Newsletter Autumn 2010
An independent force for a better Bristol
Student Award 2010: Sarah Masters
W
e are delighted to welcome Sarah Masters as the winner of the Civic Society’s Student Award for 2010. We offer her our congratulations and our very
best wishes for her future career. The award is given for an outstanding piece of work by a final year degree student at the University of the West of England. We have forged close links with their innovative Architecture and Planning Course and each year it is a pleasure to see the excellent work produced by the students. This year their brief was based on Gloucester, with the students expressing many and varied ideas as to how to enhance the experience of the city and to provide links between the various quarters from the Cathedral to the Docks. Of the work on display Sarah had a very credible combination of Plans, Artefact (i.e., a full building model which included context) and Design and Access Statement, together with a subject – Gloucester Docks – which we thought would read well in Bristol. We were delighted to find that after committing our vote without having met her, Sarah was then able to do a very credible “Viva”, walking us through her model as she disassembled it down to ground level. Her design statement explains the thinking behind her project.
Sarah Masters (right) with Wendy Pollard of BCS.
Stephen Wickham, Chairman
inside
Sarah describes her project on page 8 and 9.
3 6
Environmental Awards 2010
13 14
The Awards will be announced on 16 November.
The Visit to Hanham Court Gardens Society members had a great day out.
The 2010 AGM Minutes form the 2010 AGM.
regulars
13 15 16
New members
John Hirst: Bristol Harbourside
Diary Dates
Making a world-class destination.
Who’s who
Bristol Civic Society
Autumn 2010
FROM THE CHAIR… by Stephen Wickham
Welcome back after the summer holidays! It’s been a long gap since our last Newsletter, and many readers have been wondering: has the Newsletter disappeared? Not by any means! But Newsletters cost money, which was why we have dropped to three a year. If we could revert to four annually I would do so at the drop of a hat. We are very much keeping this under review. I am however delighted to say that this year’s subscription increase does appear to have turned the Society’s finances in the right direction, and I am no longer fearing to preside over the economic demise of an active Society which has for over a century now been seeking to promote a better Bristol. We greatly regret theperhaps inevitable loss of a small minority of our old friends. But if each of you still aboard could introduce just one new member each it would make a fantastic difference to our future activities and prospects. Although construction seems to be suffering a recession in the city, some developers are trying to renew extant permissions or come up with new projects, not all of them improvements on previous ideas! We really need to take all large proposals as seriously as we have always done. Poor existing-permissions have been known to plague Bristol in the past. The amount of work in which our working groups are involved is truly daunting, which is why our teams of volunteers are so important. They are actually up in number, and now include a fledgling Open Spaces Group in full swing. The Society is in good heart. I hope you enjoy the Newsletter. 2
Tables and chairs In July, the council invited comments on a proposed scheme for licensing the placing of tables and chairs on the streets of Bristol. The Council proposal would involve businesses submitting detailed drawings to obtain planning and licensing permission – regardless of the number of tables and chairs or how often they are placed on the pavement. The Civic Society expressed its concern that a prescriptive regime like this would be costly for both small businesses and the council, without materially improving our Public Spaces. To ensure the needs of all groups are addressed, we suggested a framework of guidelines, which could be monitored by the local community and enforced by Council Officers.
PUBLIC SPACES GROUP
…public spaces encompass not only ‘green’ places but also our pavements…
Public Spaces Group A new group, the Public Spaces Group, is now successfully up and running. It fills a gap – because the spaces between buildings are just as important as the buildings themselves. Its remit is broad, but it will aim to focus on one or two things only at a time. It will aim to be proactive and do tangible things – to make a real difference. It is more likely to look at central areas, because they are of general interest and less likely to be covered by local groups. But other areas are not ruled out. New members are always welcome. A first initiative is for the ‘bear-pit’ at St James Barton roundabout. Henry Shaftoe, who presented at a society event last March on public spaces, is leading on this. He has convened a group of interested parties, and has obtained a first funding grant, with the aim for something quick and temporary initially, to get more activity without too much cost of physical installation. The launch of the group has coincided with a flood of council documents to respond to: a ‘table and chairs’ licensing scheme, Area Green Space Plans, development management policies, pedestrian strategy. Alan Morris (initial chair)
www.bristolcivicsociety.org.uk
The ceremony will be held at 11am on 16 November in the Foyer of the Colston Hall. Limited Numbers: contact Charles Fox for details.
