South Bristol Voice May 2023

Redcatch Park balloon launch

SOUTH Bristol’s very own community balloon launch is planned for Redcatch Park on Saturday 24 June and will feature the launch of up to five hot air balloons. Bristol has a well-established reputation as being one of the premier locations for hot air ballooning in Europe with its annual International Balloon Fiesta. However, it will be lovely to be able to witness the inflation and launch of five balloons up close and personal. The annual fiesta takes place at Ashton Court in the north west and South Bristolians usually only get to see them once they’re up in the air. Perret’s Park is usually the perfect viewing option and locals often make a day of it with a picnic, in what could be called Bristol’s steepest park.

But it turns out that Redcatch Park is the perfect launch pad with its large flat football field, so the Friends Of Redcatch

Park (FORP) got in touch with Phil Hooper from Sky High Ballooning to ask if he thought it Turn to page 3

Broadwalk Shopping Centre

By Derrick Williams, Knowle Labour Party

KNOWLE Labour Party has continued to support the redevelopment of our ailing 1970s shopping centre, and we deeply regret the continuing

closure of greatly valued shops, especially the food outlets of B&M and MW Freshfoods. Only Iceland remains as a food outlet, and now what was once a thriving town centre could become a food desert.

When redevelopment was

first proposed in 2019, the local Labour Party publicly supported the idea of developing the site at Broadwalk as both a shopping and housing scheme. What concerns us is the proposal for ten and twelve storey blocks of Turn to page 3

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PICTURE: Matt Norris

Contacts

Ruth Drury

Sales Director

07590 527664

sales@southbristolvoice.co.uk

Jane Williams Editor

news@southbristolvoice.co.uk

southbristolvoice

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: Call the above number for an appointment

My councillor?

Post: (all councillors) City Hall, College Green, Bristol BS1 5TR.

Tessa Fitzjohn Green, Bedminster

By phone: 07584182801 By email: Cllr.Tessa.Fitzjohn@bristol.gov.uk

Mark Bradshaw Labour, Bedminster. By email: Cllr.mark. bradshaw@bristol.gov.uk

By phone: 0117 353 3160

Tony Dyer Green, Southville

By phone: 07584182862 By email:

Cllr.Tony.Dyer@bristol.gov.uk

Christine Townsend Green, Southville By phone: 07584183843 By email:

Cllr.Christine.Townsend@bristol. gov.uk

Christopher Davies Knowle Community Party. Email: Cllr. Christopher.Davies@bristol.gov.uk

Phone: 07826917714

Gary Hopkins Knowle Community Party. Email: Cllr.Gary.Hopkins@bristol.gov.uk

Phone: 07977 512159

Ed Plowden Green, Windmill Hill

Phone: 07584184577 By email: Cllr.Ed.Plowden@bristol.gov.uk

Lisa Stone Green, Windmill Hill

Phone: 07584186535

By email: Cllr.Lisa.Stone@bristol.gov.uk

COMPLAINTS

Despite our best efforts, we sometimes get things wrong. We always try to resolve issues informally at first but we also have a formal complaints procedure. If you have a complaint about anything in the South Bristol Voice, contact the Editor using the details below. We aspire to follow the the Code of Conduct of the NUJ (National Union of Journalists), nuj.org.uk/about/nuj-code

Further details of the complaints process can be found on our website (below) or can be obtained by contacting the Editor by email: sales@southbristolvoice.co.uk or by post: 111 Broadfield Rd, Knowle, Bristol BS4 2UX or by phone: 07590527664 southbristolvoice.co.uk/complaints-procedure

All stories and pictures are ©South Bristol Voice (unless otherwise stated) and may not be reproduced without permission. South Bristol

USEFUL NUMBERS

Bristol City Council

www.bristol.gov.uk

Balloon launch

From page 1 was feasible to do a community launch in the area.

Phil says: “FORP spoke to me last summer to ask if I’d be interested in doing a launch from the park. I live in Knowle and use the park all the time to walk my dog and it’s a perfect space for

Broadwalk Shopping Centre

From page 1 flats that would be far too high in an area of two predominantly two-storey houses. These would cast shadows and gloom over Redcatch Park and surrounding streets. We were also concerned that there would be insufficient affordable homes, and that the quality of flats would not support a high standard of living. Car parking for local residents was always a worry.

Since then, Knowle Labour Party has maintained its principle objections, which were confirmed when the new owners of the site brought forward plans that increase the number of flats from well over 400 to well over 800, and the number of potential residents from 1,000 to 2,000.

We remain very worried that the new proposals have hardly changed since they emerged in early 2022. Not only will there be massive new blocks, but only 7% of the homes will be affordable. The density will be well over the council’s own planning standards, and there will be no additional provision of health services. We all know how difficult it is now to get to see your GP at the moment. What will it be like when we have over 2,000 more people living in a concentrated area, all potentially in need of health care?

The developers have not engaged with the community to address these concerns – aside from holding a single public meeting last Summer, where local opposition was universal.

launching a balloon. So it was a no brainer. I’m very happy to be supporting their efforts in the park.”

Sian Ellis-Thomas from FORP says: “I’d seen an article about community balloon launches in a local magazine and thought how amazing it would be to have one in Redcatch Park. I found Phil and, when I realised he was from Knowle, we arranged to meet in the park and a plan was hatched. Here we are, less than a year later and we’ve managed to get not just one but up to five

All that is happening presently is that more shops close or do not have their leases renewed. It looks like the developers are encouraging a form of property blight so that eventually the City Council will, in desperation, give planning permission rather than see every shop close, and the place will become derelict.

There has been opposition to these plans from the Knowle Neighbourhood Planning Group who have tried to engage with developers and local councilors Gary Hopkins and Chris Davies. However, anything other than outright support for the plans has been met with vitriolic condemnation and vilification from Gary and Chris. Local people involved with the KNPG have been subjected to this. It is very unfair and may even be in breach of the council’s code of conduct for elected members.

We have always believed that local democracy is characterised by discussion, debate, and genuine criticism of proposals where appropriate. We have always tried to conduct our part in this debate with honesty and respect, and will continue to do so. We still hope that others will do the same and that the council will consider our genuinely held views, and those of others, when decisions are made about these proposals. Those of us who continue to have our homes in Knowle will have to live with the outcome for many years. We are worried that the balance of housing to shops and community facilities weighs far too heavily on the side of cramped housing. We think Knowle deserves better than the current proposals.

This piece is in response to last month’s cover story, which is available to read here: tinyurl.com/ms92fjj9

balloons to launch. We’re so grateful to Phil for helping to make this happen.”

There’s been a lot of support from the community to help with the event: South Bristol Voice is on board to help cover costs and Gary Cleverley from Cleverley Builders is supplying the hi-vis jackets for the FORP volunteers. The event is free to attend and the public can make a day of it. Weather permitting, the launches will happen at approximately 7pm. Redcatch Community Garden will be open

and have their usual array of food, cakes, coffee, cold drinks and ice cream.

Lesley Powell of FORP adds: “We are so excited about the balloon launch, it’s FORP’s first official event since we relaunched the group in September last year and what a coup! We want to thank everyone that’s helped us so far and who will be lending a hand on the day, including BCC Parks department and site permissions who’ve held our hand to help us get this off the ground.”

£500,000 fund for green spaces

APPLICATIONS are now open for a new Green Spaces Fund which will support communities across South Bristol to enhance their environment and encourage people to make the most of their green spaces.

The Green Spaces initiative is the latest phase of the Community Matters Fund by National Grid Electricity Distribution.

The aim of the fund is to support the development of green spaces to bring communities together, encourage more wildlife and biodiversity, improve air quality and reduce noise, as well as delivering health benefits, and creating valuable employment and volunteering opportunities.

Applications are welcome from community organisations of all kinds, particularly those supporting vulnerable groups to overcome barriers to accessing green spaces. Projects that create volunteering opportunities for members of the local community are also encouraged to apply.

The fund will award grants of up to £2,000 for unregistered organisations. Registered charities and eligible non-profit companies can apply for up to £10,000. The closing date for applications is Friday 12 May.

