Clifton and Hotwells Improvement Society (CHIS)
CHIS Streetscape
Maggie ShaplandStreetscape- the term which describes all that one sees in a street in addition to buildings, such as pavements, street furniture, traffic and other signs. Whereas attention is often paid to preserving buildings, especially in Conservation Areas, the streetscape is often overwhelmed by unecessary clutter and poor workmanship.
- Check the planning application for what the developers intend to do
- Take photos before development to make sure the same paving is put back
Satellite Dishes
These obtrusive satellite dishes are on a listed building in Boyces Avenue!
Nov 09: Update on satellite dishes
Planning permission is needed for satellite dishes in a conservation area for an antenna installed on a chimney, wall, or a roof slope which faces onto, and is visible from, a road or a Broads waterway. (If you are not sure, get advice from the local planning authority).
If you live in a ‘listed building’ and want to install an antenna on that building, you generally need to apply for ‘listed building consent’. This consent is different from planning permission. You need listed building consent for any antenna that affects the character or appearance of a listed building or its setting.
More detail in Planning Portal - the government's online service for planning.
Jon Bishop, Co-ordinator Planning Enforcement Team Tel: (0117) 922 3004 jon.bishop@bristol.gov.uk
Removal of grade II listed lamp post in Clifton Park
- 23 October: After discussions with English Heritage, Conservation Advisory Panel, Council Conservation Department, the Head of
Lighting has now confirmed that the post can be repaired, and that it will be back in position in January/February.
Repair will be covered by insurance, and it will have a traditional lantern again.
English Heritage has also confirmed that no application for delisting has been received, and that one has to prepare a good case for delisting historic street furniture anyway. - 22 September: Jon Bishop, Co-ordinator of Planning Enforcement has investigated the situation and concluded accidental damage.
Consequently, the original asset will now be de-listed.
Why don't they repair this historic post? It would be covered by Council insurance. So if it is accidental damage it is OK to delist it, but if purposeful damage it gets mended?
I accept a cast iron post has been placed there- far preferable to a replica- it is after all outside a grade II listed cathedral so it is some improvement on the modern lamp post outside grade II* listed Christchurch in Christchurch Road- to which I got the response "I accept that you disagree but I stand by my original response and will not be drawn into this debate further" - 22 Sept 09: Head of lighting says: "The column was hit down in a road traffic accident and was destroyed.
We have no legal duty to replace any listed column with a replica although we will be using a cast column from our
stockpile."
Sigh- I do not want a replica. I want the old one mended. - 10 Sept 09: A grade II listed lamp post has 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. It snapped at the base and stayed in one piece. 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! We are trying to get it repaired and put back under insurance.
The reference and picture can be seen on Images of England and described BRISTOL ST5773NW CLIFTON PARK, Clifton 901-1/2/804 (South West side) Gas lamp post approximately 50 metres south of RC Cathedral (not included) GV II Gas lamp post. Mid C19. Cast-iron. A moulded base with foliate end to a reeded shaft, ornate switch bars and a square lantern. Converted to electricity.
I also enclose my own pictures of it to show what a glorious post it was.
Note the fine detail | 
note the feeder pillar |
ornate ladder rest and traditional lantern |
replaced by another later cast iron post with modern light. |
The lighting department was sent my paper on cast iron lamp posts of Clifton that was published this year, so they would have been aware of its age.
I only noticed that it had gone when I was participating in a photographic project for the Bristol Museum Service. I took several Council officials to show them the lamp post and we were all horrified that it had gone.
Smoking Marque
Erection of marquee to the front of the restaurant. 95 Queens Rd BS8 1LW. enforcement enquiry 09/30289The matter of the marquee was investigated in June, and nothing has happened since. It is in front of a grade II listed building.
The marquee is still there looking shabbier and shabbier every day, and is stained from the tree as you can see from the photograph. It is not good enough to leave it there much longer. The materials are totally unsuitable, and a good gale will blow it away anyway.
We are hoping the Council will use their enforcement powers and insist that it is taken down? It is a total eyesore and the owner has had 4 months to do something about it by now. Summer is over and customers will not want to use it much now. There appears to be no sign of a planning application for a more suitable smoking shed.
