital
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year in 2015. One year on, are we really going to do nothing while one its main attractions is destroyed? Victoria Park Action Group, park users and local councillors, where are you? NT, Windmill Hill • IT IS with alarm that I have heard the revised suggestions of developers Urbis Living for the Bedminster Green site. Initially Urbis Living proposed around 900 living units for the site, requiring tower blocks of between six and 12 storeys. For some nine months, the Windmill Hill and Malago Community Planning Group (WHaM) have expressed the communities’ concern. However,
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Have you got strong views about what’s happening in South Bristol? Email paul@ southbristolvoice.co.uk, post to Letters, South Bristol Voice, 18 Lilymead Avenue, Bristol BS4 2BX or call us on 07811 766072. Please keep letters short. We may edit your letter. Richard Clarke of Urbis has recently stated that he wishes to build on this site to a density of 380 dwellings per hectare (dph). This could only be achieved through buildings of, for example, 12 and 14 storeys. To put this tower block nightmare in context, historic developments have densities around 85 dph (Southville) or 120 dph (Totterdown). Bristol has a policy subjecting all proposed new developments, outside of the centre, of six storeys or more, to stringent criteria (Tall Buildings Policy, BCC SPD 1, 2005). Clearly Urbis have been encouraged by their success with the granting of planning permission for the [nearby] 16-storey St Catherine’s tower. A precedent has been set. Nigel Biggs, Windmill Hill
We need a new waste station I HAVE just returned from taking my garden waste to the Days Road waste site in St Philips. Having taken at least 30 minutes to get there from Bedminster, due to the volume of traffic, I was greeted on arrival with a queue of cars stretching from Days Road back to the Kingsland Road junction – all of them people
June 2016
trying to dispose of their waste. Old Red Trousers promised a waste disposal site at Hartcliffe Way, but changed his mind. Would the new mayor consider the wishes of many South Bristol residents and have this facility built? After all, the money was in place for this project, but I expect Red Trousers used it for the cycle lanes that never get used. Bemmy John, Bedminster • Editor’s Note: Funding for the Hartcliffe Way waste centre was agreed in the last council budget, but when the Voice went to press the council was unable to say when work might start.
Drivers who abuse East St
HAVING lived in Bedminster for over 60 years, I have seen many changes, some for the good and some bad. The one I thought was going to be very good was the revamp of East Street. No worries about the traffic entering East Street from the London Inn end, as there is a sign saying No Cars or Motor cycles 7am to 7pm. Why is it, then, that every day motorists ignore the sign and continue to use East Street to park and as a short cut to Bedminster Parade, making it very unsafe for pedestrians, who wish to shop without the fear of being injured by some motorist who should not be driving down the street in the first place. Why not make it a proper precinct by banning all traffic, and send public transport via Malago Road? In the meantime can the council send a traffic warden on a regular basis to stop these motorists who ignore the rules? A Bedminster resident
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Julia’s baby session puts grown-ups first THERE are lots of choirs across the city – but two years ago professional singer Julia Turner spotted a gap in the Bristol market. If you were looking for a class to take your baby along to there were hundreds to choose from. However, if you were looking for an adult class that was also baby-friendly the choice was limited. So in October 2013 the BYOB (bring your own baby) choir was formed. It is an adult choir for parents and features not even a hint of a nursery rhyme. Parents relax and sing while the babies hopefully enjoy the harmonies. The choir’s repertoire has included White Winter Hymnal by Fleet Foxes, Prodigy’s Out Of Space, Somewhere Over the Rainbow by Judy Garland and Bob Marley’s Three Little Birds. BYOB choir have two gigs coming up, the first at 3pm on Saturday June 25 at the North Street Summer Fair, and the next at 3pm on July 23, when they will be performing at St Paul’s Church in Southville. In the meantime, weekly BYOB classes are held in Bedminster at The Elephant House on Monday and Thursday. To book a free taster session call Julia on 07984 532535, email julia@ekocollective.com or get in touch on Facebook via BYOB Choir. Julia is also putting the finishing touches to her second album, Fifteen Times the Moon,
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Labour’s wins not a blueprint, says MP Smyth SOUTH Bristol’s Labour MP has warned her party not to read too much into winning control of the council and the city mayoralty. Karin Smyth, writing for the Labour List blog, cautioned that the May victories did not form a blueprint for the national party. After Labour’s victories in Bristol on May 5, party leader Jeremy Corbyn rushed to the city to meet Marvin Rees. It came the day after the party also won the London mayoralty, though victor Sadiq Khan did not choose to meet Mr Corbyn for several days. But local factors were at play in Bristol, said Ms Smyth. Exmayor George Ferguson had become deeply unpopular, even detested by some, she wrote. In contrast, she added, Mr Rees attracted enthusiasm for change across the spectrum.