For more information, visit: nationalgrid.co.uk/communitymatters-fund

Victoria Park to get a chunk of the Council’s £1.6m boost to parks

SEVEN parks in Bristol are set to get a £1.6 million boost to help them support new housing developments. Thousands of new homes are being built across the city, adding to pressure on all sorts of local public services, including parks.

Bristol City Council is planning to spend £1,631,000 on upgrading facilities in the parks, such as play equipment. The parks set for investment are spread throughout Bristol.

Most of the money is coming from the community infrastructure levy, which property developers pay towards the council to help local public services cope with extra demand.

A cabinet report said: “As the city grows and our successful housing delivery programme results in more homes and more people visiting and benefiting from their local parks, there is a need for us to respond by investing in quality and new facilities — particularly in those green spaces close to new housing areas.”

Victoria Park will see £191,000 spent on improving facilities that “encourage access and participation in play, sport and physical

activity”, although it’s not yet clear what the details of these are. Thousands of new homes are being built near the park, as part of the massive Bedminster Green and Whitehouse

Street regeneration developments.

By Alex Seabrook, Local Democracy Reporter

New website for VPAG

The Victoria Park Action Group have unveiled their brand new website at vpag.org.uk

The newly designed site contains information about many aspects of Victoria Park and is much easier for park users to keep up-to-date. The site contains events on a rolling calendar, and VPAG welcomes information about new events to add. It also contains a history of the park, thanks to Avon Gardens Trust allowing VPAG to reproduce information from one of their books.

In addition, local photographer Dylan Peters has supplied photos of the park, but VPAG also welcomes submissions from residents of their own photos of Victoria Park which could be added. Finally, there is a section about the park’s various facilities, including the Measured Mile route as well as the weekly Junior parkrun event on Sunday mornings.

A slide in Victoria Park, with the Bedminster Green development in the background. Picture: Alex Seabrook

Ways to get involved in BS3

BS3 Helping Others is a community organisation seeking to link would-be volunteers to organisations that need them. Opportunities exist to plant flowers in parks, support homeless people, plan the annual Lantern Parade, read to children in schools, drive older people to coffee mornings and much more.

Opportunities to help are posted on their Facebook group facebook.com/groups/BS3helpers. They hold monthly meetings where potential helpers can meet with group organisers and they publish an annual directory featuring nearly 100 organisations.

BS3 Helping Others are now starting to update the directory which they hope to complete by June.

If your voluntary or community organisation wants to be included in the next edition, please contact Laura by email on bs3helpingothers@gmail.com as soon as possible.

The group meets on the first Monday of the month at 6.30pm and following Tuesday at 10.30am of the month in the Tobacco Factory snug. Please join them to find out how you can get involved in your local community.

Knowle heroes receive Lord Mayor’s medals

TWO of our local legends from Knowle have been awarded with Lord Mayor medals at a ceremony at the Mansion House in April.

Julie Laming received a medal for her part in helping to save the Jubilee Pool, which had been threatened with closure but, thanks to the hard work of Julie and others at the Friends of Jubilee Pool group, it has been saved for the community.

Mike Alden received a medal for his work with the Park Knowle Football Club, which will join the BBC Sports Personality of the Year ‘Unsung Hero’ Award he won last December.

Congratulations to both of them.

Local mum Daisy wins at national awards

THE winners of the fifthth national Glomama awards 2023 have been announced, with a South Bristol mum scooping a coveted prize.

A life saved and £5,500 raised

The Glomama Awards celebrates motherly magic on social media, which includes shining a spotlight on campaigns that are run by mums for mums. Daisy, who posts on TikTok and Instagram as @muddlethroughmummy, has taken the prize for Top Wellness Mama.

Two years ago baby Elliot Smith was born at Bath Royal United Hospital to Downend parents Tricia and Liam. He was 10 weeks early and spent 9 weeks in the Neonatal Unit at Bath Royal United before being allowed home with a series of ongoing ailments.

Daisy (pictured) joined TikTok in January 2021 during a very lonely lockdown as a way to connect with other like-minded mums, however she’s been sharing her journey through motherhood on Instagram for more than five years.

A scan of Elliot's head confirmed that he was suffering from a condition called Saggital Craniosynostosis, a condition where the bones of the skull grow together prematurely creating a malformed skull. This in turn leads to the impairment of brain development, increased intracranial pressure, and a great deal of discomfort. With this also comes the possibility of seizures, stroke, and ultimately the loss of a short life.

She makes no secret of her battle with postnatal depression and intrusive thoughts, and this is what she believes led her to her award win.

Daisy says: “Women want to see and hear real life experiences, what it’s like on a daily basis when you still have to take care of your children, practical tools and techniques to overcome the darkness of depression and how to cope basically.

“We simply are not given the information or support during pregnancy to future proof our mental health when we

Elliot was referred to Birmingham Children's Hospital one of five centres of excellence in the UK where he was scheduled for urgent surgery to remove the whole top section of his skull, break it apart and reinsert the remodelled section. He spent a week in hospital under the expert care of the team there before being discharged home.

Because Covid restrictions were in place at the time (only one visitor), Elliot's parents were

become mothers. And honestly, I was too scared to mention the intrusive thoughts to my midwife for fear that she’d take my baby away when really they came from the overwhelming responsibility and protection I felt for my newborn.”

It soon turned into much more than simply sharing her day-to-day life, simple tricks for making motherhood that little bit easier and positive parenting tips and is now her full time career.

forced to take shifts throughout the week, day and night to be by his bedside. Accommodation at a nearby hotel was arranged by the Hospital Charity. Follow up appointments have been carried out at both Birmingham and Bristol Children's Hospitals. Elliot is progressing well and as expected.

Daisy believes we’re all just muddling through, trying to do the best with the knowledge we have and that’s no bad thing. She encourages her audience to embrace and fully accept the perfectly imperfect beauty of motherhood, without the need for filters or comparison to others. Daisy said: “Being a parent is hard and what we need is more transparency and less judgement – that’s what I aim to offer my followers.

In order to show their gratitude to the team at Birmingham, Elliot's parents set about raising funds to assist the Craniofacial unit there with their ongoing work.

Many fundraising events were held, all of which were sponsored by Bristol Carpets. Elliot's parents say that without their fantastic support and sponsorship we would not have reached our target of £5,500. Dave Gibbs of Bristol Carpets together with his team have been with us all the way and we cannot thank them enough.

Elliot's life has been saved. Thank you Bristol Carpets.

Tony Joiner

Elliot's Great Granddad.

“It was absolutely amazing just to be recognised for the award alongside all these other creative, inspiring mums. The whole reason I started this whole journey was to find the community I craved in motherhood; like minded women who empower each other and that’s exactly what the Glomama Awards celebrates.”

Carnival comes to St Monica Trust

A unique outreach project has brought Carnival to residents at a South Bristol retirement village.

Community Elders and pupils from Fairlawn Primary School joined residents at St Monica Trust’s Monica Wills House Retirement Village for a screening of a film celebrating the roots of St Pauls Carnival.

The film ‘Inna Wi Carnival: Reflections of a Generation’ was directed by St Pauls Carnival Community Outreach Worker Keziah Wenham-Kenyon. The film explores the culture and tradition of the St Pauls Carnival from the 1960s to the present day, as told by the generation that helped create it.

Keziah’s role has been funded by the St Monica Trust since 2021 with the aim of providing outreach to Community Elders and preserving the traditions of Caribbean Carnival for future generations.

As well as the film, other community development projects delivered by Keziah include digital inclusion workshops and the creation of human libraries.

Keziah said: “The initial stage of the

project was about engaging with the older generations in the St Pauls community and combating the social isolation caused by the pandemic. We then continued working with the same group of elders to capture and preserve the stories of the generation that brought carnival over to the UK from the Caribbean.

“There were a number of ways we could have gone about it, but after a discussion with the elders and the team, we decided that making a documentary was the best way of preserving their memories for future generations.”

