CHIS News

CHIS IS 41 YEARS OLD THIS YEAR!
The following news items are listed with the latest items first.

Forthcoming events summary

More details further down this page. See CHIS events too.

Late Spring Observatory tree clearance Consultation caravan (discussion at Downs Committee 29 March 4:30)
Second Sunday every month: Gardening Working Party. contact info@friendsofbrandonhill.org for more information
3 August: Repairs on Bridge Valley Road started in March and were only meant to last a month, however they could now stretch until January 2011. The retaining wall bowed out an unacceptable amount and now tenders will have to go out to specialist engineers to stitch the rocks, fill in part of the Port and Pier Railway tunnel number 2. Expenditure will have to be approved at Cabinet in September when detailed design has been received. The Gorge also has rare flora here. It is likely to cost £2.2 million to reopen, or £2.05 just to make safe. Maggie was privileged to go into the tunnel (as an industrial archaeologist) for a feature on the news along with Gary Hopkins the councillor in charge of transport, and Phil Lloyd who has looked after the Gorge for the last 30 years

Gary being interviewed on Points west inside the tunnel
Fitting sign to entrance of tunnel 1
There are two tunnels between the Suspension Bridge- built in 1863, the Port and Pier Railway was closed in 1921 to build the Portway. The Hotwells station was north of the Suspension Bridge.
Tunnel 1 is 73 yards long and after closure of the railway was used to store Council records and Museum and Art gallery treasures during WWII
Tunnel 2 only about 30 yards away is 175 yards long and used as a WWII shelter. This was the tunnel that the BBC wanted to use but refused- which is why they ended up in Clifton Rocks Railway
16 July: Consultation regarding pedestrianisation of Boyces Avenue ends.
The zone is currently proposed to operate between the hours of 10am and 6pm, Monday to Sunday. Bollards will be raised during these times to prevent vehicular access. Bicycles will also be prohibited during these hours. Loading and parking in the zone will only be possible outside of these hours, though loading bays will also be introduced in the area, one on Victoria Square and one on Clifton Down Road.
19 Aug: proposals to carry out footway repairs in Princess Victoria St have been confirmed, local Councillors informed and an information leaflet to affected properties is to be delivered within the next few days. The proposals are to carry out necessary repairs from the junction with Clifton Down Road and The Mall. On the southern side of the street the works will terminate outside No 35. The repairs will entail replacing the poor insitu concrete surfaces with small module concrete paving, similar to that used throughout Clifton and the City.
If you have any general enquiries please do not hesitate to contact me. Yours faithfully Phil Harrison, Highways Technician, City Development, Brunel House BS1 5UY
Two separate schemes detailed. The first is part of the Cycling City and Connect2 Projects to construct a new pedestrian and cycling facility around the outside of Brunel Lock Road. We are working in partnership with the Arnolfini in their development of a Ballast Seed Garden on the site.
The second scheme is a pedestrian improvement on Hotwell Road, involving the moving of the railings along the harbour side to widen this busy route. We would be most appreciative if your members were able to comment on these proposals to the email addresses detailed in the document, or alternatively, to telephone us to discuss the schemes with us.
Jon Usher Project Officer, Infrastructure Transport Service Bristol City Council Traffic Management Wilder House Wilder Street Bristol BS2 8PH Tel: 0117 90 36676
29 July: end of consultation of licensing of tables and chairs on pavements! Results presented in October
9 August: Enforement of double parking (parking more than 50 cm from the kerb) begins - see flier
1 Sept 7pm: Neighbourhood Forum (was PACT), New Hall (use first side entrance from college Rd/Clifton Park Rd), Clifton High School 7pm
11,12 September: Doors Open Day
11,12 September: Bristol Green Doors project planned, to support and improve sustainable energy efficient homes in Bristol. Selected homes will be opened to the public. Some of the homes will be in Clifton.
05 Oct 2010 19:00 Neighbourhood Partnership - Cabot, Clifton and Clifton East Minutes from 13 July
13 October: Hotwells, Clifton and Cliftonwood Local History Society, Create Centre at 7:30pm. £2.50 entrance includes a drink. Shirley Hodgson will talk abou vagrant children; report on the Strangers Burial Ground; report on the Portway Tunnel; Ballast Seed project. Phone 0117 9277157 or email suestops@aol.com.
16/17 October: West Bristol Arts Trail
8 Dec 7pm: Neighbourhood Forum (was PACT), New Hall (use first side entrance from college Rd/Clifton Park Rd), Clifton High School 7pm

Site Allocations and Development Management Options

Bristol City Council wants to involve you in considering the future use of land in Bristol and would like your input into the Site Allocations and Development Management Options Document. Consultation on this document starts on Monday 14th June. Comments can be submitted until 5pm on 29th October 2010.