Musician: Julia Turner’s choir has a unique attraction for parents; she is also about to release an album of her own compositions a collection of original songs that explore the patterns of life, our fears, hopes and relationships with both ourselves and each other. The album is released on September 30, with a launch party at 7.30pm at Bristol Folk House in Park Street. Taking inspiration from all she meets, Julia is truly a positive force of nature. If you have always wanted to sing and just need a bit of encouragement, she could be just what you need. • juliaturner.co.uk
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Competition: COMEDY Win tickets to top comedians
DO YOU want to see some of the country’s top stand-up acts performing their newest material? Double Deckers Comedy Week is when the Comedy Box hosts some of Britain’s top stand-ups giving previews of the shows they will take to the Edinburgh Fringe. South Bristol Voice has teamed up with our friends at the Comedy Box to bring you a great competition. We have two pairs of tickets for each of the four Double Decker shows. All you have to do to win a pair is answer this question and send the answer to paul@southbristolvoice. co.uk by June 15: Q: Whose Edinburgh show is called Little Misfit? Please state which of the four shows you’d like to attend, and any that you can’t make.
1st birthday giveaway
Edinburgh’s top acts ‘Mock the Week is a boys’ club but I don’t let it bother me’
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OE LYONS is most familiar as a lone female on Mock The Week – more on that later. She’s been winning accolades for years, has been called the most impressive female comic on the circuit, and she’s bringing her new show to Bristol: Little Misfit. South Bristol Voice What’s the Edinburgh show about? On the publicity it’s called No Gods, No Golf, but online it’s called Little Misfit. Zoe Lyons Ahh yes, that, my
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Zoe Lyons: ‘Don’t ask me to sing, my singing voice could shatter steel’ friend, is what we call a last minute title change! It happens all the time because you have to start preparing for Edinburgh way in advance. Little Misfit just suits what I am talking about better. The show is themed on the idea of what it means to not belong to any groups. I think I have reached a point in my life where I still don’t really fit in but I am now delighted by that fact. SBV You’re a big name now, called the most impressive female comic on the circuit, done all the top TV and radio shows – has it gone to your head? ZL I have a tiny, very manageable ego, fits in a coin purse. I have been kicking about on the circuit for a while now, done all the gigs, stayed in all the awful Travelodges and cried in lay-bys. I am just happy to be busy and working. SBV You certainly don’t look outplayed on Mock the Week, but is it sometimes a male bear pit? ZL There has been one woman maximum per show so far with Mock so it still looks like a bit of a boys’ club. I never let it bother me. The show has a reputation for being quite competitive and that is still true but that bullish competitiveness has gone down a notch or two in recent years. SBV Which gig would you enjoy more, Live at the Apollo or the Tobacco Factory, Southville? ZL Doing Live at the Apollo was a dream come true and I bloody loved it but gigs like the Tobacco Factory are what makes the UK comedy circuit so great. The
audience are a delight. SBV Which up-and-coming comic would you tip to be famous next year? ZL Stephen Bailey has been supporting Katherine Ryan recently on her tour and he has developed so much over the last year. He has a great stage presence and I think he will go far. SBV What’s the worst thing about being on the road all the time? ZL Eating badly. I try not to, but it is such an easy habit to slip into. Sometimes you have no choice but to dine on three sandwiches a day. I really try and rectify the damage when I get back home, where I cook lots of good stuff. I get lonely too sometimes, you just have to find ways to occupy your mind. I like visiting local museums. SBV What’s the best thing about playing Edinburgh – and the worst? ZL You don’t have to travel for a month, all your gigs are in one city. The downside is that it is about a week too long. Three weeks would be just fine, after four I start to unravel. SBV You’ve been doing theatre as well as comedy; would you like to do more acting? ZL Definitely, I like acting and I “play out” characters in my stand-up sometimes. I like to embody the material. I would love to do more theatre in the future if the opportunity arose. Just don’t ask me to do a musical, I have a singing voice that could shatter steel.
