CHIS Newsletter Autumn 2024

Chairman’s Report.

By the time you read this, our Autumn activities will have kicked off on September 7th with the dedication of a green plaque to the popular children’s writer, Diana Wynne Jones, at 7 The Polygon. There will, however, be a tinge of sadness in an otherwise happy occasion. For many years CHIS plaques and other structures have been installed by Peter Cole, whose professional skills went along with an informed respect for the history and quality of buildings. It is no surprise that he was a member of CHIS, always quick to advise and act, whatever the challenge. He died a month ago and he will be greatly missed. We are fortunate in that his son, Simon, is continuing to help us.

Talks. Those who heard the fascinating lecture on Vampires by Professor Ronald Hutton will be glad to know that on September 17th he will talk about Modern Vampires. His recently published second volume on Oliver Cromwell, entitled “Commander-in-Chief” has received considerable praise in a number of reviews. October 15th is the date of the AGM; we always aim to be brisk in completing the legally required business, especially to allow time for a presentation. This year’s is highly original: “The Commerciality of the Wine Business”, given by Richard Davis of DBM Wines, Princess Victoria Street. A small wine tasting will follow and a range of glasses of wine will be available for purchase in the usual way. The third talk, on 19th November, is to be given by Gordon Young. “Early Printing – From Pen to Print” will inform and entertain us, as the speaker will again display illustrations and specimens from his personal treasure trove.

A local event. For some weeks passers-by were intrigued and charmed to see horses and Nineteenth Century carriages in such places as Christchurch Green, Vyvyan Terrace and Clifton College. Not a non-motor car public transport initiative, this evocation of an element of past Clifton life was work by a film company for a new adaptation of John Galsworthy’s novel ‘The Forsyte Saga’.

Traffic. Back to modern reality: the No. 5 bus from St Anne’s has become as established as the No. 8. In the case of the latter, we support a request by members who are regular passengers. Quite often there is a change of drivers in Baldwin Street. For those who are to catch a train at Temple Meads the delay (which may take five minutes) can be disconcerting. We hope the Bus Company will consider the proposal that the change of drivers takes place at Temple Meads itself, thereby affecting only the return journey. Encouragingly, a few years ago we supported a member who requested the establishment of a new bus stop opposite Vyvyan Terrace Garden, which the Bus Company agreed to. On a related topic, an apparently innocuous document “Changes to the No. 2 bus route” when opened reveals radical plans for the reorganization of road usage from the Victoria Rooms at Queen’s Road down to the bottom of Park Street and adjacent roads. Park Street would be closed to traffic other than buses and cyclists for most of the day. No doubt public consultation will be offered. If so, countless members will bitterly recall the methodology used for such consultation regarding the semi-pedestrianisation in Princess Victoria Street; set questions can be so arranged as to preclude unwanted dissent. We fear that BCC’s traffic managers are well advanced with plans to put in place these measures and we urge members to be vigilant and active in making their views known.

Speeding. Some weeks ago a vehicle demolished one of the bollards and damaged a pole on the traffic island opposite Rodney Cottages. Restoration is in place.

WHS / Clifton on Ice site. This has reputedly been bought by the Spear Group. Slummy and degraded though the area continues to be, we fear residents will be in for a shock that will be offensive in a different way. Such will be the case of the grossly over-massed and tall development, approved by BCC and vigorously opposed by more than 400 objections and CHIS, goes ahead.

Zoo Sites. Building on the former West Car Park is regrettably underway; we are disturbed to hear reports that the required protection of trees on the site is not being provided and we welcome concerned interest by Bristol Tree Forum.

Zoo Gardens. The execrable development plan approved by BCC in the teeth of informed opposition is to be challenged via a Judicial Review organized by a group of concerned residents. We wish their cause every good prospect. (See p. 31 for how to donate to the cause.)

Victoria Rooms Fountains. Oakfield Residents’ Association (ORA) are to be congratulated on their work to restore a much loved local amenity. ORA liaised with the University of Bristol and BCC to get the fountains flowing once more.

General Gardens. On a later page there is a detailed article about the ever-worsening menace of bushes and trees which overhang pavements, offensively and dangerously in too many instances. Two years of exceptional growth of greenery highlight the lack of public responsibility on part of house-owners, not all of them by any means absentee landowners – simply selfishly irresponsible.

Safe walking to all.

Brian Worthington August 2024