All documents, including sustainability appraisal information, will be available on our website (supported by interactive mapping and an on-line questionnaire) (see:www.bristol.gov.uk/siteallocations). Paper copies of the Options Document will be available to view in local libraries and customer service points from Wednesday 16th June.

This document builds upon the Call for Sites which many people contributed to in autumn 2008, and sets out draft proposals for allocating land to meet the city's development requirements up to 2026 as set out in the submitted Core Strategy (see www.bristol.gov.uk/bdf). Different options for the use of potential development sites are identified for comment. A variety of uses are proposed across the city, including housing, business, industry, mixed-use and Gypsy and Travellers' residential sites.

In addition, the document proposes to designate land within the city for a number of different uses. These designations propose to protect or safeguard land, for example, for important open space, industry and warehousing, nature conservation or transport infrastructure, or where specific policies apply, such as to town, district and local centres.

The final section of the document presents ideas for new Development Management policies which will give detailed guidance on issues to be taken into account when planning decisions are made.

We have arranged a series of drop-in events in each of the Neighbourhood Partnership Areas around the city for people to come along to. Parks Officers will also be at these drop-ins to answer questions about the Area Green Space Plans which will be consulted on during the same period (see www.bristol.gov.uk/agsp). The drop-in events will run from Midday until 8 pm on the following days, and further drop-in events are currently being arranged in a central location:

01 Sept The Vassell Centre, Fishponds, BS16 2QQ
02 Sept Arnos Manor Hotel, 470 Bath Road, Arnos Vale, BS4 3HQ
06 Sept The Gatehouse Centre, Hareclive Road, BS13 9JN
13 Sept Redland Parish Church Hall, Redland Green Road, BS6 7HE
15 Sept Portway Rugby Development Centre, The Portway, Sea Mills, BS9 2HS
20 Sept Trinity Henleaze United Reform Church, Waterford Rd, BS9 4BT
22 Sept Salvation Army Hall, Hassell Drive, Lawrence Hill, BS2 0AN
27 Sept Greenway Centre, Doncaster Road, Southmead, BS10 5PY
29 Sept Southville Centre, The Beauley Room, Beauley Road, BS3 1QG
04 Oct Rose Green Sports/Leisure Centre, 65 Gordon Road, Whitehall, BS5 7DR

Comments can be submitted via our on-line questionnaire. You may also wish to suggest additional policies or sites.

Website:www.bristol.gov.uk/siteallocations E-mail:bdf@bristol.gov.uk Freepost:Site Allocations (CD/BH) Freepost BS6529 BRISTOL BS1 5BR Telephone: 0117 903 6725 This is an important opportunity for you to influence the future of your area and we look forward to hearing from you. Yours faithfully
Sarah O'Driscoll, Service Manager, Strategic Planning, Strategic Planning Team, City Development, Bristol City Council, 0117 90 36725 www.bristol.gov.uk/bdf

Easter Garden, High Street

30 Jun 2010:RESIDENTS leapt to the defence of a community garden in Clifton when a landowner arrived unexpectedly and tried to fence part of it off. Up to 40 people warned off three men who had arrived to erect a two-metre high fence around a section of Easter Garden, which is between Wesley Place and High Street, just off Blackboy Hill. People living in the area say they have established the right to use the site as a garden over the years and insist the sloping plot full of plants is protected by planning laws.
The attempt to erect the fence was then abandoned and Mr Singh, who is based in Enfield, London, has now been advised by the city council to outline his plans for the site. Ilse Hambrook, secretary of the Friends of Easter Garden, said she was pleased Mr Singh had been unable to block off part of the land, which has a right of way running through it. She said: "This is not a simple case of 'I own the land so I can put a fence around it'. "This land has a 14-year history of stop orders and secretary of state decisions. The council and police have told Mr Singh to go through the planning process in order to get anywhere. "I doubt he will get planning permission on the land."
28 Oct 2009: Easter Garden being targeted again! The solicitors are on the case again, and Bristol City Council and CHIS also support this award winning community garden. Do become a friend and support them.
For Sale By Public Auction Wednesday 28TH October 2009 Price Guide £38, 000+ A freehold site with development potential. The land is situated in a residential area close to the intersection of Whiteladies Road and Upper Belgrave Road. The plot has main road frontage to Wesley Place and the High Street to the rear. In June 1994 planning consent (thus lapsed) was granted for 2 houses (planning ref no. 93/02302/F). We are advised in September of the same year, planning was granted for use as a community wildlife garden.