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June 2016
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Competition: COMEDY
flock to South Bristol ‘I love the way that the M32 welcomes you’
G
EOFF NORCOTT is a South London comedian who’s written for many of the stars of TV. He grew up on a council estate, the child of a Liberal mother and a trade unionist father. For some reason he became a Conservative voter, and realised this was unusual for a stand-up comic. His new show is called Conswervative. South Bristol Voice There aren’t many stand-up comedians who are Conservative – has it been a problem? Geoff Norcott I don’t want to equate myself with the struggles of coming out as a gay man! But I have faced a bit of hatred for it. It wasn’t an act of rebellion but a reaction against certain experiences when I was growing up. I can remember being eight years old, when we moved to the council estate, and looking at the number of people who didn’t go to work. A lot of them stayed in their dressing gowns all day. But I can’t help thinking people shouldn’t be wearing them all the time. SBV Do you think that left-wing comics take the moral high ground?
Geoff Norcott: Anti-dressing gown GN The thing about left wing views is that they tend to get associated with nice people, whereas if you say right wing, you think of Hitler or Gary Numan. But perhaps it’s changing – Adele says more or less rightwing things and she seems to get away with it. I don’t know if I will always vote Conservative anyway – sometimes I look at them during Prime Minister’s Questions and think, ‘I don’t like this’. SBV You have a huge list of writing credits – from Sarah Millican’s TV show to Live at the Apollo. What’s it like writing for other people? Do you feel you are
giving away your best lines? GN No, it’s a real buzz if a very talented person thinks you are good enough to help them out on telly. SBV Don’t you ever run out of material if you are writing for other people as well as yourself? GN No. If you have learned how to be funny, then even for a very busy comic there’s only so much stuff you can try out live. If you have something topical but you can’t use it in your own show, there’s no harm at all in expunging what’s in your head for the benefit of someone else. And you aren’t giving stuff away – it’s not a charity! SBV What are you like to live with then? Is it a laugh a minute in your house? GN My wife will sometimes wake up and find me staring at her, and I’ll come out with something like, ‘Why is it people always presume all dogs are male?’ She says it’s nice when the humour has been worked on and perfected, but not so much when it’s still being worked on. SBV Finally, what is Bristol like as a place to play comedy? GN It’s great – Bristolians have a very strong sense of humour about themselves. So does Birmingham. Places like Newcastle and Liverpool are a bit more precious. It’s the only city I know where the motorway welcomes you right into the heart of the city, unlike some places where it ends 15 miles away. The M32 welcomes you, saying “All right my luvver!”
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1st birthday giveaway DOUBLE DECKERS COMEDY WEEK
Edinburgh previews Tobacco Factory theatre, Raleigh Road, Southville. All shows at 8pm, tickets £10 • thecomedybox.co.uk Wednesday July 27 Lloyd Langford: Fun & Sustenance Langford is always on the radio, and often mistaken for Rhod Gilbert. Jimmy McGhie: Work in Progress Clever, personal and hilarious, his sixth solo festival show. Thursday July 28 Chris Turner: Observational Tragedy Longlimbed award winner tries to pin down the things we should really let go. Sam Simmons: Not a People Person “The rage of Basil Fawlty with the lunacy of Spike Milligan” said the Evening Standard. Friday July 29 Stuart Goldsmith: Actually My Sixth Rodeo Anecdotes galore and infectious banter delivered with effortless charisma. Ellie Taylor: Work in Progress Of Mock the Week fame: “Smart, self-mocking and telegenic,” said the Scotsman. Saturday July 30 Geoff Norcott: Conswervative Zoe Lyons: Little Misfit
Got a story or any other inquiry? Call Paul on 07811 766072 or email paul@southbristolvoice.co.uk
southbristolvoice www.southbristolvoice.co.uk Reports from your councillors – Southville 22
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S A Green, I am convinced we must vote to remain in the European Union. These are some of Charlie the reasons why. Bolton Environment Green, and health: Our Southville beaches and rivers are cleaner, our air less polluted, and our children better protected from toxic chemicals thanks to EU rules. Our wildlife is safer. The European Union has championed global action on climate change and renewable energy. Jobs and employment rights: Paid holidays, maternity rights, and fair treatment for temps, agency and part-time workers come from our EU membership. Over three million jobs are linked to trade with other EU countries. Controlling big business: With corporations operating across borders we need international rules to keep them
in check - on wage levels, working conditions, and environmental standards. EU rules are helping to close tax loopholes and clamp down on tax dodging. Freedom of movement: As citizens of the European Union, we are free to study, work, travel and retire anywhere across Europe. Freedom of movement enriches our lives, culture and opportunities. Peace and security: The EU has secured lasting peace in Europe after the bloodshed of the Second World War, and has a vital role in spreading democracy and human rights throughout the world. Please vote to stay in. Meanwhile, I’d like to add a big thank you to all those who voted for me in the recent council elections. I am both pleased and humbled to be re-elected with my biggest ever majority. I am also extremely pleased that my colleague Steve Clarke was also returned. Thanks.