Unsuitable shop sign
Oct 09: Several people have complained to the Clifton and Hotwells Improvement Society about the new façade of Baryahs convenience stores at 22 Regent Street, and presumably to the Council too. This is a grade II listed building and adjacent to Royal York Crescent.
No planning permission was requested to change the façade, and we all think it should be more tasteful. This is a convenience stores and post office, not an off license. Please could you ask them to have a more discrete and fitting sign for the area. Their old sign referring to Baryah's was far more suitable
The Promenade confusion
The Council have been asked that they organise the placing of a street name sign for the road marked "Clifton Down" on the map below -- specifically at the junction of the section of this road that is opposite Cecil Road and at right angles to Canynge Road, just outside the Lord Mayor's Mansion House.The following is the situation:
- 1. There is no road name sign there
- 2. The road "Clifton Down" is very long, leading to many visitors having difficulty locating premises as they are not numbered
- 3. The A-to-Z shows that this section of road is called Clifton Down
- 4. The road sign at the next junction of this road (some 200 metres away to the south west and by the Merchant Venturers Hall ) is "The Promenade"
- 5. Two premises (Triodos Bank and the Baptist College) in this section of road are listed in the phone directory as in The Promenade.
- 6. I suggest that you designate and mark this road as The Promenade -- and tell A-to-Z of your decision.
Overhanging bushes
At this time of year many streets are partially obstructed by overhanging bushes, and this is especially a problem in wet periods.
Owners are responsible for keeping their bushes trimmed. Any problems can be reported to the Council on 0117 922 2100 then press 3. The e-mail address is customer.services@bristol.gov.uk and should be addressed to Mrs M Read. They will deal with bushes overhanging from Council Property, and contact the owners of addresses.
CHIS is printing postcards politely telling owners of their responsibilities"
Victoria Square coat of arms
Aug 09: The horn dropped off the unicorn. No one was hurt, and the coat of arms has been made safe.
The Area Building Control Manager, the Conservation Officer, and a loss adjuster have been to look at it.
The problem seems to go back to repair work undertaken ? 50 years ago, and may be partly due to iron bars - now corroding - put in to hold the carving together.
The owners of 7 and 8 Victoria Square are awaiting a structural engineer's report. One outcome may be the need to redo the whole coat of arms.
Lansdown Place Railings
June 09:Looking forward to seeing these railings back to their former glory
sad looking cast iron pillars |  |
ivy decorated cast iron pillars |  |
railings leaning out | 
capping stone cut to get railings out |
Street Light Survey and Strategy in a Conservation Area
- July 09: Response from Lighting Dept: Regarding future programmes for street lighting in Clifton, the original policy has now been
reintroduced with a couple of
amendments. The main being that we are to consult with all residents and identify whether they wish to have lighting improvements.
This effectively means that residents in non-conservation areas will be allowed to keep their cast iron columns if they do not wish for their road
to have increased lighting levels.
This could impact on the conservation areas in that, if the majority of residents in non-conservation areas wish to keep their cast columns then we may not have enough spare to reuse in the conservation areas. Therefore, we may have to install steel columns in some conservation areas should the majority of residents in the street consulted wish to have improvements (this could lead to some streets having both cast and steel columns). - 10-19 June 09: Steel Post replaced by an iron post outside 104 Princess Victoria Street but traditional lantern vanished and replaced by an incongruous light, AND traditional lantern and wall bracket vanished outside 51 Princess Victoria Street with no warning. I sent a letter with a photos of every post in the street since every post has a traditional lantern (which we had paid for) or globe (on listed lamp post). Many residents complained and phoned. It transpired that the wall bracket was cracked, the steel post had had a hole in it so needed replacing, and the lanterns needed attention. All sorted out by 19th June and promises that we will be informed of future work schedules.
Tuesday night at 104 -fully functioning traditional lantern |
Wednesday night at 104- incongruous light on "new" cast iron post |
before Friday at 51 observe the wall bracket and traditional lantern |
bracket removed. There are only 14 wall brackets in BS8 so they are rare. New feeder pillar installed |
- Jun 09: Still no response so yet another letter
- April 09: Wrote Another letter again questioning ambiguities. Incongruous lighting and communication problems discussed at Neighbourhood Partnership meeting.