First Hovercraft under Suspension Bridge

On 22 May, 10 light hovercraft and the Portishead Lifeboat went in convoy up the Avon from Shirehampton to Bath Road Bridge with the Lord Mayor on board. This was in aid of the Portishead Lifeboard Trust www.justgiving.com/hovercraft. This was the first time a hovercraft had ever passed under the Suspension bridge

Just past the bridge

hovering on the bank

POLICY FOR REGULATING THE PLACING OF TABLES AND CHAIRS ON THE HIGHWAY

There is shortly to be a 6 week consultation with the following persons:-
(a) Avon and Somerset Police
(b) Holders of Premises licenses under the Licensing Act 2003
(c) Local residents groups
(d) Local business representatives

In Clifton village for example, the arrangement of tables and chairs outside of some licensed premises has created difficulties for wheelchair users. Aesthetically it is also noticeable that the increase in the variety of street furniture being used by traders does not always contribute to the street scene.

Any consultation responses be reported to a meeting of the Licensing Special Purposes Sub Committee convened to consider the adoption of policy with a view to it taking effect from 1 July 2010

Issue of Permissions: A permission will be issued for a maximum period of twelve months. All permissions will expire, unless renewed, by the date specified in the permission. If a cheque for a permission fee renewal is dishonoured by a bank this will result in the revocation of the permission unless payment of the outstanding fees is made within 5 working days.
The council has arranged for its Licensing Committee and/or delegated officers to deal with matters relating to the granting of permission to place tables and chairs on the highway.
Fees will be set to reflect the cost of operating the scheme and will be reviewed on an annual basis.
A clear pedestrian route shall be maintained for those walking past the premises. This should preferably be adjacent to the kerb to ensure that most pedestrians and particularly those with visual impairments can maintain their regular route. There should normally be a minimum width of 1.8 metres. Emergency exits from adjacent buildings must not be obstructed by the seating area.

Clifton Conservation Area Character Appraisal

Signed off 19 July 2010. Special thanks have been acknowledged for the support of CHIS.. Bristol City Council's Urban Design & Conservation Team have produced a Character Appraisal for the Clifton Conservation Area. A Character Appraisal is a document that outlines the significance and special interest of a Conservation Area; it details the features that make that specific area unique. It is one of the documents that guides and informs planning policy for an area.
Available on-line www.bristol.gov.uk/conservationareas (follow link to Character Appraisal page) or hard copies are available on request for £35 (100 pages and maps). A copy will be available in Clifton library.

Bristol currently has 33 Conservation Areas, and the city council has a statutory duty to review their character, special interest and boundaries.

Since 2006 the city council has committed to undertake a full review of Bristol's existing 33 Conservation Areas, through the production of a Character Appraisal and set of Management Proposals for each area. Character Appraisals are a record of features that will inform sound decisions on the future management of the area.

To date, the following Character Appraisals have been adopted:

Stokes Croft (adopted 12 October 2007)
Kingsdown (adopted 31 March 2008)
Portland Square (adopted 31 March 2008)
Redcliffe (adopted 31 March 2008)
Old Market (adopted 31 March 2008)
St Michael's Hill and Christmas Steps (adopted 14 January 2009)
Montpelier (adopted 14 January 2009)
City and Queen Square (adopted 14 January 2009)

Alice Roberts

Alice gave a fantastic, popular talk "The Incredible Human Journey" on 13 October.