T
HE very busy election period is over and Southville has chosen to go with two Green Stephen councillors again Clarke for the next four Green, years. Thank you Southville very much for that vote of confidence; I feel privileged to represent the ward and will do as much as I can to help all the people living in this great corner of Bristol, whatever their politics. The election won’t really have changed the main issues for local people. Most of you tell me that these are transport (especially the resident parking scheme, lack of bus routes and travel for fans attending the stadium, including the use of Long Ashton Park & Ride); housing (including the Bedminster Green development) and health and wellbeing (including a Clean Air Zone to stop over 200 unnecessary deaths a year in Bristol). With
June 2016 How to get in touch with your councillors – page 2
Charlie Bolton, I will be pushing hard on all these issues and will be reporting back regularly in this column and elsewhere. One of the great differences between us and the other parties is that we can choose to ignore any party line and vote in the way that we think is best for our local area. This makes it even more vital that we hear your opinions; we really listen to them, even when we don’t agree! A big issue that will effect all of us, perhaps the greatest political decision in a generation, is the EU referendum on June 23. I adopt all the comments in Charlie Bolton’s piece; I think we would be bonkers to leave although I believe that changes do need to be made. One fundamental change is that there should be an increase of power to the elected members of the European Parliament at the expense of institutions such as the European Central Bank, the European Commission and others. Even so, I urge you to vote to stay.
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www.southbristolvoice.co.uk southbristolvoice Reports from your councillors – Bedminster June 2016
E: paul@southbristolvoice.co.uk
I
’M honoured to be able to represent Bedminster alongside Celia for a further four year term. As Mark a local resident Bradshaw myself, it is a Labour, privilege to serve Bedminster the Bedminster community. Thank you for your trust in me, in Celia and in our ward team. The elections produced a massive change in how Bristol is going to be run over the next four years, with Labour’s Marvin Rees as the elected mayor and a majority of councillors from Labour too. As I’m writing this, the new cabinet has been formed and, as promised, it includes councillors from all the political parties represented on the council. Marvin asked me to become the cabinet member for transport and I’ve accepted this role. The stability of clear leadership and all-out elections
every four years will transform the city and our relationship with many partners, including the surrounding councils. Over the years, Bristol has strengthened ties with its four neighbouring councils – South Gloucestershire, North Somerset and BaNES (Bath and North East Somerset). Under the devolution proposals, this cooperation could receive more formal recognition and important powers. There is much detail in the latest deal on offer, but the prospect of getting new transport, housing and local economy powers (and investment), particularly those to tackle congestion and boost public transport, is exciting. Let’s see if the other authorities feel the same and see the bigger prize. During the local campaign, Celia and I met so many people on the doorstep. We had some great conversations and whatever your political views and how you voted, we are here for you.
Police update
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UMMER is here and, as the weather improves, we are all more likely to have windows or doors open. Unfortunately this can provide an opportunity for thieves to take advantage of. More than a third of burglaries in the force area are opportunistic, with a thief gaining access through an open window or unlocked door when the householder is out, or is in the garden or in another part of the house. Remember to always shut and lock your doors and windows when you are away from the house. It’s also worth doing this when you are in another part of the house or in the garden. Don’t leave valuables on display near windows or doors – especially those with cat flaps, and don’t leave keys visible through the front door, as thieves could to hook them out through the letter box. It’s also worth registering all your valuables on Immobilise. com to make them easier to trace and return to you if they are stolen.