St Monica Trust residents were greeted with a steelpan performance by Year 5 pupils, followed by a screening of the documentary in the activities room. Afterwards, Community Elders and residents swapped their own memories of St Paul’s Carnival.

Keziah is working towards an online release of the film later in the year, plus arranging more community screenings, such as the ones taking place across the St Monica Trust this week. There are also plans to design a workshop for schools that will see the film screened as part of an active learning programme, which will include talks given by the community elders.

Keziah said: “I feel truly honoured to have delivered such important work and am overjoyed by the positive impact it has had on those involved. It is a really special thing for the elders to see their stories reflected

on the big screen and it means a lot to their generation that their stories are still valued and being celebrated.

“Our thanks go to the St Monica Trust for funding such a special project and supporting Carnival’s long-term commitments to our elders.”

St Monica Trust’s Director of Charitable Impact, Adam Rees, said: “The Charitable Impact Team has been working alongside St Pauls Carnival since 2019 when we first funded their Elders Brunch on the morning of Carnival. We are delighted to have provided £50,000 of funding over the last two years for Keziah’s important work with Community Elders.

“The funding has helped ensure that the traditions and history of Bristol’s iconic Carnival celebrating African-Caribbean culture are secure and that these traditions and skills are passed on through the generations.”

For more information, please go to stmonicatrust.org.uk/charitable-impact/ grant-giving

Firefighters get soapy for charity

AVON Fire & Rescue Service staff dug out their buckets, sponges and hoses for a car wash last month as part of ongoing charity fundraising.

Firefighters and corporate staff opened up Bedminster Fire Station for a charity car wash in aid of The Fire Fighters Charity.

Watch Manager Paul Henbest said: “It’s a privilege to be able to raise money for such an important charity that is close to the hearts of all of us here at Bedminster. We’re doing this so that The Fire Fighters Charity can keep providing their amazing services, and so that fire service staff can continue to benefit for years to come.”

Paul is also taking on a sponsored 100km walk of the Jurassic Coast this month, which he’ll tackle non-stop in around 24 hours.

Paul said: “After completing a 42km challenge last year, I’m looking forward to taking on the full 100km race this year. It’ll be a challenge but getting to see some of the most beautiful parts of the country while raising all important funds is an incredible opportunity.”

If you’d like to support Paul, you can do by visiting: justgiving.com/Paul-Henbest1

MESSAGE FROM AVON & SOMERSET PCC

Some ticket deals are too good to be true

AS we get closer to summer, many people are looking forward to attending local and national sporting, comedy and music events.

Unfortunately, unscrupulous ticket sellers prey on people’s excitement for such shows for their own financial gain.

I urge local people to be vigilant when buying tickets, as new national figures reveal over £6.7 million was lost to ticket fraud in 2022.

In the same year, Action Fraud received over 7,088 reports of ticket fraud, with 138 coming from Avon and Somerset residents.

As part of its latest awareness campaign, Action Fraud is working with the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers (STAR) to promote the safe and secure purchasing of tickets to events, and advises the public to follow the appropriate preventative measures.

These include only buying from official promoters and ticket agents,

being wary of messages offering unbelievably good deals and avoiding paying for tickets by bank transfers. Remember - if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

We have just marked the first anniversary of an independent report, Identifying Disproportionality in Avon and Somerset Criminal Justice System (CJS).

Independent chair Desmond Brown conducted a two-year deep dive review into local CJS partner agencies to investigate racial disproportionality.

Lots of work is being done to set up a programme under the Local Criminal Justice Board, a group of senior leaders from all the partner agencies of which I am chair.

The chief constable is leading the steering committee to deliver the recommendations.

It’s vital to work in partnership and implement real and lasting change, so that communities feel a difference in how they are treated

when they encounter the CJS, whether as a victim, a witness, or a perpetrator.

I will keep you updated on the progress of this important work that aims to build trust, confidence, and legitimacy in policing and the wider system, particularly in communities impacted by race inequality, where trust and confidence is low.

Earlier this year I, along with my counterparts in Dorset, Devon & Cornwall, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire, penned a letter to Therese Coffey – the then Environment Secretary - calling for a new way to tackle the growing menace of fly-tipping.

The cost of fly-tipping on private land is estimated to be up to £150m a year, and the cost of clearance of fly-tipping for local authorities in England is nearly £50m.

It is time to make criminals pay for fly-tipping, not local people.

I am delighted that Rebecca

With Police and Crime Commissioner Mark

Shelford

Pow, MP for Taunton Deane, supports the five Southwest PCCs coming together to fight the scourge of fly-tipping. This is a step in the right direction.

This crime blights our rural landscape and causes problems for farmers and the rural economy. I’m committed to working with partner agencies to find new ways to tackle this problem.

Brislington Meadows: the outcome

LAST month, the Planning Inspectorate granted planning permission for Homes England’s proposals to build housing on Brislington Meadows despite widespread opposition to the proposals. Labour Councillors for Brislington East, Tim Rippington and Katja Hornchen, who have long opposed the development, have reacted to the decision.

In a joint statement, they said: “We are bitterly disappointed that the Planning Inspectorate has allowed Homes England to build on Brislington Meadows - an ecologically important, wildlife-rich meadow that is loved and used by the local community. We, alongside residents, believe that Brislington Meadows’s ecological values far outweighs the benefits of building houses there and we made this view clear to the Planning Inspectorate.

“This is not only our view but the view of Bristol City Council as a whole. We have declared an ecological emergency and, recognising the value of the meadows, have removed the site from the emerging Local Plan following its inclusion by our predecessors in 2014, instead including alternative brownfield sites to make up for lost housing.”

They added: “As local councillors we

have opposed the proposals alongside Mayor Marvin Rees and Kerry McCarthy MP, based on the ecological evidence provided by the likes of Avon Wildlife Trust. Sadly, Homes

England and the Planning Inspectorate have chosen to side-line local democracy and impose this development on us against the will of the city.”

Campaigners of all ages marched to try and save the Meadows.

Photo: Oren Taylor

Advertising feature

New

exhibition

at Aerospace

Aerospace Bristol, on the site of the former Filton Airfield, will host Luke Jerram’s Mars as part of a new Journey to Mars exhibition. The artwork will be stunningly displayed from 4th May to 5th June alongside the last Concorde ever to fly.

The temporary exhibition marks the 20th anniversary of the launch of the Beagle 2 lander on Mars Express, Europe’s first mission to Mars. It will include models of Beagle 2 and the Mars Express Orbiter on display alongside Luke Jerram’s Mars sculpture.

Measuring seven metres in diameter, Mars features

Bristol is out of this world!

detailed NASA imagery of the Martian surface. At an approximate scale of 1:1 million, each centimetre of the internally lit spherical sculpture represents 10 kilometres of the surface of Mars.

Visitors will have the chance to view Mars from the air, as though they are a satellite, mapping and studying the surface in perfect detail, with every valley, crater, volcano and mountain laid bare to inspect. The Journey to Mars exhibition is included with museum entry.

Visit https://aerospacebristol.org/ for more information and for tickets.

n NEWS FROM BRISTOL SOUTH MP KARIN SMYTH

Best of luck to those sitting exams

THE exam season is really upon us now and I want to wish all students the very best. The last few years have not been easy on pupils with remote learning and the chronic underfunding of schools by the Conservative Government. But I know that many of you will have put the hard work in and will do yourselves proud in the exams.

It’s also been a tough time for families supporting young people. The cost of living crisis has made it harder to access extra curricular activities, ensure the heating is on and give children access to the things they need to switch off and unwind. So, well done and good luck also to all parents, grandparents and guardians.

Many of you know I’m keen to ensure that everyone is aware of all the different routes on offer after you have finished your exams. Gone are the days where you either went on to Higher

Education or found employment. You can now unlock your aspirations by attending a Further Education college, such as the City of Bristol College in Hengrove. Here you can find new ways into work or opening up pathways into further learning.

The traditional ‘academic’ route isn’t for everyone. If we were all the same the world would be a boring place and we would struggle to get all the skills we need. Whether you decide to attend university, college or secure an apprenticeship the main thing is you are dedicated and passionate in what you do.