Green belt development

Evening Post
Concerned residents and campaigners packed Bedminster Down School hall last night for a meeting to discuss the controversial Ashton Park plan. In the next few months, North Somerset District and Bristol City councils will consider an outline planning application for a plan to build about 9,500 new homes and other facilities in Ashton Vale over the next 20 years. Also within the plan for the area between the A38 at Dundry and the A370 Long Ashton bypass are shops and offices, a leisure centre, a new secondary school and as many as six new primary schools. The Government has said thousands of new homes will be needed in the Bristol area as part of the Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS). And although the RSS has not yet been ratified nationally, council planners could make a provisional decision on the Ashton Park plans in January.

Dundry Residents Action Group (DRAG) chairwoman Debbie Nicholls said: "This is not going to be a fairy tale come true. This is going to be a nightmare for at least 20 years."
The Bedminster Down and Uplands Society (BDUS) and its friends paid for the hire of the school hall and, with DRAG, organised the meeting. BDUS chairwoman Diana Porter said: "We are convinced that this represents the greatest threat yet to destroying our local landscape forever." The majority of the land in question is owned or controlled by the Land Trust.
John Baker, of project manager Baker Associates, told the audience this amount of new homes would be needed in the future and this was the nearest suitable land to the city centre. Mr Baker outlined the transport infrastructure that would be provided, including a rapid transit bus route and a link road from the A370 to the A38. He also said green spaces would be kept and a new energy plant would use waste to create power for the development.
But questioning the figures given for future housing needs, Jill Britten, who runs an organic beef farm in Whitchurch, said: "Is there nobody in this world that sees sense?"
Chris Pope, 61, of Dundry Lane, said: "People living round here today will be expected to live in the middle of a building site for the next 20 years if this plan gets the go-ahead."
Other residents were concerned where the jobs would come from for people living in Ashton Park. Mr Baker responded: "The continued growth of Bristol will bring employment into Bristol and the housing will support that."
Peter Crispin, of the Ashton Vale Heritage Group, said: "We are being fobbed off by the idea that you can have a development like this and it's not going to create any more traffic."
Other fears were raised about drainage and flood risks and increased crime. Chairing the meeting, Bristol City Council's Conservative party leader Richard Eddy said the RSS should be "abolished" and said the amount of houses it has earmarked for the region is "unsustainable". Fellow Bishopsworth councillor Kevin Quartley was also at the meeting.
One Bedminster Down resident of 25 years spoke in favour of the proposals. He said apart from the new secondary school, there had been very little investment in the area.
Residents in North Somerset – where 98 per cent of the development would be – have until October 23 to register their opinions. Write to the planning department, North Somerset Council, Somerset House, Oxford Street, Weston-super-Mare, BS23 1TG. Bristol residents can send comments to City Development, Brunel House, St George's Road, Bristol, BS1 5UY.

Suspension Bridge

4 October 09: More maintenance- this time by climbers on the chains

5 April 09: Bristol's Clifton Suspension Bridge was closed on Saturday evening after a crack was found in one of its metal hanging rods. Dorothea Restorations came to the rescue.

undoing the 150 year old stud after supporting the chains	the break can clearly be seen
removing the broken rod	David Anderson the Bridge Master looking at the stud

New Neighbourhood Partnership

www.bristolpartnership.org Next meeting for the Cabot, Clifton and Clifton East Partnership. All welcome www.bristol.gov.uk/meeting
5 October 2010, Council House 7pm-9pm.
This is a chance for you to air your views of Bristol City Council Services For more details contact Ariaf Hussain on (0117) 922318 or email ariaf.hussain@bristol.gov.uk

At the meeting on 2nd March it was resolved that:

pedestrianisation of Boyces Avenue and Kings Road, Tyndalls Park Road and Woodland Road should be progressed as priorities, as would areawide minor signs and road lining
road surface dressing schemes to be implemented in Kingsdown Parade and Cliftonwood Road
footway schemes to be implemented in Princess Victoria Street (to the Mall), Colston Avenue. Cotham Hill, ZigZag path, St Stephens Street, Nelsons Street

Bristol is establishing 14 Neighbourhood Partnerships (NPs) across the city. These will be clusters of two or three wards, ie 20-30K people. A few of these structures are already well established. Most are in their very early stages.

One aim is to provide a mechanism for holding departments of the council, Primary Care Trust, Police etc more accountable for locally delivered services.
A second aim is to involve local people in the identification of priorities and the design, implementation and evaluation of solutions.