- Feb 09: A response from the Head of lighting justifying the actions taken by the lighting department
- Jan 09: Another letter questioning the amiguouities of the lighting strategy, and the answers from the Commission
- 4 Dec 08: Attended Transport Scrutiny Commission discuss lamp posts again. I got some answers to my questions
about the strategy of appropriate lamp posts in Clifton not being followed. It has also been confirmed that none have been sold.
- 1 Dec 08: I have looked at the cast iron lamp posts again in BS8, and have written a paper for the Bristol Industrial Archaeology Society. By looking at the manufacturers plates it is possible to roughly date them. All the short posts were cast in Bristol.
- Sept 08: Bristol City Council revisited its plans to remove Victorian cast iron lamp posts
in non-conservation areas after protests in St Andrew's in June,
when one resident chained himself to an antique lamppost to stop it being replaced.
They say it would cost an extra £1.2 million to keep all the Victorian lights in the city,
because modern ones would need to be fitted in between them to increase lighting levels.
Instead, the council wants to pay an extra £90,000 to allow some cast iron lamps to remain in place in cul-de-sacs,
and to paint all modern lamp posts in the city black to improve their appearance.
A further meeting was called for to give the counsellors more facts on which to decide
The council said it replaced the old lamps with more modern streetlights to improve security. - May 08: We applaud the globe lanterns on new posts in the Triangle, and University Road and hope to see the same in the Mall when the new development has finished
- March 08: In an endeavour to find out what the Council policy towards lighting after several lanterns had been replaced inappropriately, I wrote this letter and received the following informative report outlining Council Lighting Strategy.
 3 lantern light in Alma Rd |
 this incongruous light outside grade II* building and adjacent to a grade II* terrace, replaced a steel post and traditional lantern paid for by residents in Nov 07- supposed to be temporary but still there 18 months later. It breaks lighting strategy of a Conservation Area in relation to listed buildings |
- May 08: I have now done a survey of all the lamp posts and lanterns in BS8 and found an amazing variety, particularly cast iron ones. This will be used as part of the updated Clifton Conservation Area statement. First step will be to use this to bring back more appropriate lights in Christchurch Rd and Clifton Park Road rather than the incongruous odd new ones which stick out like a sore thumb.
Lamp post in the Mall
 broken light |
 what it used to look like |
 new post |
 new light |
More pictures of lamp being erected
The lamp was knocked down by a delivery driver May 2006 and was in four or five pieces so could not be saved. There is a twin lamp in Caledonia Place (repainted same week to match new one!). Its unique appearance is down to the fact that it was one of the first street lights to be powered by electricity rather than gas. The Polish company will be here on Thursday for the ceremony.
- The post was put in position on Monday 9th June 2008.
- The lamp was put up on Thursday 12th June at 7.am in the morning as they needed a huge crane to do it (and to let the concrete set round the new post).
Telegraph posts
4 May 09: A new telegraph post has been installed in Camp Road, Clifton. |
 |
BT Wayleaves Officer PPD 17 Communications House Harlescott Lane Shrewsbury SYI 3AQ
to object to the 9 meter light wooden pole + fittings erected on 15 April in Camp Road. Quote reference SS.MGE.01 and 55.DOPR.11.
One has a right to object to overhead apparatus under section 17, schedule 2 on the Telecommunications Act 1984 within 3 months so do write before July.
This Road is in the Clifton Conservation Area, and we believe that we should be tidying up by removing poles and overhead wires, not adding to the clutter. In that part of Camp Road the cable tv companies have installed cable close to most of the houses - and BT has underground telephone connections for many of them.
BT's action seems a most thoughtless treatment of the streeetscape - even the tarmac channel cut to connect the pole to the nearest BT underground pipe has a bodged appearance, and was cut through the tarmac path relayed by the Bristol City Council only 15-16 months ago in a costly project to provide a smooth walking surface.
We urge BT to remove this pole and provide the connections that it has presumably been errected to supply in the same way as to houses neighbouring the pole - ie underground.