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WOULD like to thank all of you who voted for Mark and I in the May elections. The Labour team looks forward Celia to working with Phipps you for the next Labour, four years. It is Bedminster a privilege to work with community and resident groups, individuals and businesses, to ensure Bedminster is well represented in Bristol. We also look forward to a very different mayoral regime under Marvin Rees, in which Labour councillors can expect to play a significant and constructive part. The turnout in Bedminster was 50 per cent, which means many folks did not use an important way to make their voice heard. You can register to vote at any time at www.aboutmyvote.co.uk or by calling 0800 3 280 280 or via the council website. And just when you thought all this voting was all over, we have the European referendum on
June 23. Labour supports the Remain lobby as so many jobs are reliant on Europe, and the majority of our exports are to European countries. Staying in will help us to negotiate better deals. Rights at work like paid holiday, maternity and paternity leave are all protected by our membership of the EU. Let’s Clean Bedminster is continuing to meet with Bristol Waste and the city council and will be taking positive action across the area. Please continue to report graffiti, fly-tipping, fly-posting, abandoned vehicles, dog mess, dead animals, overflowing bins, blocked drains and other street issues, as the local team are keen to support our initiative. You can do this on the council website by completing a confidential form. We are always happy to hear how we can make our community better so why not drop us an email (see page 2). Our surgery venues are still being organised but we plan to hold regular drop-in sessions across Bedminster.
With Sgt Paul Honeychurch, Bedminster police station
Shoplifters on East Street are in our sights this summer
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e have recently run a number of undercover operations aimed at catching shoplifters on North Street and East Street. On the last of these, we caught and prosecuted three people for shoplifting offences and have been working with stores to help them increase their security, for example by employing more security staff. Local shoppers’ comments have been positive, telling us they now feel safer while shopping.
Distraction: It only takes a moment to snatch a purse when your attention is being diverted
ou may have noticed more of our PCSOs in South Bristol out on bikes. As part of a pilot project, we have a fleet of new bicycles here at Broadbury Road police station, which aims
to help PCSOs move towards using bikes (and foot patrol) as their default patrol method in their communities. The bikes have many advantages; they can get to places
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that cars can’t reach and sometimes more quickly than if an officer was on foot, so they can be very useful for catching criminals and for disrupting anti-social behaviour. They also make officers more approachable, so we hope to build up better relationships with the local community and allow them to have more conversations with us. We also know that if we use bikes more and cars less it’s better for the environment, saves us money on fuel and helps improve the fitness of our officers. Please say hello when you see my team out on their bikes. Sadly, this is my last column as neighbourhood sergeant for the area, and I hand over to Sergeant Caroline Crane, who will be in post soon. I wish her all the best and want to thank the communities of Windmill Hill, Totterdown and Knowle, who have made my time as their neighbourhood sergeant a really enjoyable one. All the best, Sergeant Paul Honeychurch
Got a story or any other inquiry? Call Paul on 07811 766072 or email paul@southbristolvoice.co.uk
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Returns to Bristol Hippodrome for the first time in 15 years
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June 2016
Mad Hatters’ tea party to celebrate a safer walkway A MAD Hatters’ picnic will celebrate two years of community action that has brought a safer, brighter walkway from Marksbury to the rest of Bedminster. Saturday June 25 will see Mad Hat making sessions from 11.15am- 12.15pm at Marksbury Road library, Bedminster Road, with face painting and a pipe band too. At 12.30pm there will be a ribbon cutting at the nearby Bartlett’s Bridge at followed by the Bartletts Road Mad Hatters’ Picnic from 12.30-2pm. All are welcome to bring a picnic, a mad hat and fancy dress. There’ll be ice cream, cakes and soft drinks for sale, plus games and music. The celebration comes after residents became fed up that the neglected railway footbridge made walking and cycling between the two communities
Better bridge: With local artwork within Bedminster a depressing and unsafe experience. In 2014 the Marksbury Area Community Association, the Friends of Marksbury Road library, Parson Street school and the West Street neighbourhood action group WOW got together to persuade the council and Network Rail to carry out longoverdue repairs to the walkway surface and lighting. After more campaigning grants were found to allow Totterdown artist Andy Council to transform the grim, unloved footbridge with artwork. New signage by Paul Gulati, planters and a community noticeboard were added.