Another seven winners
A
nother exciting year with more candidates put forward than we expected. Since 2008 the world of building and development has been hit by the recession and general lack of confidence of course. However ‘the public’, members and some architects have looked all over Bristol, searching out great examples of recent buildings with an eye to the built environment and our team have picked 5 exciting and varied buildings and two ‘specials’, Arnos Vale Cemetery and an exciting social experiment in Gloucester Road, Hamilton House. The rest are all new builds and highly commended. One of our winners has kindly agreed to host the winning owners and their ‘partners’ at our Annual Awards
ceremony on November 16 at 11.00am and this will be in the Foyer of the Colston Hall on the top floor. Keith Warmington, our dynamic and knowledgeable Radio Bristol interviewer, will invite comments on their buildings from the winners. Keith’s perceptive questions always make the winners and the
audience think hard about what makes good urban design in our city, encouraging us to look around with a more critical eye. We will project lots of pictures of all the winning sites up on a screen, and the Evening Post will as usual cover the story. Among the guests of course will be our treasured sponsor Bristol Water, without whom we could not easily afford the well-known elegant blue oval plaques and certificates awarded to the winners! Bristol Civic Society Members are very welcome to come to the ceremony, but please make sure you ask me first as numbers are limited. Charles Fox BCS Environmental Awards 2010 Ceremony: 11am, 16 November 2010 Location: Colston Hall Foyer
3
Bristol Civic Society
September 2009
…Building 4: the last residential site on the harbourside, facing SS ‘Great Britain, next to the old Purifier House.… ’ The Major Sites Group (MSG) was formed by the Executive work
with
Committee the
in
Bristol
Network and local
2008,
with
the
Neighbourhood
remit
to
Planning
community groups, so as to
engage with Bristol City Council and developers in securing the satisfactory development of complex The Ashton Gate proposal. Image from Bristol City Council Planning portal (image © Stride Treglown).
Progress reports on these and other key developments will appear in future Newsletters.
4
major sites. The MSG considers a small number of the
schemes,
planning
where
possible
applications.
Here
before is
a
and
during
selection.
www.bristolcivicsociety.org.uk
The Major Sites Group: an update Harbourside and Building 4 It was an excellent plan to redevelop Canon’s Marsh. But the masterplan lost out in the planning process. The architectural quality deteriorates the further you walk from @Bristol. The message for the Society is that ‘It requires continuous attention from start and finish to influence development’. Apartments, Cathedral and Offices?; What do you think? This year a developer applied for detailed planning permission to create Building 4, the last residential site on the Harbourside. Its prominent position fronts the harbour, facing the SS Great Britain, and is next to the old Purifier House. The Society told the planners that the plan was unimpressive and inadequate for its context, failing to translate the masterplan’s vision of landscape quality: an opinion shared by the Bristol Urban Design Forum and the Conservation Advisory Panel. The designers have submitted a revised plan, which the MSG has yet to see.
Bristol City Football Ground at Ashton Gate (three Sites: New stadium; New superstore; Old supermarket) Tesco applied to build a superstore on the existing Stadium. The Society responded that another large retail shed surrounded by a sea of car parks was unimaginative. Following Tesco’s withdrawal, Sainsbury’s applied for planning permission. Their proposal offered a store on pillars, to allow underneath car parking and, in a separate application approved to demolish their existing store site on Winterstoke Road, some residential
development, plus a mixed-use development. The Society supported local residents and traders whose arguments included the harm that another superstore would do to Bedminster’s ‘at risks’ retail areas. Sainsbury’s responded that their scheme would be ‘enabling development’ for the new Stadium application, a fact that Bristol Planning Committee had to take into account. The City Planning Officers recommended acceptance to the Committee, but by a majority, it decided as follows: ‘The proposed development would be an unsustainable form of development by virtue of the scale of additional retail floorspace proposed in an outof-centre location. Due to its scale and location, the development would result in an unacceptable increase in traffic on the highway network, would increase the need to travel and would reinforce car dependency’. Sainsbury’s have not yet said whether they will appeal this decision. In a new development at the moment of going to press (20 September), an independent Planning Inspector has upheld an appeal from local residents to consider the Proposed Stadium site a Town Green, which would invalidate any planning at all.