I have long advocated apprenticeships in particular and we have seen that over the last decade apprenticeship starts have declined by 27% in Bristol South as the Conservative Government has failed to equip individuals and the economy with the skills to meet our national challenges including

transition to net zero and rising demand for digital skills.

Every single percentage point represents a young person who wished to get ahead in life, but has been held back because of a lack of focus from the Government. We have young people clamouring to get an apprenticeship but they need support to secure them.

To reverse this downwards trend Labour will give businesses the flexibility they’re asking for to train their workforce and deliver growth. We will start by turning the Tories’ failed apprenticeships levy into a ‘Growth and Skills Levy’.

I know that our young people are ambitious about their future. I’ve seen it first-hand with my annual Jobs and Apprenticeships Fair. We need to work night and day to unlock these opportunities for you: Bristol’s young people.

Our businesses need the ideas, talent and spirit of our young people. Remember that when you sit down at your exams that whatever the outcome there is a pathway you can take to unlock your aspirations.

Good luck, everyone!

n NEWS FROM LOCAL COUNCILLORS

THIS month has seen the withdrawal of 42 bus services across the West of England area. Every one of these services can be a vital lifeline for many people.

We wrote in March about our sadness to see the cancellation of the 512 service that connected Totterdown and Windmill Hill residents with Broadmead and other shops, and how replacing it with a ‘Demand Responsive Service’ is a big gamble.

Over 40 residents came to a public meeting that we organised to hear how that new service will work, two weeks before its launch. But the Metro Mayor’s representative there was unable to provide any of the practical information people need to get on board with the imminent new service.

This was hugely disappointing, as we heard many people

concerned that the new service will not work for them. Eventually, just two working days before launch day the information came out – too late however to be shared on buses for those most in need of it.

Journeys can be booked by calling 0117 4578561, by searching for ‘Westlink’ online or through a Westlink smartphone app.

In more positive news, significant Council funding for improving Victoria Park has recently been announced, and we have managed to make sure that the Council officers will work with us and the Victoria Park Action Group to decide how to invest it. There is also a bid for Lottery funding that may mean we can make some considerable improvements – we will hear more in May.

Watch this space!

AS ward councillors we continue to be unhappy with the Labour administration’s lack of effort to make the mini-roundabout at the junction of North Street and Cannon Street safe for everyone that needs to use it – especially as it is now a de-facto A road due to taking Malago Road and CAZ diversions for heavy transport.

Christine (Southville) and Ed Plowden (Windmill Hill) have again reported the need for the many potholes here to be sorted out. The diversions will be in place for at least another 12 months and as they get worse the potholes will pose a real danger, particularly to bikes or e-scooters. We thank residents for their patience whilst these huge infrastructure projects are ongoing and encourage everyone to get involved in the

‘BS3 Beyond 2025’ events currently being organised by Action Greater Bedminster to make residents’ voices heard in the design stages of this regeneration project.

Users of Dame Emily Park will have noticed that investment in new equipment is ongoing, this is very welcome. Christine and Tony continue to work to secure more funds as paths in and around the park are in need of attention. In the meantime, we support Friends of Dame Emily Park in their request for better communication for park users as sections remain out of use whilst the works continue. Work and timeline for completion notices are needed in order to reassure users when the works will be finished so the park can be enjoyed in its totality.

LAST month, we were partcelebrating the passing of our council budget amendment to restore £56,000 of local funding for our parks. After strong and coordinated lobbying, the administration seems to have retreated from the huge rent demand from the community garden and the granting of the asset transfer of the old bowling green to them will allow applications for major grants.

With the garden/football club waiting to take over the pavilion, and the Friends of the park having a shopping list following their user survey, things are happening. All the organisations will have had a joint meeting by the time you read

this and a coordinated plan is ready to progress.

Investment in our parks is essential but no money has been available since before the first mayor, when central council spending combined with local land sale proceeds and local grant applications provided a boost. In the meantime, the garden has made progress.

Amendments to the mayor’s budgets voted through by all opposition councillors has meant that some of the centrally held planning levy money must now be spent on parks and the team are looking to secure some of that. Meanwhile, we chase to get maintenance done efficiently.

THE residents of Ashton Vale are losing the No 23 Bus, the only bus that serves the area. I’ve been lobbying the First Bus director Doug Claringbold and Dan Norris (WECA Mayor) to find a solution. Ashton Vale has a particular problem as double decker buses cannot pass under the BristolPortishead railway bridge on Ashton Drive.

Residents know this well. At a public meeting I organised on February 4 last year, more than 70 residents told me what losing the 24a shuttle bus would mean to them.

The 24a was then replaced with the 23 Bus, but now that’s going residents will have to walk up to half a mile to get home. Ashton

Vale has just one shop and the nearest supermarket, Sainsburys, is a mile away. Residents rely on public transport to meet friends, access health services, go shopping and much more – losing this access will make people’s lives at best difficult, at worst impossible.

Residents have put forward two proposals: modifying the Big Lemon 505 route, or diverting the No 24 down South Liberty Lane to Risdale Road. I shall be meeting Doug Claringbold soon to discuss these options - meanwhile residents can keep up the pressure by writing to Doug to let him know how you feel.

Please make the Ashton Vale community a special case and help us save their vital bus service.

Gary Hopkins and Chris Davies Knowle Community Party councillors for Knowle

Sona Pilates with Leanne Copley

I AM quite well practiced at loading my plate, then having to prioritise what does get done and what I now miss, drop or rearrange. What I find interesting is where the pressure/ expectation comes from and the extra jobs we tag on to the to do list. Does anyone really care if I’ve painted my nails?!

In our attempt to be everything for everyone else, which is often the majority of the ‘to do’ list, we begin to lose ourselves, our motivation can wane and we question what is it all for. I mean honestly, how much of that ‘to do’ list is for you?

So when the list is long and a struggle to prioritise and, if you procrastinate in the overwhelm just like me. Then step back and see what you can learn from this - maybe you have loaded your plate too high, maybe you work better with less pressure, maybe it is not a lack of motivation but more a lack of love for yourself.

Not every day is productive or inspiring but a quick check in with what you need can turn it around. Ensuring your cup is full before the ‘to do’ list drains it further is a great place to start. Fill your cup with Pilates in a friendly group class or a supportive 1:1 here at Sona Pilates and we will help ensure the overwhelm is kept at bay. Find me online and at Bristol Osteopaths, Wells Road. www.sonapilates.com

Bristol City is most environmentally sustainable club

IN August last year, Bristol City launched their sustainability strategy, Project Whitebeam, in partnership with Bristol Bears, Bristol Flyers, Ashton Gate and Bristol Sport, while, just three months later, City also won the Football Supporters’ Association Climate Action Award.

The club is a signatory to the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework and one of only four EFL Clubs who also have Race to Zero targets of cutting Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 50% by 2030 and being net zero by 2040.

Club Director Gavin Marshall said: “We’re pleased to be among the clubs leading change across football. We recognise that we have an impact and are working hard to mitigate that across a number of key areas. Sport clearly has a long way to go but it feels like clubs are finally waking up to the challenge.”

Head of Change and Sustainability Peter Smith added: “This reflects hard work by a lot of people across the club to tackle the challenge holistically and shows we’ve made a good start on Project Whitebeam. However, we all have a long way to go and we’re really keen that everyone – fans, players, staff, sponsors and supplierscome on that journey with us.”

Claire Poole, Founder and CEO of Sport Positive, said: “Across all leagues there are incredible examples of leadership from many EFL clubs. We congratulate Bristol City FC for their efforts so far towards a sustainable future and know they acknowledge there is still a long way to go. Our hope through the publication of the Sport Positive Leagues EFL 2022 Matrix is that we can raise awareness, to empower increased action and ambition in this area.

“Football provides such an incredible platform to drive collection action in tackling the climate crisis, and as the recent IPCC report highlighted, we are running out of time.”

No reception

I WAS in Cornwall the other weekend and there was no signal. I got to fully switch off from the outside world and relax listening to the wave crash against the cliffs below. We swam in the sea (it was extremely cold), barbecued local fish and played board games by the fire.