This sounds very familiar. For Network groups 'our' department is Planning and 'community involvement' is what we've been banging on about for years with regard to 'early, effective and ongoing involvement in the preparation of all development plans', S106 planning obligations, allocation etc.
The NPs themselves will be drawn from local residents (in practice that usually means local organisations), local businesses and elected representatives, ie councillors. These, hopefully, will build productive links with officers paid to deliver services in particular areas. It's early days yet, but the talk is of a transfer of some budgets to these bodies and that they will become significant players in determining 'neighbourhood' agendas. Some even talk of 'urban parishes', but that's way down the line.
The most successful NPs, so far, are those that have shown themselves to be independent of the statutory organisations and really interested in empowering local people.
NPs, we are told, will be the main focus and forum of neighbourhood working in the future for statutory agencies. Working with your NP is likely to be a good way to win friends and influence people. Time will tell....

The Neighbourhood Planning Network (NPN) http://www.bristolnpn.net administration group will identify those NPs in which there is no Bristol NPN member or the organisation is only concerned with part of the area and do what they can to get a good Bristol NPN representation in all the NP areas. They don't know how (or if) this is going to work in practice.

HOTWELLS, CLIFTON AND CLIFTONWOOD LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY

The aim of the society is to bring together everyone who is interested in the huge diversity of historical riches in the area.
Treasures gives an opportunity for invited people to share their enthusiasm about something special for 5 minutes each. By popular request invited local people will talk for around five minutes about something of interest.
Good news! There will be more time for people to get together afterwards to talk and enjoy a drink. Please bring along anything of interest to display!
There will be no charge but a collection will be taken to defray the costs. PLEASE TELEPHONE O1179277157 or e.mail sue.stops@aolcom to reserve a place.

West Bristol Art Trail

The dates are 16th & 17th October.
After a fantastically successful inaugural year, the West Bristol Art Trail is back for 2010 and bigger than ever. This year the trail twists its path through the work of 120 artists exhibiting in over 50 homes and venues throughout the area. You will discover ceramicists, filmmakers, jewellers, painters, photographers, printmakers, sculptors and textile artists as you follow the trail from its bed in Hotwells and the richly historic docks, through a maze of cobbled lanes and secret passages to the summit, the Georgian stateliness of Clifton and as far as Blackboy Hill.
CHIS has been a major sponsor again
More details on http://www.westbristolarts.org.uk/

Removal of grade II listed lamp post in Clifton Park

21 Sept 09: A grade II listed lamp post has recently been removed from Clifton Park just by the Roman Catholic Cathedral. It was knocked down by a Council dustcart. It was a particularly fine specimen with very ornate ladder rests, and had a traditional lantern. It also had a separate adjacent feeder pillar so was electrically safe too. It was also a very substantial post so very unlikely to have rotted. We are trying to get it repaired and put back under insurance. Any person looking at this post should surely have been aware that it was out of the ordinary. It was even well looked after and freshly painted! Pictures and more detail can be seen on the streetscape section

Observatory and Clifton Camp Fort

29 March 10: This meeting of the Downs Committee will endorse the proposedscheme of works to manage Clifton Camp, subject to gaining statutory approvals and the Public Information/Feedback project in late spring
8 September 09: At the Downs Committee Meeting on 7th Sept 2009, there was a proposal on the agenda to hold a public consultation on the aims and options to restore the Clifton Camp Iron Age Hill Fort and Scheduled Ancient Monument is approved, with the results of the consultation and proposed implementation plan reported back to Committee in November. A report was presented by Peter Wilkinson- Service Manager of Parks and Estates (9223535). If people could understand and approve what was being proposed then the scheme would be carried out over a period of several years. The proposal was that a caravan would be parked nearby on DATE POSTPONED and that a consultation document for this site with analysis of peoples comments would be presented to the next Downs Committee meeting on 23 November at 4:30. If there was widespread approval at that meeting then the proposal to remove all the scrub and many trees would go ahead.
Read more in the trees section.