Bristol City Centre Rapid Transport Scheme Line 2 (BRT2): Ashton Vale to Temple Meads The Society supports rapid transport to improve Bristol’s public transport. However, the present rules of the Department for Transport make a bus scheme the only financial choice. The Society warned the Transport and Works Act
consultation about the scheme’s high cost and potential environmental damage to the Docks Conservation area. The construction of a light rail scheme, proposed by the Bristol Local Transport Plan in July 2000, would cause fewer difficulties. The Society’s concerns include the adaptation of Ashton Avenue River Bridge and the Vauxhall Bridge to allow the passage of double-deck buses, and structural alterations to the Prince Street Bridge. There would also be substantial alterations to retaining walls and railings over a long distance beside Cumberland Road and on Harbourside. The future of the scheme depends on the Government’s capital spending review in October.
Potential integrated public transport interchange at Temple Meads Unlike Bath and Cardiff, where bus and train stations are side by side, a mile separates Temple Meads from Marlborough Street country buses, while the Centre for local traffic is also distant. But there is space for an integrated hub on ‘Plot 6’, next to Temple Meads. Both the Council and the Society support this hub; the land owners are keen to talk, as are the bus and rail operators. A traffic survey has shown that traffic lights could control the Temple Way road junctions, and also the Redcliffe Way and Redcliffe Hill junction. The roundabout’s removal would release land for development. The setting for St Mary Redcliffe would approve dramatically. There is no immediate prospect of change, but the Society will continue to take a strong interest.
John Frenkel 5
Bristol Civic Society
Autumn 2010
F
ifteen minutes from the centre of Bristol and down a country lane, you find yourself in front of the gem that is Hanham Court. On June 20th, a gloriously sunny morning, Civic Society members joined those from the Avon Gardens Trust to tour the gardens created by Julian and Isabel Bannerman, both renowned landscape gardeners. The house (opened specially for us) is built on the site of a monastic settlement, spanning seven centuries, and a 13th-century church is attached to its east wall. But when the Bannermans took it over in1993, it was in serious disrepair, the roof caved in and the garden a wilderness of Leylandii and scrub. The vast challenge it presented has been met; the house glows in the sunshine and the gardens, though less than 20 years old, draw visitors from far and wide. The tour began in the formal garden, established with some difficulty on a rock bastion, where the lawns sweep away from the house towards the Avon valley. We caught the last of the peonies, but it was the profusion of traditional scented roses, foxgloves and alium that really took the eye. In the obelisk garden, also with fine views , we appreciated Julian’s passion for green oak, in the wooden balustrades, benches and arches, a design feature of which Julian is very proud. This is a showcase for landscaping ideas. Next year, they will build a temple on the hill overlooking the garden: of green oak, of course. Another path
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Hanham Court Gardens took us through the ‘Inigo Jones door’, to the woodland area with its natural pool, past the stumpery with its fountain and tree fern collection and on to the latest venture, an elegant experimental vegetable garden. The brochure calls the garden ‘a design laboratory, a testing
ground and a labour of love’, an apt summary. The excellent tea shop gave us a chance to mingle also with our linked societies, the Bishopston Society and the Bath Preservation Trust, whom we hope to see again at future events. Danae O’Regan
www.bristolcivicsociety.org.uk
brochure calls the garden ‘a design laboratory, ‘a…The testing ground and a labour of love’, an apt summary.… ’
The house and garden from the hill (top); the last of the Peonies (left); Waiting at the gate to go in. BCS Members with those from Avon Garden Trust (above); The Inigo Jones Oak door and gateway (opposite page).