There are two things I think of about how a weekend like that affects our brain. Number one is pretty obvious, and ironically is something you see a lot talked about on social media. Switching off from the noise of the world and social media is amazing. It’s a big reset and quietens down the mind to allow proper relaxation. No distractions, good food, quality interactions and conversations with others. A wholesome weekend.

Number two is more the opposite. For our conscious mind it’s good to stitch off from the constant dopamine hits. For the subconscious mind though it’s important that it stays connected.

The subconscious mind controls your body. It tells your heart to beat, your lungs to breathe, your stomach to digest. Clear communication and a strong signal between your brain and every cell and organ in your body is essential.

And that is where the true magic of Chiropractic comes in. Besides the fun popping noise and how good it looks on YouTube very important changes happen in your body through the Chiropractic adjustment.

Your brain and body talk to each other through your nerves. Messages are sent down your spinal cord and out through all the nerves to the cells and organs of your body. Adjustments to the spine help remove interference on this pathway so your brain and body can communicate clearly with a strong signal.

Recent research is also backing up the way an adjustment in your spine actually influences how your brain is working too. So an adjustment not only removes interference from your nervous system it also helps balance your brain so the messages in the brain are the right ones, too. Clever stuff and no wonder we see such amazing results in our clinics.

School’s proposed redesign

COMPASS Point Primary in Bedminster is working with local councillors Tessa Fitzjohn (Green) and Mark Bradshaw (Labour) to make South Street a safer environment for children, families and residents.

The school is developing a scheme to improve road safety which will include a disabled bay/ delivery drop off, wider pavements, and a safer crossing point.

The priorities include: Improve safety around the park and school encouraging more people to walk; and ease congestion by allowing vehicles to drop off or make deliveries without obstructing the road. Compass Point has an opportunity to apply for funding to make the plans a reality. However, to help with the bid they would really like your opinions and feedback.

Charles

Herbert, Kasa

Chiro Telephone: 0117 370 2680 www.kasachiro.com

You can complete this short questionnaire until 5 May: https://forms.gle/ GBjyRuF2vv5mJ1i8A

ADVICE FROM A PHARMACIST with Ade Williams

It’s Spring … Time for your booster of the Coronavirus vaccine?

IF you are 75 years and older, resident in a care home for older people, and aged 5 years and over with a weakened immune system, the NHS will offer you a booster of the coronavirus vaccine this spring. Bedminster Pharmacy at 4-6 Cannon Street BS3 1BN will be providing the vaccinations.

Why? It protects against Covid-19 infections that are more severe in older people and people with certain underlying health conditions.

The Spring Booster Campaign runs between April and June. As in previous campaigns, those with the highest risk are

being called in first. The booster should be around six months from your last dose, but you can have it from three months based on your risk.

If you are turning 75 between April and June, you will be called for vaccination during the campaign, you do not have to wait for your birthday.

The vaccines for this campaign have been updated since the original vaccines and target different Covid-19 variants. These updated vaccines boost protection well and give slightly higher antibody levels against the more recent strains of Covid-19 (Omicron) than the vaccines you would have received

previously.

The vaccines are offered to older people who may otherwise respond less well to vaccines and contain an adjuvant (a chemical used to improve the immune response to the virus). This adjuvant is like the one used in the flu vaccine, which is routinely given to over 65-year-olds.

Please accept the vaccination offered to you as soon as possible – you will be provided with the right vaccine at the right time. There is no need to delay vaccination while trying to receive a particular vaccine type.

Please be assured that, as with your previous dose, the common side effects are the same for all Covid-19 vaccines, including the updated vaccines being used this spring.

Pharmacists and other trained healthcare professionals will provide the dose in Bedminster Pharmacy. We will be on hand to offer you support and answer any questions.

How to book? When invited for your booster, you can call NHS 119, book using the NHS App or contact Bedminster Pharmacy for support to book or details of any walk-in opportunities.

As part of the NHS, protecting you is not just our responsibility; your trust in us is a great privilege.

THE BRISTOL SOUTH SPACE PROGRAM

n FROM THE MAYOR’S OFFICE

Bristol’s food banks really need our help

FOOD banks are playing an important part in Bristol’s response to the national cost of living crisis. With food prices continuing to rise, these vital lifelines for low-income households are feeling the impact of the crisis as demand for food is surpassing the number of donations they are receiving, including in South Bristol.

UK food prices are rising at the fastest rate in over 40 years and those on low incomes are most likely to be impacted. In December, 61% of those in the most deprived areas of the UK were buying less food compared with the previous year. Price rises were particularly steep for household essentials like pasta, tea, and bread, while prices for low-fat milk increased by 46% in the year to December.

Price increases like this are

not sustainable for people on low incomes. We have seen throughout this crisis, and particularly during the winter months, that people have been forced to choose between heating their home and putting food on their table. The national government needs to step up given how much of an impact there is on our most vulnerable communities. As one of the richest countries in the world, Britain’s reliance on food banks is worsened by a lack of funding and support for residents, leaving many vulnerable.

Even though we’re in the spring, people are not out of difficulty. This national cost of living crisis is sadly going to continue. Our annual Quality of Life survey revealed that 16% of respondents from deprived areas had experienced food insecurity

in the last 12 months, compared with 8% across Bristol.

In the past few months, food banks have seen a significant rise in people accessing their services, but they’ve also seen a huge decrease in the food and essential item donations they’ve been receiving. In February, South & East Bristol Foodbank gave out almost 11,000 kilograms of food but only received just over 9,000 kilograms in donations.

Donations are vital for food banks, to enable them to support local people who are referred to them in crisis. If the trends continue, it will get more difficult. Food banks’ reserves are running down and many of them are completely out of some items that make up a food bank parcel. In some cases, they have been funding this themselves.

We know that times are tough

for so many but any donations, no matter how much or how little, it really will make a difference. If you can help, donate to South & East Bristol Foodbank online or at their supermarket/community donation points by visiting: eastbristol.foodbank.org.uk/

For more advice with the national cost of living crisis, visit: bristol.gov.uk/costofliving

Bristol’s grazing goats take on a new job

LAST month saw the arrival of a herd of goats who moved into their new home at Hengrove Mounds.

Bristol City Council said it was pleased to welcome these furry, four legged grazers on site as part of a partnership project between urban goat farming collective Street Goat and Avon Wildlife Trust’s My Wild City.

My Wild City, working with Bristol City Council, focusses on eight local wildlife sites across the city, including Hengrove Mounds and Hawkfield Meadow. These wildlife havens will see improvements for nature and visitors, and help reconnect communities with the nature on their doorsteps.

Without grazing animals, grassland habitats like the Hengrove Mounds become overgrown with brambles and trees. As the goats munch away, they are encouraging a greater biodiversity of wildflowers to grow through in the late spring.

Goats are excellent at tackling brambles and scrubland. The way they browse, not eating right to the ground, leaves a mosaic of vegetation, providing perfect over winter protection for a range of insects and small mammals. They also live happily with foxes, badgers and deer, and

are quite light on their cloven hooves so don’t trample much underfoot.

With the help of Street Goat and the community, Bristol City Council maintains wildlife areas like Hengrove Mounds for the benefit of its visitors through natural methods.

In a recent survey by Street Goat, most residents commented on how the goats brought the community together, noting that they chatted to people they otherwise would not have. Children encouraged parents and carers out to see them,

both learning about the care of animals and the landscape around them.

Ian Barrett, Chief Executive of Avon Wildlife Trust who worked with the Council to set up the Wild City Project, says: “Grazing animals, like Street Goat’s goats, are brilliant at maintaining scrub and grassland areas in a way which promotes biodiversity and allows wildflowers to thrive.

“This will support the incredible species which call Hengrove Mounds their home, such as the nationally scarce carrot mining bee.”

The Big Lunch

Join us for a Coronation themed Big Lunch celebration at the Southville Centre on Tuesday 2 May, 1-3pm. Everyone is welcome, with live music, crafts, raffle and photo booth along with a delicious sharing lunch.