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To advertise, contact sales@southbristolvoice.co.uk or Paul on 07811 766072 or Emma or Hollie on 0117 908 2121.
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Planning applications 24 Mansfield Street BS3 5PR Prior approval for single storey rear extension to extend by 3.3m, of maximum height 3.5m and eaves 2.9m. Granted Imperial Tobacco, 121 Winterstoke Road BS3 2LL Free standing illuminated signage totem for Imperial Tobacco and non-illuminated sign for Charlton Nursery. Granted subject to conditions
B1) to gym studio (Use Class D2) as revised 07.04.2016. Granted subject to conditions 42 Foxcote Road BS3 2BZ Lawful development certificate for loft conversion. Granted 40 Foxcote Road BS3 2BZ Lawful Development Certificate for rear roof extension. Granted
Asda Stores, East Street BS3 4JY Reduction of an external canopy. Granted subject to conditions 234 North Street, Bedminster BS3 1JD Removal of existing fascia and signage. 1 x illuminated fascia sign, 2 x nonilluminated fascia sign. 1 other non-illuminated sign. Granted subject to conditions Beauley Motor Services, Beauley Road BS3 1PY Demolition of former Beauley Motor Services and construction of 2 new dwellings. Granted subject to conditions 447 St Johns Lane BS3 5BE Two-storey side extension, removal of lean-to garage and single storey extension to rear. Granted subject to conditions 14 Greville Street BS3 1EF New single storey rear/side extension. Granted subject to conditions Premier House, 127 Duckmoor Road BS3 2BJ Change of use of office (Use Class
13 Brook Gate BS3 2UN Sub-division of building to form a self-contained gym and fitness centre (Use Class B8/B1(c) to D2). Granted subj. to conditions 127-131 Raleigh Road BS3 1QU Conversion of second floor from Use Class B1(c) to nine flats (Use Class C3) with third floor roof extension, external alterations, refuse and cycle storage. Pending decision Land to rear of 33 Baynton Road, Southville Change of use of 2-storey building from office use (Use Class B1(a)) to a house (Use Class C3). Granted 148 East Street, Bedminster BS3 4EW Change of use from Use Class A1 A2 to Use Class A3 (restaurant and café). Granted 16-20 South Liberty Lane BS3 2SR 2 x flagpoles with company flags. Granted subject to conditions
178 Chessel Street BS3 3DG Single storey rear infill extension. Granted subject to conditions Land on south of Herbert Street, Bedminster 12 single and duplex, 1-bed and 2-bed apartments with parking, secure cycle storage and bin store. (Major Application). Refused Redpoint Climbing Centre, 40 Winterstoke Road BS3 2NW Extension of climbing centre to form assembly area (Resubmission of 15/04308/F). Refused Land at rear of 38 The Nursery BS3 3EB Attached dwelling with access from Thistle Street. Granted subject to conditions 49 North Street, Bedminster BS3 1EN New dwelling to rear. Two similar applications. Withdrawn Lombard service station, Brook Road, Southville BS3 1AJ Demolition of garage
building and erection of three 3-bed houses and two 2-bed flats. Pending decision 214 Ashton Drive Bristol BS3 2QA Erection of a new dwelling. Granted subject to conditions
34 North Street, Bedminster BS3 1HW Retention of door inserted into existing frontage. Granted subject to conditions 32B Allington Road BS3 1PT Conversion of ground floor garage, below a maisonette, into two bedroom flat. Granted subject to conditions South Western Plastics, Willway Street, Bedminster BS3 4BG Insertion of new doors to Willway Street elevation in order to subdivide premises. Granted subject to conditions • The status of these applications may have changed since we went to press. Check for updates at planning online.bristol.gov.uk
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Karin Smyth Govt ministers need to listen to the bees
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S YOUR local MP I get hundreds of emails each week from constituents on a range of topics. Many come from people worried about their personal situation, whether it’s housing, money, employment or something else affecting their family. But people in communities across Bristol are also passionate about environmental issues. To me, the way we treat animals and wildlife reflects how we treat humans and I remain proud that recent Labour governments put these matters high on the agenda. For example, the landmark Animal Welfare Act set new standards for the treatment of animals, with new duties of care for owners and tough sanctions for those who break the law. Widespread concern has recently resurfaced about the threat to bees, a vital part of our food chain, from a relatively new type of insecticide called neonicotinoids. I am
The MP’s view Each month Bristol South Labour MP Karin Smyth gives her perspective in no doubt about the importance of pollinators to our food supply, biodiversity and economy, and so I share worries about declining bee numbers. In 2013 the European Commission restricted neonicotinoid use on certain crops after it was found that some pose an