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Bristol Civic Society
Autumn 2010
Visit to UWE Architecture & Planning Degree Show On 12 June, a group of BCS members was treated to a tour of the Architecture and Planning Department degree show by Professor Richard Parnaby, (above), who played a major role in setting up the Dept in 1996. The setting for most of the show was a large airy atrium in a purposedesigned building on Frenchay campus whose automatic system ventilates the building naturally and which also has a high level of ecofriendly straw bale insulation. We saw a wide range of student work, ranging from exquisite tiny models to drawings several square metres in size. First-year work included the modelling of construction techniques at half-size before moving on to designing housing projects for Bristol. 2nd-year students had designed a cultural or civic building, while 3rd –years had been allocated an area of Easton into which they had to create
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a small ‘intervention’ based on their subjective experience of the area. 4th-years had developed projects for urban Gloucester and the finalists had explored materials and surfaces in such projects as highly tactile 3D resin tiles. In other projects Ashton Gate Stadium had become a selfsufficient eco-village (!), and the Harbourside had acquired a new bridge. It was fascinating to see the results of architecture, planning, engineering and environmental science combined in this interdisciplinary way – something to which Prof Parnaby was committed at the outset. The Department is booming with student demand for courses, and a new extension will open in August, to double the size of the present building. We were most grateful to Professor Parnaby for showing us around a part of Bristol that is doing very well indeed!
Jeff Lucas
www.bristolcivicsociety.org.uk
STUDENT AWARDS: 2010
Sarah Masters Design Statement Sarah writes: The Market Kitchen was designed to transform the existing docks environment and express a true character of Gloucester. The area has been recently redeveloped providing a range of public spaces whilst connecting the City and the new Merchants Quay shopping centre. A key aim for the project was to provide a relevant attraction into the area that encouraged local residents and visitors to use the dock’s space, re-creating the hustle and bustle the working dock would have had, with a 21st century solution. The double height space on the ground floor facing out onto the main docks basin aims to welcome visitors, traders and produce in with vertical timber shuttering system folding up and merging the threshold with the docks edge and boat trade. The formal entrance on the main street which is currently a main through route for the docks area has been designed to encourage an active ground floor with four retail units and formal entrance leading to the restaurant overlooking the docks and market activity below. The Market/Kitchen has two aspects – the first creates opportunity for local residents by providing the facility to learn new skills either in the community market, kitchen, or greenhouse facilities that aim to teach visitors how to grow and cook their own food. These are transferable skills that can be applied at home, and the market provides a space where local produce can be traded. The second aspect implements these skills in a series of commercially viable business attractions. The aim will be to attract visitors to the docks with a range of local produce shops and a high quality restaurant , this will ensure the scheme will be financially selfsupporting and therefore sustained within the local community.
A range of illustrations from Sarah Masters’ project for Gloucester, including the Site Plan (above) and her model (below and left).