Bring food to share if you can. This should be packaged or, if homemade, labelled with all ingredients. If you can’t bring anything there will be plenty to go around. Hot drinks and refreshments provided.

This is a free event but please register your attendance on our Eventbrite page using the QR code provided. If you are unable to register, then give us a call on 0117 9231039 before the event to let us know you are coming.

Bristol Walkfest

Join us for Stroll and Chat, Victoria Park and Windmill Hill on Tuesday 2M ay, 9.30am. Meet at Bridge View Medical on Marksbury Road for a gentle stroll around Victoria Park, having some great chats while we walk. Then we’ll head to Windmill Hill City Farm to look around the grounds and meet some of the animals. We’ll finish up in the cafe for a well-earned rest. If you would like to join us for part of this walk rather than the whole thing, please contact Leanne on 0117 923 1039 or leanne.purton@bs3community. org.uk

Shared Lunch and Free Craft Workshop

Come along to the Quakers Meeting House, Wedmore Vale, Bedminster, on Saturday 13

May, 12–2pm, where we will be sharing food and making new friends. There will also be a craft workshop from The Crafty Social Club.

Bring some food to share if you can. Please make sure food is packaged or, if homemade, labelled with all ingredients. If

you are unable to bring anything, come along anyway, there will be plenty to share, and hot drinks will be provided.

For more information, please contact Leanne on 0117 923 1039 or leanne.purton@ bs3community.org.uk

n WHAT’S ON

The South Bristol Arts Trail returns to BS3 this September

SATURDAY 23 and Sunday 24

September will see the streets of BS3 filled to the brim with creativity and, Bristol artists, the event really needs you!

The South Bristol Arts Trail gives the public a wonderful opportunity to meet artists, purchase locally created artwork and admire the talent within our local community. From churches to cafés, your

kitchen or back garden, the homes and community venues of Ashton, Bedminster and Southville will be open for one weekend only. Join the celebration of our local area and apply today. Whether you’re a sculpture artist, ceramicist, sketcher or singer, the organisers would love you to be a part of the South Bristol Arts Trail 2023. Applications are now open to

‘Bad Dad’ is coming to get you!

DAVID Walliams ‘Bad Dad’ is coming to Bedminster.

This outdoor theatre production by Heartbreak Productions tells the heartwarming and fast-paced story of a boy called Frank, whose dad Gilbert is thrown into prison for driving a get-away car in a bank robbery. Frank hatches a plan to break his father out of prison to return the money, but will they succeed?

“We are so excited to bring Heartbreak Productions and this incredible David Walliams play to Bristol,” said producer Jacqui Ham, “so come and join us on this thrilling adventure.”

The open-air adaptation of ‘Bad Dad’ is an ideal summer family outing. So pack your picnics, bring something to sit on, and join Frank and Gilbert as they navigate their way through car chases and convicts in the struggle to escape the clutches of the local crime lord and clear Gilbert’s name

The production is on Thursday June 15 at 6.30pm. Tickets are available at tinyurl.com/Bad-Dad-Bristol

trade, perform or exhibit for the weekend. Find the full details and apply at southbristolarts.co.uk

Applications are open to all Bristol artists; whether you’re a prolific potter or new to Bristol’s creative scene, they would love to welcome you to join us. Apply by Sunday 4 June.

Any questions? Email Fiona: contactus@southbristolarts.co.uk

Pictures courtesy of: Lisa Whiting

n WICKED WITCH In witch it’s mission impossible

“You OK in there?” called the voice from outside the toilet door. “Yes, just coming,” I replied, desperately chucking bleach down the loo, scrubbing soap scum from the basin and giving the mirror a quick polish.

I am at my parent’s flat which is a little bit mucky, it really needs a good deep clean which Dad insists he will do “in slow time”.

This timescale is measured at a pace slower than a meandering slug. Although not the super slug that is messing with my mind back at home.

There is a slug that is somehow getting into my saucepan cupboard, I pulled out a frying

The next day this super slug landed on the kitchen worktop where a fabulous time was had speeding around my wooden chopping board. I truly believe this slug teleports in and out of my house, there’s no other explanation.

Back at the flat I pottered in my parent’s kitchen, feet sticking to the lino, and put the kettle on. The fridge has an odd odour, and the cups need to be washed again. They have a girl that comes most mornings just to make sure Mum is dressed and drugs taken.

She spends most of the time on her mobile apparently. There’s no point asking her to have a whip round with a cloth as my parents would never allow it. I try to clean

by stealth.

I sprayed Flash into the fridge just as Mum popped her head around the door and asked accusingly “what are you doing?”. “Looking for the milk” my reply is muffled as I try and hide the cleaning product while discreetly placing a festering plate of something horrible into a waste bag. “Hey” she challenges “I was saving that”. It’s mission impossible.

I give up and go chatter to my parents. I should be spending this precious time talking with them and laughing, the cleaning is not important.

Mum has new hearing aids so our conversations should be nice and easy.

Dad sorted them privately at the cost of a small island. She already had hearing aids that were never worn but Dad is convinced this was because they were too big and she was embarrassed.

The new aids look exactly the same as the old but I don’t question it.

I pass Mum a mug of steaming tea and ask “how’s the fancy new hearing aids?” She looks at me with questioning eyes and just as I take a sip from my own cup, she leans forward and says “pardon?”

Tea splutters from my nose and we all laugh until we can’t breathe and I thank the Universe for the power of humour because without it we are all doomed.

tickets to HowTheLightGetsIn festival!

Win

HowTheLightGetsIn is back for its biggest year yet on May 26-29. The world’s largest music and philosophy festival, HTLGI celebrates days of discussion and new discoveries with an incredible line-up of music, comedy and cabaret in the literary town of Hay-on-Wye.

Headlining this year’s festival will be Mercury Prize nominee Anna Meredith, Welsh Music Prize winner Gruff Rhys and Belle & Sebastian (DJ), plus talks from world-leading thinkers including Slavoj Zizek, Billy Bragg, Fiona Hill and Esther Freud.

We’ve teamed up with the festival to offer readers the chance to win one of two pairs of weekend tickets.

To enter, simply email news@southbristolvoice.co.uk, putting ‘Competition’ as the subject line, telling us what prize Gruff Rhys won. The deadline for entries is midnight on Thursday, May 18.

Emily returns to the harbour after a major overhaul

ONE of the oldest and most charming boats in Bristol’s harbour has returned to the water after a major revamp.

Ferryboat Emily, of the iconic yellow and blue Bristol Ferry Boats, has been out of action for almost three years, since the beginning of the pandemic.

Now nearing her 100th birthday, it was time for Emily to undergo a refurbishment, as is done with all boats in the fleet, every year. This helps keep the boats looking their best and ensures they are in top condition for carrying passengers.

Carrie Browne, Operations Manager, said: “It’s been fantastic to give a new lease of life to one of our oldest and most popular boats. We have replaced her engine, given her a fresh coat of paint, replaced areas of wood and fitted new glass into her windows. We’ve also installed a new, more efficient propellor and given her a full deep clean ready for the new season.

“Perhaps the most significant change has been to lower the floor and remove some of the roof to increase headroom, which has given her the slight appearance of a beautiful Venice water taxi. She is now in tip top condition and ready for passengers wanting to enjoy the sights of the Bristol Harbour for the next 100 years.”

Originally built in Bideford in 1927, and known as Heather Spray, the boat was acquired by Bristol Ferry in 1992 as their first enclosed vessel and renamed Emily.

The annual maintenance of boats; and use of historic boatbuilding knowledge for wooden vessels is a timely and costly process, which usually takes place at The Underfall Yard in Hotwells. Emily’s overhaul took 10 months and was a labour of love by specialist boatbuilder and maintenance manager John Raymond-Barker.

He said: “Emily has to be the prettiest boat in our fleet, to see her now as a semi-open boat really suits her proportions and makes her a fantastic boat for parties and day trips.

“To see her out on the water again makes me incredibly proud of the achievement and I’m looking forward to seeing her bring pleasure to passengers for many more years to come.”