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unacceptable danger to bees. Yet last autumn the Government approved an application for the ban to be lifted, to allow chemicals to be sprayed on oilseed rape to help prevent crop damage. The Government has since confirmed it received new applications for emergency authorisation in 2016. I appreciate there are many reasons for the decline of pollinators: things like climate change, habitat loss and pests and diseases. But the Government cannot be allowed to ignore the threat that neonicotinoids pose to bees. I think it’s vital to take a science-led approach to pesticide use and to consider how best to support farmers, protect wildlife and reverse the decline of pollinators. So I’ll continue to press the Government to apply evidence-based policy and am pleased that following widespread pressure, ministers now seem to have a more open mind to doing so, saying they will base their view on future regulation on all the available scientific evidence. We need to remain vigilant to ensure they do so. As ever do please get in touch if you feel I can help you as your MP, whether it’s a confidential personal or family issue, or with a wider concern of the type outlined above. You can email karin.smyth.mp@parliament. uk or write to Karin Smyth MP, House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA.
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What’s on
Wednesday June 1 What if We Could Help The young carers’ youth theatre present their annual production at Acta theatre, Gladstone Street, Bedminster. Also on June 2. 7-7.45pm. Tickets £1. • acta-bristol.com Friday June 3 The Diary of a Hounslow Girl Tobacco Factory theatre. Also on June 4. The story of a British Muslim teenager facing a conflict of cultures in a coming of age comedy set in the West London suburb of Hounslow. Tickets £12 and £9. • tobaccofactorytheatres.com Saturday June 4 Ola plus guests Comedy Box at the Hen & Chicken, North Street, Southville. “Young, driven and hugely talented, Ola is know for his intelligent, edgy humour.” 8.45pm, £10 advance, £12 on the door. • thecomedybox.co.uk Monday June 6 Take It On: Shakespeare’s Heroes and Villains Tobacco Factory workshop for 8-11 yearolds to explore Shakespeare’s most wonderful and most devilish characters. “Delve into their delightful/dastardly dreams and decide which you prefer!” 4.15-5.45pm, £5. • tobaccofactorytheatres.com Wednesday June 8 Moonshine Nights Join the Malcolm X Elders’ Theatre Company and Acta’s community choir for a festival preview performance of Moonshine Nights, consisting of stories and songs set on a warm Caribbean evening. Acta theatre, Gladstone Street, Bedminster. 7.308.30pm. Tickets £3. • acta-bristol.com
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World’s a stage at Ashton Court REVIEW Peeps and Bursts, Ashton Court estate and Ashton Park school PEEPS and Bursts begins as the story of a building, the impressive gate lodge to Ashton Court, which is now being renovated with Lottery money. This imaginative drama, performed outdoors just twice in May, had us wandering the estate in the company of the people who have shaped it. We start in the 1790s, meeting landscape designer Humphry Repton as he tried to sell his ideas to Sir John Smyth. With careful landscaping, the wealthy Smyths could enjoy views of the coal mines which helped make their fortune. Meanwhile a winding drive could reveal the mansion in “peeps and bursts” to visitors. The audience were led from one natural stage to another, Thursday June 9 Playhouse Creatures Tobacco Factory theatre. Graduating students from Bristol Old Vic Theatre School present the story of the first actresses when theatres were restored by Charles II in 1663 after 17 years of Puritan suppression. Tickets £15 and £10. 7.30pm & 2.30pm. • tobaccofactorytheatres.com Friday June 10 SouthBank Milonga Tango dancing, SouthBank Centre, Dean Lane, Southville. 8-12.30pm. £9 • southbankclub.webs.com
Flo and Lou: Peeps and Bursts pausing here at a fence, here at the vast stone cart wash. We met modern workmen who have been working on the gatehouse, Victorian estate workers, members of the Smyth family and more. We were marshalled by Francis, the knowledgable estate manager and former slave played by actor and Ashton Park school teaching assistant Kirris Riviere. The play was created by director Sheila Hannon of Bedminster’s Show of Strength theatre company, which specialises in real-life drama. Saturday June 11 The Meaning of Life – An Introduction to Buddhism Lam Rim Bristol Buddhist Centre, 12 Victoria Place, Bedminster BS3 3BP. Teachings on the Four Noble Truths and the Wheel of Life. 10.30am-4.30pm. • info@lamrim.org.uk Tuesday June 14 Wealth is Health Acta theatre, Gladstone Street, Bedminster. A cabaret performance exploring wealth and health inequalities in Britain in the 21st Century by the Third Age Company, Liverpool.