Bristol Civic Society
Autumn 2010
Gordon Tucker highlights some of the more important or interesting recent applications University and Literary Club, 20 Berkeley Square This is an application to alter a Grade II* listed building to provide space for members to smoke. It involves an extension to the rear, over a flat roof, with a window being altered to obtain access. We do not believe a listed building should be changed in this way for this purpose. University of Bristol Union, Queens Road The University wishes to make changes to the Union without any demolition. They have a problem with access to the swimming pool (which is to be retained) from the ladies changing rooms, which are one floor up. They therefore propose to build an extension on the Queens Road aspect, on what is now green space, to alleviate this problem. Otherwise the building will remain essentially the same as it is now but will be given a facelift. The Society has been involved with discussions as the scheme has evolved and is happy with the application now put forward. Former Pro-Cathedral, Park Place This building, which has been redundant as a cathedral for many years, has permission for residential use. This has proved difficult to finance so there are now proposals to change this permission to one providing 239 student bed-spaces and one house, with office space in the narthex. The university is very supportive of this, as you might expect bearing in mind the location. The Society has again been involved
with the planning process and we have no objections to what is proposed. Bristol Marina, Hanover Place These changes at the marina include an extension to the office; the demolition of the toilet block and its replacement with a cafe; and the construction of a single-storey steel boatshed. These proposals seem to us to be entirely appropriate. The Bell Hotel, Bell Hill, Stapleton This is a fairly large public house opposite Colstons School and it has been struggling for some time. While we are always reluctant to see the demise of a pub, if it does not pay its way it is likely that another use will be found for it, in this case a change to residential The Friendship Inn, Knowle This is another public house for which a new use is being found, this time by Tesco. The Society looked at this pub and found it very attractive with a large, neglected garden. We applied to have it listed but were unsuccessful. Tesco have now applied for permission to alter the ground floor to enable them to change the use to a supermarket. The Alphabet Zoo, Winterstoke Road (former ABC cinema) This is another building with an existing permission for conversion to 24 flats. This is not now, apparently, viable and there is an outline
PLANNING APPLICATIONS application to demolish it and rebuild as a 120room travel hotel. The Society has no objection to the proposed use but has commented that it is too high as presented. We have no further information as yet. 2-16 Clifton Down Road This is another site with a longish history. It is the block of buildings off Boyces Avenue with its rear facing on to Kings Road and with WH Smith’s on the corner. Several public consultations were held, including with the Civic Society. We commented that we did not see the need for a feature clock tower, although this seems to have found favour with others, and that we found the design acceptable if rather bland. The application was approved by the planners in July. A feature of the planning register recently has been the number of applications for renewal of permissions granted several years back, a notable case being MacArthurs Warehouse. Where circumstances have changed there may be a case to review these but generally the permission will stand. There also seems to be no end to the number of communication masts we need – everyone has a moblie phone these days!! These are some of the more significant or interesting applications considered by the Planning Applications Group since the last edition of the Newsletter, and include applications not written on and those about which we have commented.
Civic Voice: your national voice Civic Voice is the new national body for civic societies, which came into being in April this year. To quote the Civic Voice website: “Civic Voice is a small light-footed organisation. As a national voice with a strong local presence we make a difference where it matters. You will find us lobbying in Whitehall and Westminster, campaigning with local volunteers, speaking out in the media, undertaking research, building partnerships and promoting civic pride. We support local groups and help them work together. We organise a national convention for the civic movement and give local groups a national voice. We combine community action with sense of place for the benefit of everyone. We talk civic sense.” Take a recent example of how Civic Voice can give national expression to the work of civic societies. In August, the Government announced a crackdown on street clutter, including support for Civic Voice’s Street Pride campaign as the way local communities can take 10
action. The announcement attracted significant national media coverage. Street Pride is focused on the four most widespread sources of street clutter: bollards, signs, posts (including lampposts and traffic lights), and guard rails. Street Pride builds on the excellent initiatives already undertaken by a number of civic societies. An initiative to watch out for next year is a national Civic Day. Civic Day is when civic societies across England will invite people to celebrate their area and discover more about where they live. A diverse program of events and activities showcasing civic society activity is being planned, focused on Saturday 25 June 2011 as the first Civic Day. Civic Voice National Convention and AGM Date: 8/9 October 2010 Location: Great Northern Hotel, Peterborough. Registration: Fee £20. Limited places.