Protecting green spaces

AS part of the response to the expected human population growth across BS3 and the continuing decline of wild animals and nature, the BS3 Wildlife Group has started conversations with allotment associations and park support groups in Greater Bedminster. Most of the larger spaces have support groups and these are already looking at how they can maintain their range of community activities such as sport, children’s play and an opportunity for everyone to enjoy the sight of trees on your doorstep with the promotion of better habitats for insects, birds and wild mammals.

The wildlife aspects of these plans will make these spaces an important part of the emerging Greater Bedminster Urban Nature Reserve alongside hundreds of community and domestic gardens.

However, some of the smaller spaces, eg Gores Marsh Park, Luckwell Park and North Street Green seem not to have a support group. In the case of Gores Marsh, we are already talking to locals to put that right, but we need your help.

If we are to reach our goal of a strong, local support group for every public green space in BS3, we need people to come forward and do their bit. If you are a doer rather than a watcher, please contact us at mywildbedminster@virginmedia.com. We can put you in touch with existing support groups and work with you to establish new ones.

We are also talking to some church and school groups about how their green spaces can be developed to protect wildlife. It’s much better when lots of people do little things rather than expecting a few people to do lots.

A new hub for local business

BRISTOL is an ever-evolving city and Bristol City Council wants to make sure that, as the city changes, so do the opportunities available to help people and communities flourish. We have some incredible innovators and forward-thinkers in our city whose enterprise creates jobs and delivers valuable returns for the local economy.

Bristol City Council says it is an administration that supports local business and seeks opportunities to support inclusive and sustainable growth. This is why they have chosen to regenerate the site at 601 Whitchurch Lane and build Whitchurch Lane Enterprise Park.

The development will provide a hub for new and expanding South Bristol businesses, creating a dynamic space focused on enterprise and offering economic opportunities in the area. Mayor Marvin Rees recently visited the site and met the construction team from Bray and Slaughter to find out more about how the site will look when it’s completed this summer.

Whitchurch Lane Enterprise Park will comprise 14 light industrial units, which are due to be available to lease from summer 2023. It will provide key sectors of the South Bristol economy –such as construction, creative and media, engineering and small manufacturing – with modern and environmentally efficient workspaces. The West of England Growth Hub will offer support to businesses taking out leases on the new units, helping them to innovate, grow and thrive.

Bristol City Council wants to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) at crucial stages of their development, whether this be from the very beginning or when a business is ready to ‘grow on’ and increase its output. They have identified that there is a shortage of available sites for SMEs in Bristol, particularly regarding the availability of modern premises, in accessible areas, to meet current demand. The site at Whitchurch Lane offers close proximity to Metrobus bus stops and cycling routes.

By encouraging SME businesses to grow at Whitchurch Lane Enterprise Park, Bristol City Council will help to create jobs in a location next to some of the most socio-economically disadvantaged communities in the region. It is also close to the major new housing development at Hengrove Park.

Marvin Rees says he is working in partnership with the West of England Combined Authority to complete the project at Whitchurch Lane, and they are part-funding the work with a grant of £5.17million. The European Regional Development Fund is also part-funding the project, providing a grant of £1.4million as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020.

Marvin goes on to say: “Together with this investment and support, we will strengthen South Bristol’s economy and help local businesses to thrive.”

n WHAT’S ON

Theatre, comedy and so much more for all the family

Tuesday, 2 May, 11.30am. Stroll & Chat. Meet at Bridge View Medical on Marksbury Road. The group will be taking a gentle stroll around Victoria Park, taking in the sights and hopefully having some great chats while walking. Then heading over to Windmill Hill City Farm to look around the grounds and meet some of the animals. They will finish in the cafe. Part of bristolwalkfest.com

3-6 May, Bristol Hippodrome, ‘Fisherman’s Friends’. The true story of the Cornish chart topping buoy band. Based on the hit 2019 movie, ‘Fisherman’s Friends’ is a feel-good voyage about friendship, community and music. When a group of Cornish fishermen came together to sing the traditional working songs they’d sung for generations, nobody, least of all the fishermen, expected the story to end on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury.

Saturday, 6 May, Tobacco Factory Theatre, ‘Sexy Brain’ with Tiff Stevenson. Criticallyacclaimed stand up comedian, writer and actor Tiff Stevenson (‘Mock the Week’, ‘People Just Do Nothing’, ‘The Office’) invites you to spend an hour with a woman and her selfdiagnosed ‘Sexy Brain’... A study in trying to see all sides of every argument and driving yourself slowly mad in the process. ‘Sexy Brain’ was one of Edinburgh Festival Fringe’s Best Reviewed shows of 2022.

Tuesday, 9 May, 10.30am, South Bristol Parks walk. Meet at the entrance to Temple Meads station for a free four-mile circular walk visiting Sparke Evans, Arnos Court, Redcatch, Perrett’s

Ensuring theatre is accessible for everyone

What do we mean when we talk about theatre and the arts being more accessible?

This is a huge topic and probably not one I can fully discuss within my blog and word count! But as recent productions in Bristol such as ‘Animal ‘at the Tobacco Factory and ‘Waldos Circus of Magic and Terror’ at the Bristol Old Vic have raised, it’s a hugely important one and one which I wanted to highlight.

Accessible theatre refers to theatre productions that are designed to be inclusive and welcoming to people with disabilities. This can include audio descriptions, sign language interpretation, captioning, relaxed performances and accessible seating.

Theatre has the power to entertain, inform

and Victoria parks. There are extensive views across the city, and the route passes many notable buildings, old and new. It is mostly on pavements and tarmac paths, but there are some steep slopes. Part of bristolwalkfest.com

Tuesday 16 May, St Anne’s House, Brislington. Inspiring Women Series: Music and Health. Two emerging musical artists discuss their health journeys, with cancer and endometriosis respectively, amid emerging stardom. Holysseus Fly is a solo artist, vocalist and pianist from the critically acclaimed group Ishmael Ensemble. Ella Joy is a visual and audio creator who can be found touring the world with Grove. This is a free event organised by Bristol Women’s Voice. Refreshments provided. For details: headfirstbristol.co.uk/#date=202305-16&event_id=88823

Wednesday, 24 May, Ashton Vale Litter Pick. Ashton Vale Together organise regular litter picks. The next one meets at 10am at the community garden by the bridge to pick litter on Swiss Road, Swiss Drive and Swiss Close, as well as Sanders Close. Litter pickers, bags and hi-vis vests are provided, but please bring your own gloves. All welcome.

25-27 May, Tobacco Factory Theatre, ‘Beautiful Thing’. South East London, 1993.

Section 28 is in the schools and the HIV/AIDS crisis has gripped the media, but in three flats on the scrappy Thamesmead Estate, something small and beautiful is beginning to grow… Performed by Bristol School of Acting’s graduating Stage and Screen degree students. Dogs Trust’s Dog School offers expert advice and practical training to help you and your pooch understand each other better. They run four-week courses specifically catered to puppies, adolescents or adult dogs for just £65. Our classes in Headley Park, Pucklechurch, St George and Henbury. Sign up here: dogstrust. org.uk/dog-advice/dog-school

Every Monday - Folks & Bairns: Parent and Baby Choir - from 11.30am-12.30pm at St Michael & All Angels Church, Windmill Hill.

Every Monday - The Rising Sun Singers - from 2-3pm, at St Michael & All Angels Church, Windmill Hill.

Every Tuesday - People of Note Choir - from 7.30-9.30pm, at St Paul’s Church, Southville.

1st June - 3rd June Bristol Quilters

Exhibition……Quiltfest! Thursday 1st June , Friday 2nd June 10am to 5pm, Saturday 3rd June 10am to 4pm. Admission £3 Children free. At Redland Hall, Redmaids’ High School, Westbury Rd, BS93AW

Quilts, sales table, refreshments plus more

The Theatre and Entertainment Luvver

and inspire, and it is important that everyone has the opportunity to experience it. Moreover, accessible theatre can also help to challenge stereotypes and increase awareness of disability issues. By showcasing stories that are inclusive of characters and actors with disabilities, theatre can help to break down barriers and promote understanding and empathy.

