Focus on

Langton Road safety improvements:

Way back in January, 2019 we led a successful campaign and secured funding for pedestrian improvements on Langton Road by St. Anne’s Infants School in Brislington West. We were promised these improvements would be within the year, but over three years later and nothing has materialised. Understandably, many projects were put on hold due to the pandemic and council officers did consult on new plans, which led to a further delay. Late last summer, council officers told us that new proposals were almost ready to go out for consultation but we have heard nothing since then. We have written to the Mayor for an urgent update.

New avenue planted:

Tree planting on Callington Road has now been completed. Both sides of the road between Tesco and the A37 junction are now lined with trees, which in time will hopefully lead to the creation of a beautiful avenue.

Sand Hill daffodils:

Great to see the daffodils we planted last year on the grassy verge near the junction of Sand Hill and Sandhurst doing so well. We plan to add some more this autumn to bring some much needed colour to this part of the ward.

Full Council:

Bristol Lib Dems have tabled a motion calling for the city to take a lead in developing solutions to the problem of increasing quantities of electronic waste which contain rare minerals and elements but which are often difficult to recycle. The motion calls on the Council to work to increase the repair and reuse of electronic devices as well as to work with local universities and others to help develop improved technologies for recycling these. We are living in an increasingly connected world, and with that has come a proliferation of electronic gadgets and gizmos. Many of these have an artificially shortened lifestyle due to planned obsolescence, and all of them will require disposal at some point.

Given that so many of our phones, computers, and other devices use rare and precious minerals, we need to find ways to extend their lifespans and ensure that they are responsibly recycled. As a sustainably-minded city, Bristol should play a leading role in ensuring that our mod cons are not costing the earth for future generations. We have been concerned about the way we use and abuse Rare Earth Minerals for some time, and believe that science and technology should be harnessed to solve the problems that they have created.

Funding for community projects:

Time is rapidly running out for local residents and community groups to think about applying for funding for community projects using Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) money, which developers pay to local authorities to mitigate the negative impact of their developments. Previously successful bids include the wooden planters on Sandy Park Road and the new path to the wooden steps in Arnos Court Park, which is due to be completed this summer. We would like to encourage as many local residents and groups as possible to apply for funding to support their projects this year. You can access all the information you need here: www.bristol.gov.uk/people-communities/funding-local-projects Local groups and organisations should put forward their ideas for potential projects by 4th April 2022, but the earlier, the better. We’re asking everyone to write them up on the Stage 1 Outline Proposal Form (available on the webpage attached) and send it to us (see our contact details below).

Scrap the Mayor!

Our regular reminder that we have secured a referendum on the future of the directly elected mayoral system in Bristol, keeping one of our key election promises. Both your Brislington West councillors spoke in support of the motion at Full Council, which went on to win by 41 votes to 24. Only Labour councillors voted against giving the people of Bristol a voice. As a result, we will be having a legally binding referendum on the future of governance in Bristol on Thursday 5 May, 2022, a date for your diaries! More details here: https://www.bristollibdems. org/referendum-motion-passes If you would like to get involved in the campaign to #ScrapTheMayor, please sign up here: https://www.bristollibdems.org/getinvolved

Read an article by former Liberal Democrat MP, Stephen Williams, on the issue: https:// www.bristolideas.co.uk/read/referendum-stephen-williams/ Hundreds of Brislington West residents have signed up to receive our monthly newsletter via email. You can register using this link: http://www.bristollibdems.org/efocus. By Jos Clark, Liberal Democrat Councillor (Brislington West) Email: cllr.jos.clark@ bristol.gov.uk Mobile: 07584 370429 & Andrew Varney, Liberal Democrat Councillor (Brislington West) Email: cllr.andrew. varney@bristol.gov.uk Mobile: 07584 183381

Bristol's last remaining meadow

Tucked behind the back of the trading estate on Bonville Road is an amazing 9.2 hectares of unspoilt open space. Filled with wildlife and nature – loved and used by generations of local people. This space has belonged to the people of Brislington since 1788 after the 'Enclosure Act' when common land was divided up into fields and sold off to landowners. The field boundaries date back to just after the Enclosure Act so are well over 200 years old. The meadows is regularly used for get-away-from-it-all-walks, running-off-theenergy with-the-youngsters- walks and taking-the-family-pet-for-their-walk. A bird watcher's haven, a flight corridor for the bats that live there and an abundance of nature and wildlife to see – and if you're very lucky, the shy and beautiful wild deer.

A unique and precious haven so important to support and help physical and mental health and well being for everyone of every age . So why is Homes England submitting plans in March to Bristol City Council for 260 homes on this meadow? Our amazing, invaluable space - under threat to be replaced by the tarmac and bricks of development. Local residents are dismayed and appalled that their precious meadows will be stolen from them and are fighting back to keep this rare habitat – 97% of meadow habitat has been lost in Britain since World War II.

Would you like to come and share our beautiful meadow? Take a look at our Facebook page or why not visit for yourself? For a personal visit use the postcode BS4 5QH for your Satnav. The Meadows is also accessible on foot from Broomhill Road, there's a public footpath just opposite the bus terminal. The meadows is also accessible on foot by the School Road allotments (Use BS4 4NE).

Hope to see you soon! PS Bring your wellies – it can be muddy!