In addition to the business sessions, a series of guided talks and tours around Peterborough are being planned, as well as a visit to Stanford. Anyone interested should contact Alan Morris.
www.bristolcivicsociety.org.uk
Members’ Survey: how you responded We are most grateful to all of you who replied to our questionnaire. This is the only way we can get some idea of what you really want the Society to be. Why did members join? Three different reasons: Interest in Bristol’s heritage: 68%; Interest in improving Bristol’s built environment and transport: 63%; Care for Bristol and desire to support BCS’s work: 53% (several replies ticked more than one category.) What seems particularly significant here is that there appears to be a close-to-equal vote for the two broad categories of Heritage
Wessex Muster – June 5th 2010
and Planning (with a slight majority in favour of the former). Conclusion: the Society (and the Newsletter) need to
Bristol Civic Society hosted a ‘Wessex Muster’ on Saturday June 5th. This was the second meeting of the ‘Wessex’, ie inner south-west, cluster of civic societies – an area ranging from Tewkesbury in the north to Bournemouth in the south. Members from civic societies such as Stroud, Bath, Cheltenham, Swindon mingled and shared experiences. The meeting was held in St Thomas’s church in Redcliffe, courtesy of the Churches Conservation Trust, which looks after this and 300+ other churches across the country – see http://www.visitchurches.org.uk. Alan Morris, Vice Chair, gave a presentation on Bristol Civic Society – past and present – and our chair Stephen Wickham led a guided walk round Welsh Back and Redcliffe at the end of the session. We learned about the Churches Conservation Trust from Peter Lankester, its south-west director. We debated how to attract younger people. Amongst those present were Ian Harvey of Civic Voice, the new national association of civic societies – see http://www.civicvoice.org.uk – and Paul Myers of Midsomer Norton Society and a trustee of Civic Voice. Paul Myers spoke of Civic Voice plans for an annual Civic Day, an opportunity for civic societies to celebrate their own local area and to publicise their own role. Alan Morris
respond actively to both of these areas.
SOME STATISTICS: why did members join interest in Bristol’s heritage: improving Bristol’s environment: care for Bristol and support BCS:
68% 63% 53%
Readership: Both the Newsletter and ebulletin: 48 %; Newsletter only: 37%; ebulletin only: 15 %. Conclusion: Both are needed at present. (Use of the website did not figure in the list of choices; that will certainly grow in importance.) Participation in informal talks/ training sessions: Current developments in Bristol: 80%; Architectural topics: 53%; Planning process: 50%; Heritage: 50%.
Festival of Nature Bristol Civic Society took a stand at the Bristol Festival of Nature over the weekend of June 12/13th. The sun shone and brought out the crowds to the public spaces around Millennium Square in Harbourside where the festival is held. We took our place in the Green Forum tent alongside other Bristol environmental organisations, ranging from the Schumacher Institute to the Bristol Parks Forum. We chatted to passers-by, and spread the word about what we do. The annual festival is a joint venture between a number of bodies, including the BBC, Bristol City Council, the Environment Agency, Natural England, the University of Bristol, and the University of the West of England, all of whom were present at the festival.
A clear winner for current developments; but that overlaps with other categories. We note an equal concern for Architecture, Planning and Heritage. Our programme of events for the next six months has already been informed by this, and will continue to be so. A sizable number of members have offered to help in various ways: thank you. We believe we have followed up on all offers; but do contact Alan Morris if you haven’t heard back.
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Bristol Civic Society
Autumn 2010
Peak Oil. What is ‘Peak Oil’? The 104-page document commissioned by the City tells us that it
purposeful public consultation; and the
‘describes the point at which the amount of oil produced globally in a single year
results that have emerged are a real
reaches its absolute maximum. From this point onwards oil will still be provided – but at a lesser volume. After “peaking”, oil production will ultimately go into
challenge to implement policy suggestions in line with Peak Oil. There is much valuable research in Peak
decline […] Alternative funds to petrol or diesel irrespective of cost, simply do
Oil, but complex interaction of mixed-use
not exist on the scale currently required for normal functioning of the city’.
facilities, strategic public transport and
The document is a search for long-term solutions to a global problem.
distinctive local quality must be vital components of sustainability. Yet this has
This is a valuable introduction to the
SOME STATISTICS: how we go to work
complexities of environmental planning and will doubtless be understood by
BY CAR:
well-informed officers and Councillors. But it may well be difficult for local communities to visualise what highdensity, mixed-use planning might
%
30 in Clifton East & Cabot 70% in Lockleaze & Kingsweston % > : 10 in Kingsweston, Eastville
WALKING
and Stockwood
actually look like. Illustrations of
been constantly rejected by private interests. “The joint Local Authorities of Bristol and the surrounding counties have agreed that brown-field sites should be brought into development before green belt sites. However, as green-belt sites are more desirable to developers’
particular examples are a neglected
pressure to meet housing targets, this
necessity.