Another important aspect of accessible theatre is casting actors and performers with disabilities. This can help to increase visibility and representation of all people in the arts and can also provide opportunities for all actors to showcase their talents and skills.

It is important to note that making theatre accessible is not just a matter of complying

with the equality act, but also of creating a welcoming and inclusive environment.

Accessible theatre is an important and necessary aspect of creating a truly inclusive Bristol. By ensuring that theatre productions are accessible to us all, we can help to break down barriers, challenge stereotypes, and promote understanding and empathy.

We all have a role to play in creating a more accessible and inclusive society, and accessible theatre is a vital part of this journey.

Jacqui Ham

Holysseus Fly

Ella Joy

Partially sighted Maddie overcomes the odds

AFTER experiencing neglect, Maddie the French bulldog had completely shut down and feared people, but a dose of love – along with the right vet treatment –transformed this scared little dog into a little love bug.

Maddie was removed from her previous owner as part of a prosecution case by the local authority. She arrived underweight, suffering with chronic eye conditions in both her eyes and various other medical issues. She was terrified of people, to the point where she was almost completely shut down.

She spent over a year with the Bristol Animal Rescue Centre on Albert Road as the case proceeded, during which time she received complex treatment for her painful eye conditions, as well as support from Bristol ARC’s behaviour team to learn to trust people and once signed over she had an operation to remove one of her eyes. Following much-needed care and rehabilitation, she’s doing so much better and has even starting to

enjoy cuddles!

“Maddie was very scared and confused when she first arrived here and it took a long time for her to be able to trust people,” said her carer Rachel. “Once she had received treatment for her medical issues and started to feel safe around us, she came out of her shell. She didn’t cope very well in kennels, so she started spending quite a lot of time with our reception team in the office during

the day, and that’s when we started seeing her quirky personality come to life. She is now very playful and can be quite the diva when she wants to be.”

Maddie is just one of many animals who arrive at Bristol Animal Rescue Centre with significant medical issues.

“Many pets are going without urgent medical care, particularly during the cost of living crisis and unfortunately we are picking

up the pieces,” explained Jodie Hayward, Animal Home Manager at Bristol Animal Rescue Centre. “More animals are coming into our care with complex needs, and fewer people want to adopt them. We need support to give more of them a second chance at a happy life.” Please donate to Bristol Animal Rescue Centre’s Spring Appeal to help more vulnerable animals like Maddie: bristolarc.org.uk/donate/ raise-money/spring-appeal/

Work to begin on University of Bristol’s new campus

WORK on the University of Bristol’s new Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus – a total investment of around £500 million - will get underway next month after the University signed contracts with construction company Sir Robert McAlpine.

Opening in 2026, the campus at Cattle Market Road, next to Temple Meads Station, will enhance the University of Bristol’s reputation as a global destination for worldleading research, education and innovation.

The site will be home to 4,600 students and 650 university staff who will come together with business and community partners to tackle some of the world’s greatest challenges. Residential accommodation on Temple Island will provide living space for around 900 students.

At the heart of the campus, on the site of the former Royal Mail sorting office, a 38,000sqm academic building

will be home to the University’s Business School, digital engineering research groups, Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, the Quantum Technologies Innovation Centre and provide dedicated facilities for enterprise and community partners.

Plans for the site were revised in light of the pandemic, which not only paused the development due to its impact on the construction trade, but also shaped the University’s vision for the campus. As a result, timelines have been adjusted and some of the spaces in the main building have been redesigned to allow greater flexibility and digital innovation for the future.

Professor Evelyn Welch, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Bristol, said: “Today really is a landmark day – not just for the University of Bristol but for the city as a whole. The Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus has been designed to meet the needs and nurture the

aspirations of our students, staff and partners across the city and the wider region. It provides outstanding facilities to build on our collective strengths in research, innovation, learning and societal change. We are delighted to be working with Sir Robert McAlpine to bring these new facilities to life.”

Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol, said: “Temple Quarter will help deliver even more of the sustainable homes, innovation, jobs, and infrastructure that Bristol needs, including for the communities in and around the regeneration area. Delivering the University of Bristol’s new Enterprise Campus will help our city continue to strengthen its position at the centre of our regional economy. This is another milestone for Temple Quarter, after we secured £95 million last year to help transform Temple Meads. Our landmark investment will help to unlock 22,000 new jobs and 10,000 new homes in this part of

our city – bringing a £1.6 billion annual boost to Bristol.”

Dan Norris, Metro Mayor for the West of England, said: “This is another important step on the way to the regeneration of Temple Quarter - bringing muchneeded new homes for Bristol residents and creating new jobs for our skilled workers. The University of Bristol’s Enterprise Campus is a key part of these plans – bringing together the West of England’s brightest and best thinkers and businesses all under one roof and enhancing Bristol’s reputation as a global destination for innovation and strengthening our West of England region’s role as an economic powerhouse. After so many years of talking about hopes and aspirations for the area, this is another step along the way creating that fitting gateway to Bristol, and the West of England – one which will make our region an even better place to live, work and thrive.”

Picture: Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios

On frogs and dogs

Ben Barker, Secretary BS3 Wildlife Group

Most of us don’t often think about frogs, but, as the Greater Bedminster Urban Nature Reserve (GBUNR) develops, we’ve been looking at where the frogs and toads live. It’s not in the public parks. Until recently, Bristol Parks have had a firm policy of not allowing ponds in parks. No ponds, no amphibians.

Fortunately, this policy has

been relaxed somewhat and a new pond, with a fence, appeared in Greville Smyth Park a couple of years ago. Frog spawn has been spotted and we’ll soon know if there are tadpoles.

But frogs, toads and sometimes newts are often in domestic gardens. Many of the gardens already registered with GBUNR contain ponds of one sort or another. It’s not just amphibians which benefit. Dragonflies and some beetles

need water to breed in and ponds offer drinking and bathing opportunities to many creatures.

Ashton Court has 15 ponds but there’s a dog issue. Dogs like a dip in the warm weather, however, they are often injected with chemicals to eliminate fleas and this chemical contaminates pond water and gradually eliminates all insects and amphibians.

We are pressing BCC to

designate some ponds for dogs or build new ones and to fence off other ponds so that amphibians and other creatures can thrive. The rarest newt in England is the Great Crested. It was last reported in Ashton Court in 2019. We are not sure if it’s still there.

Find out more about GBUNR and how you can help by emailing us at mywildbedminster@ virginmeda.com

Common frog. Picture: Sarah Doyley

Broadwalk development

SBV issue 88 contained an article on its front page about the Broadwalk. The article was entirely written from the point of view of those in favour of the redevelopment (as currently proposed). It failed to include anything that might give an alternative view – and therefore give balance. The article also included what amounts to a defamatory comment about the local Labour group. The SBV made no attempt to contact us about this before publication.

Knowle Labour Party members are deeply concerned about the ongoing behaviour of the two Knowle Community Party councillors. They often make wildly inaccurate and at times insulting comments about local residents. We would ask them to desist from doing this from this point on and for the rest of their terms in office. We would also ask the SBV to seek balance in the articles it publishes, both on grounds of good journalism and to ensure that it maintains a readership in the Knowle area of the city.

Derrick Williams, Secretary, Knowle Labour Party

Keep balloon industry in UK

I am greatly disturbed to learn that the UK is considering employing highaltitude, intelligence-gathering balloons imported from the USA without giving British industry even an inquiry.

Our company is the world’s leading manufacturer of all types of balloons. Although much of our production is of hot air balloons, we have constructed high altitude balloons for records and research and long duration balloons. For example, we are the only balloon-maker to have achieved manned circumnavigation of the earth by balloon. We have done that three times with craft that weigh over seven tons at take-off.

I am sure we are better qualified than any US start-up. We are able to manufacture the best equipment but also will honestly give the best advice on the practicality of any application. It seems a pity to go overseas for something which has the world’s best expertise in the UK.

Don Cameron, Director of Cameron Balloons, Bedminster