PETITION - FOOTWAY MATERIALS PRINCESS VICTORIA STREET. CLIFTON
6 December 07: The Council plan to have 6pm - 10pm, Monday 18 & Tuesday 19 December 'Light Up Bristol' lights show on The Council House & surrounds, College Green. This will cost £40,000. If they can afford this, then why can they not afford £28,000 for pennant stone paving in Clifton?10 Sept 07: CHIS is hoping to get better quality pavings laid in Princess Victoria Street. The Council removed fine pennant stone from here in the 1970's and we feel that, as a historic conservation area and major tourist destination, Clifton deserves better than the cheapest possible option.
Response from Councillor Mark Bradshaw, 24th August
Your petition regarding the choice of materials to be used on the proposed reconstruction of the footways in Princess Victoria Street
has been received by the Council and the issues raised in it have been investigated. The subject of footway materials is a difficult one
that prompts discussions throughout the city. The Council have to balance the competing priorities of complying with its Statutory duties
and achieving-a- pleasant environment within its recourses.
The footways in Princess Victoria Street are in a poor condition and have to be replaced. To do this in Pennant stone as requested in the
petition will result in significant additional cost and result in the Council not being able to undertake other necessary footway works.
The appearance of the proposed materials is not dissimilar to other roads in the area and complies with the policy of replacing footways
with similar materials.
I therefore propose to continue with the installation of the small concrete slabs on this footway to achieve a safe and consistent
walking surface. I note that officers have
discussed this issue with you and whilst agreement could not be reached in this case, I hope that we will continue to discuss
issues to reach agreement if possible.
Yours sincerely,
Councillor Mark Bradshaw,
Executive Member for Access & Environment,
The Council House College Green Bristol BSI 5TR
CHIS is most unhappy about this response and hopes to reverse this decision. Please respond to Mark Bradshaw if you feel able (0117 9037968 or email mark.bradshaw@bristol.gov.uk), and let us know.
Examples of Good Streetscape
All show the area is cared for.- Boyce's Avenue has had its cobbles guttering replaced very nicely!
- The bottom of Sion Hill and round the corner of Caledonia Place has had flagging replaced. This is great because Caledonia Place had tarmac before
- Paving, signs and lights
should be sympathetic with the area. The residents of Princess Victoria Street had to pay £50 per household in the mid eighties
to have better looking lights put up- they are nice but a bit dim!
The old lamp standards in the Mall badly need repainting.
Sadly this 1893 lamp post was backed into by a lorry in May 2006 and has been smashed. A replica has now been made -June 2008
Look at the base of the lamps.
Broken lamp basebeing measured for repair. - Experimental gas light at the end of Royal York Crescent
- Milestone on Christchurch Green
- Caledonia Place
has carriage stepping stones and
original lights.
Lamps with flowers
- Light in the window above the door
- Many of the balconies in Caledonia Place, West Mall and Sion Hill have lots of plants on display.
- Many of the doors have lovely door fittings (iron are Georgian, brass are Victorian). The Paragon houses have round doors.
- Original lettering. The lettering on Rocks Garage dates from 1929 and was found under numerous coats of paint.
- Grey-Harris the jeweller in Princess Victoria Street has original door fittings and lettering
- Look at the original shop front of the fish bar at the top of Princess Victoria Street.
- There is a beautifully executed mural in a porch in Princess Victoria Street
- St Vincent's Priory on Sion Hill is unusual.
- Bristol City Council has provided very attractive litter bins. CHIS helped with design and provided funding.
- Fountain at the top of Sion Hill
- Magnificent railings around Clifton Rocks Railway, Sion Hill recently painted by a band of willing volunteers. Admire the rosettes, the spheres, the zigzags. To think this superb railing had been covered up for as long as I can remember. It was made by Gardiners of Bristol (look out for the name plate at the top end).
- Twisted railings in Windsor Terrace
- Gateway to Windsor Terrace
- Railings and gate, railing corner with plants in Victoria Square
- Small lion head, lion rampart, griffon foot scrapers
Examples of Bad Streetscape
- telegraph post lead to clutter. Why are wires not buried now instead of inserting more posts?
- Stall blocking narrow pavement
- Feb 07: Richard Bland has now surveyed all the Legible City signs and has reported the many defects to the Council.