Window boxes

1 July 09:CHIS sponsored £360 to put the window boxes outside the library in Princess Victoria Street

PACT Meeting

The next PACT meeting (Partners and Communities Together) for the Clifton Ward is to be held on Wednesday 13 January 2010 in the New Hall, Clifton High School. Entrance is via the main gates on College Road. The meeting starts at 19:00 hrs and will finish at 21:00hrs.
There will be a representative from Parking Services and Bristol City Council Liquor Licensing management; as well as local councillors and Police beat managers.
This is a chance for everyone to talk about issues and concerns within the area.
This is a public meeting, and anyone from within the Clifton Ward is invited, so please spread the word.
Hope to see you there.
Thanks
PCSO Richard Yule Clifton Beat, Redland Police Station

Sutton House, Clifton Down Bristol BS8 3HT (bottom of Canygne Rd)

31 August: conservatory and dormer still there. Another enforcement order
5 June 09: Mr Hale has advised that the conservatory company has been contracted to begin works on 18 July 2009, as this is the earliest date that was available, and that the conservatory structure will take approximately 2 weeks to be completed. He also intends to carry out the removal of the dormer at this time. Should the works proceed without any complications, the outstanding elements should be completed around the first week of August 2009.
4th March 09: Sutton House - Planning Update
Bristol City Council's enforcement action for breach of planning regulations came before Bristol Magistrates Court on 4th March.
The owner of this grade 2 listed building, currently on the market for £3.5 million , a Mr.Hale of Venture, Cadbury Camp Lane, finally pleaded guilty to charges of building a dormer window and demolishing a front boundary wall without the necessary planning consents.
The Magistrates were told that the front garden wall had now been rebuilt, albeit with a wider entrance, in accordance with retrospective planning consent. However, planning consent in respect of the dormer window was refused on appeal last November and it, the court was told, had now been removed. (It was still there on 8th March.)
Mr.Hale, a property developer, was fined £2000 in respect of the wall, £3000 in respect of the window, with costs of £1674, making a total of £6674 plus £15 surcharge. At his request, he was given 28 days to pay.

11 Feb 09:09/00299/LA closing date for comment 4 March Proposal:

i. Demolition of existing aluminium conservatory and replacement with new painted aluminium conservatory (800mm lower than existing unauthorised conservatory);
ii. Provision of a rooflight/sunpipe;
iii. Removal of unauthorised dormer window on rear of property;
iv. Replacement of rear UPVC casement window with painted timber sliding sash window;
v. Retention of rebuilt front boundary wall, vehicular access position and modified entrance gate.

original gateway shown by pennant stone crossover and gates (May 08)

gateway now central and over 2 metre wider than original (Feb 09). Permission was originally given to make gateway wider by 1 metre at original location

Look here for more detail

Campaign to Protect Rural England

The Future of the Green Belt around Bristol. A Public Survey – April 2009. Campaign website
http://www.cpreavonside.org.uk/districts/bristol/. Bristol section of the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) Avonside Web site. There is no separate District Group for Bristol but members in north Bristol are represented by the South Gloucestershire District of the Branch and those in the south of the city by North Somerset District.

Severn Estuary Consultation

The Government public consultation on the Severn Estuary is open now until April 23rd. If you have views please send them to stp-consultation@berr.gsi.gov.uk or D Cook, Sept of Energy, Severn Tidal Power team, 1 Victoria Street London SW1H 0ET

The RSPB is running a campaign, and would like copies of anything sent; send to campaigns@rspb.org.uk or S Roddy Severn consultation campaign FREEPOST ANG6335 RSPB The Lodge Sandy Beds SG19 2BR.

For additional information go to www.rspb.org.uk and follow campaigns link

Brunel Swivel Bridge

This project has been supported by CHIS for many years.

Brunel Bridge plan dropped 29 December 08: Plans for a Festival Way cycling and walking route from Hotwells to Ashton Court and on to Nailsea were intended to bring back into use Brunel's 160 year old swing bridge that crossed the entrance lock at the western end of the Cumberland Basin. The bridge ceased to be used in 1968 after the new flyover system was built but remains in situ in the 'open' (to navigation) position in the shadow of the high level swing bridge and flyover system.
But a recent < a href="http://www.sustransconnect2.org.uk/schemes/project_detail.php?id=25"> press release from Sustrans says "The path will cross new lock gates at Brunel's old swing bridge in the Cumberland Basin before going under the flyover". The use of the word "at" rather than "on" (Brunel's bridge) is much more significant than a quick reading would suggest, although the word "near" would be more honest. This confirms suspicions that Bristol City Council are reluctant to restore the historic bridge to working order and will come as a great disappointment to those Bristolians who have pressed for this over many years. Chris Hutt, Green Bristol Blog