June 2016
She was assisted by Mary Ingoldby and education consultant Ruth Myers, along with GCSE drama students from the school. The cast all performed with gusto, despite playing outdoors to a moving audience, with the wind trying to snatch their words away. There’s barely room to mention Peggy Edwards and Afra Parsons, who played two maids, Flo and Lou, seen scrubbing the steps of the mansion. With their hopes of marriage and their disdain that the morals of the ruling classes are no better than their own, the pair set the perfect end piece. In the end Sir John Smyth died before the work was complete, and his son Hugh could not see the point of a wandering driveway. But the lodge remains, soon to be unveiled as a fascinating historical asset for Bristol. And hopefully Peeps and Burst can at some point gain a wider audience. PB 2pm and 8.30pm. Tickets £3. • acta-bristol.com Standing in My Own Truth and Yusuf Can’t Talk Doublebill including Yusuf Can’t Talk, a show from Bedminster’s Acta theatre, by Somali mothers of children with autism. Standing in My Own Truth is about migrant women’s experiences. Shows at 16 Narrow Quay, Bristol BS1 4QA. 7-7.50pm. Tickets £3. • acta-bristol.com Wednesday June 15 Snake Skin Acta theatre, Gladstone Street, Bedminster.
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What’s on
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Sarah Jessie Peyton and Pat Gregory with panels from the tapestry
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Head-onism: Natalie Wallace’s Woolly Wild Things are eerie headgear
Art adventure
Boxhead: Japanese art hides Peggy, 3, from gaze of Tim, 1
THE Bedminster tapestry was one of the most ambitious creations of the SouthBank Arts Trail, involving 150 artists in 60 venues, on May 14-15. “This is a piece of living history,” said tapestry organiser Sarah Jessie Peyton. She is looking for an art or history group to help manage the already-enormous project.
Stephen Quick: One of the artists painting live at the Tobacco Factory
Members of Glasgow’s Citizens Theatre Community Collective present a witty and provocative performance that examines the labels that society gives us. 7pm and 8.30pm. Tickets £3. • acta-bristol.com Friday June 17 A teaching on Karma Lam Rim Bristol Buddhist Centre with Ven. Geshé Damchö Yönten. Talk is from The Book of Kadam. 10.30am-4.30pm. • info@lamrim.org.uk
Tuesday June 22 Daniel Kitson’s Polyphony Tobacco Factory theatre. Until June 26. Daniel Kitson writes: “In 2015 I wrote a play – a real humdinger. It has a pretty epic scope, a staggering vision and in the region of 20 characters. Each of which has been performed and recorded in isolation, each of them captured as a single track that will, when played back in precise unison, form a glorious theatrical polyphony. The play
is perfect. The recordings are perfect. I just need enough people to hit play.” Age 15+. Tickets £12. 7.30pm, matinee 2.30pm Saturday. • tobaccofactorytheatres.com Friday June 24 Quiz and supper night Held on the last Friday evening of every month, 8.30pm-late, Windmill Hill Community Centre, Vivian Street, Windmill Hill. • whca.org.uk
Wednesday June 29 Into The West Tobacco Factory theatre. Acclaimed production for children about an inner city Dublin family who rediscover their Traveller heritage. Until July 17. 1.30pm, 6.30pm and 7.30pm. There will be a signlanguage performance and a relaxed performance suitable for those with special needs – call for details. Tickets from £28 family to £9 concessions. • tobaccofactorytheatres.com
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