- Incorrect spelling of buses in Victoria Square
-
Bent Legible City signs point wrong way. This sign has now been removed, having been bent several times.
The final straw was when a driver drove off at considerable speed, but unfortunately in reverse, badly damaging his
car
when he rammed the sign. At least he only damaged the sign
(good foundations and solid base!), leaving it at a drunken angle, and not any pedestrians or
other motorists by his stupidity.
Another sign down - Bus stop not only collects puddles of water but too small
- The owner of number 50 Princess Victoria Street has performed a wanton act of vandalism? by removing original lettering from the walls of his garage, only hours after being uncovered. The lettering referred to Mr Sibley, wagon and carriage proprietor (from 1876-1901), who also took in wagons and horses. The Evening Post was informed as was the Civic Society.
- damaged wall in Victoria Square walkway
- wide yellow lines at the corner of Boyce's Avenue instead of the narrow yellow lines to be expected in a conservation area. A letter has been sent to Bristol City Highway Asset Management about yellow lines and “no waiting” signs by Duncan Ogilvie. We await a reply.
- A totally new house on the raised Georgian terrace in Hotwell Road built faithfully and beautifully in the style of its neighbours is marred by tarmac instead of paving stones outside
- Broken paving in Princess Victoria Street
- Seven houses have just been built in Princess
Victoria Street. The developer replaced the paving slabs with
zigzag small
blocks which do not match the rest of the street, and are badly laid.
Jan 2005- the kerbs are now being lifted, and changed from small cobbles to long kerbing stones so that drainage water runs down the road rather than pavement! Better, but road still messy. Why could they not learn from the guys relaying Boyces Avenue gutter, St Michaels Hill, and Sion Hill? - Battered shop fronts. Maggs House in Queens Road, got planning permission early 2004 to replace their canopy. They have finally taken it down in March 2005
- Scruffy phone booths. This one in Queens Road is provided by Interphone
- Posts within a foot or so of each other.
- Advertising boards on pavements.
Any instances of obstruction must be reported to Bristol City Council.
- too many and again and more even on a narrow pavement. Just how many signs do you need to say the same thing? There is a marked increase in the number of boards being placed on pavements, which are a difficulty for those with impaired vision. This is a matter which should be addressed by the City Council. CHIS asked Phil Cotham (Council Official) to speak to Cllr Janke and in the meantime everyone should be urged to go into the shops to point out the difficulties.
- too big so blocking narrow pavement especially when a cycle parked too! or a car
- Why have a sign in the middle of the pavement with no writing on it to say what it is for?
- detracting from beautiful lamppost
- multiple estate agents' signs
- Why put a lamp post in the middle of a crossing? making it hard to cross if you have a buggy or wheel chair
- Unauthorised tables and chairs on pavements.
- Railings replaced by wood staves in the Mall gardens.
- Wire netting next to new railings at the bottom of Sion Hill
- Rusty railings look even worse having been painted white many years ago
- Rock thrown into my car from pile of rocks across the road in Princess Victoria Street. A pile of loose rocks are obviously a temptation for drunken idiots.
- Wire netting and accumulated rubbish left by developers for over 3 years after development completed. The Princess Victoria Street Action Group has now tidied it up after a fruitless complaints.
- This bin has a notice on it stating that it must not be left on the pavement or road.
Rubbish around bins, on
step,
after collection.
Cigarette butts floating in plastic bucket
Funny streetscape
- I had to laugh when I saw St Peter's Hospice window after Christmas- not sure what the message was- we need more clothes? but it was all very tasteful, and underwear very stylish and tinselly
- Bit difficult for builders to work overhead when they have pulled the building down. Perhaps they are getting divine help?
Useful websites:
- Streetscape in a conservation area. Excellent article from the Building Conservation Directory 1996.
- Clifton Online
- Redland and Cotham Amenities Society
- Bristol Civic Society
- Network of Residents' Association
- Civic Trust
- Bristol Evening Post
-
Bristol City Council
roads and pavements
Call 0117 922 3838 about:
- Manhole covers
- Pavements
- Roads
- Kerbs
- Street nameplates
- Bollards
- Overhanging trees and shrubs
- Obstructions
- Spillages
- BBC