Brunel Swivel Bridge
Brunel Swivel Bridge

Brunel Swivel Bridge
Brunel Swivel Bridge
15 January 08: People from across the UK voted for which bid should get the money from the People's £50 Million Lottery contest. Sustrans got nearly half the 300,000 votes cast following head-to-head TV bidding. It beat the Eden Project, Sherwood Forest and the Black Country Urban Park. One route Sustrans is planning is Festival Way, linking central Bristol to the Ashton Court Estate, continuing to Long Ashton through Flax Bourton, Backwell, and ending in Nailsea.
The Cumberland Basin will be made much easier to use for pedestrians and cyclists, and Brunel's Swivel Bridge, which has been closed since the late 1960s, will be reopened. It is likely that £250,000 is earmarked for its restoration.
David Neale and Ross Floyd's illustrated web page on The Bristol City Docks, The Locks and Brunel's Swivel Bridge
Sustrans submission to Council

Suspension Bridge Resurfacing

The existing timber kerbs and their mastic asphalt covering were removed, along with the cast iron drainage gullies and the timber splashboards. A new drainage channel was installed, with narrow glass-fibre reinforced polymer (GRP) splashboards and extruded asphalt kerbs on both sides of the roadway. The roadway was also resurfaced, and some of the timber replaced (last done 50 years ago). Work on the £650,000 project started in July 2008 and finished in December 2008.

Lord Mayors medal

Gill Blakeman has been awarded the Lord Mayor’s medal for long service to Guides and CHIS. Congratulations!
NPs will lead either to a very significant decentralisation of statutory bodies and a major shift in power from officials to communities or it will be a blip in the life of bureaucracies. It's all to play for. If anyone has any questions, either now or later, get in touch and we'll try to answer them. NPN are also very interested in your group's assessment of how useful, or not, you have found the new NP system. For further details and a list of NP contacts, see the VOSCUR website http://www.voscur.org/brispartnership/np

Service review of Bristol's Museums Galleries and Archives

17 Sept 08: I have been asked to circulate this letter concerning the current service review of Bristol's Museums Galleries and Archives for your urgent consideration, and for the consideration of the organisations with which you are involved. Through Renaissence in the Regions, Bristol is the Hub museum for South Gloucestershire. Should you wish to comment or act on this letter, the Unison contact details are at the bottom of the letter. You may wish to comment on this letter to officers or councillors of Bristol City Council. Officers include the

Director of the Museums Service - Kate Brindley,
the Head of City Development - David Bishop and the Chief Executive - Jan Ormondroyd.
Councillors include Bristol's Executive Member for Culture and Leisure - Cllr Roaslie Walker and the Leader - Cllr Helen Holland.

Ten Ideas for CHIS

We would be interested to know if you have any bright ideas for Clifton projects to make Clifton an even better place to live! Contact Maggie.Shapland@bristol.ac.uk

Robert Smith Unit, 11 Mortimer Road: Proposed unit to treat class A drug users

27 September 2006: AWP decide not to pursue the use of 11 Mortimer Road as a drug clinic! The next step would have been on 18 October 2006: Decision by Scrutiny Commission about whether the clinic constitutes a substantial variation of service
More details about the 9 month fight

Suspension bridge Lights

The highly effective lights were switched on on the 8th April 2006 at 9:15pm with a fantastic display of
huge and cascading fireworks
Photos courtesy of Tom Scammel
There was a demonstration of the new lights12 May 9:15 2005. Pictures:

View from the lookout
Lights on the chains
Lights on the walk way- these can be dimmed down

See information.

Useful websites:

BBC
Clifton Online
Redland and Cotham Amenities Society
Bristol Civic Society
Network of Residents' Association
Civic Trust
Bristol Evening Post
Bristol City Council
BBC
multimap. Enter a postcode (Smiths, Regent Street, Clifton is BS8 4DU where the bus stops), and see a detailed map of the area.
Clifton Suspension Bridge website
Clifton Rocks Railway website

(CHIS) Clifton and Hotwells Improvement Society