could lead to this agreement being
In 2002 Bristol’s LA21 Land Use Group and the Civic Society produced 14 fullyillustrated reports of effective sustainable developments in England and Scotland. With financial support from the City and the Regional Development Agency, about 4000 copies were supplied. The diversity of the sustainable solutions was and
‘
Our future as a country depends much more on our ability to plan ahead for the next oil shock and the post-oil world
’
Vince Cable, MP
waived”. This discreet recognition that all research, however critical, can be swept aside in the interests of volume house builders is a major challenge. The discredited government case (before the Election) for building houses in the Green Belt is not supported by research: • The benefits of higher-density
remains impressive. Since then, the St Peter’s Court development in Bedminster
people travel to jobs, schools and health
alternatives in deprived wards are
is an outstanding example of preparation
care, rather than have these within
not examined by local residents.
for Peak Oil, with flats and diverse
walking distance of homes… A
facilities around internal courts..
prolonged fuel emergency could lead to
• High density does not mean highrise.
Executive Summary (p.5) touches on
shortages and result in instances of civil
• Low density cannot support ‘mixed-
fundamental land-use principles which
disobedience’ .There are many of these
use’. (consider visits to Bedminster,
Bristol Civic Society and the Land 21
simplistic conclusions, but very little on
Clifton, Cabot, Cotham, St
Land Use Group have been promoting
where and how ‘mixed use’ is needed.
Augustine’s Reach, and St Paul’s
since 2000. Peak Oil confirms that
Fortunately, much research has been
resistance to a tower block proposal) • The Civic Society is successfully
‘options lie in the number and distances
carried out at the Create Centre clarifying
of journeys made. This means
the distinctive characteristics of Bristol’s
involved in assisting communities in
employment and services being closer to
wards. Many, for instance, have low-
our deprived peripheral estates to
where people live’. But it is important to
density peripheral estates which cannot
support alternatives to car
understand that Government has sought
support local employment, health care,
commuting and much else besides.
to extend the distance of commuter
shopping, education, outdoor and
Government officers, banks and
journeys by requiring house building
indoor recreation. Wards with the worst
developers have often been dominated
beyond the City boundaries. This would
deprivation generate as much as 80% of
by self-interest. This must not continue.
create ‘urban sprawl’, which has been
their daily commuting by car, whilst
Peak Oil expands our knowledge of what
successfully resisted since World War II.
some of the wards around the Centre
needs to be done. ‘This is not the
have reduced car commuting, and
beginning of the end, but the end of the
therefore fuel consumption, to c.40%.
beginning’ (Winston Churchill).
‘Investments in bus and rail services and other forms of mass travel are needed as well…. Abundant fuel has led to making economic sense to have 12
Over the last year or two the Planning Department has organised much
Jerry Hicks, MBE
www.bristolcivicsociety.org.uk
NEW MEMBERS
2010 AGM minutes Minutes of the Annual General Meeting held at the Friends’ Meeting House, Hampton Road, Bristol BS6, on Thursday 22 April 2010 at 7.30pm. 1. Apologies for absence These were received from Jenny Beckingsale, Jill Brown, Dave Cave, Charles Fox, Stephen Macfarlane and Annette Walker. 2. Minutes of the AGM held on 22 April 2009 These were approved as a correct record (provisionally approved by the Executive Committee on 9 September 2009). 3. Matters arising There were none. 4. Annual Report and Account The Chairman introduced the Report. He said that two new Working Groups had been set up during the year and that the Development Event on Bristol’s progress had been very successfully held at The Pavilion, Harbourside. He mentioned Civic Voice, the successor organisation to the Civic Trust. A quarter of a million members of amenity organisations were represented. Derek Warwick commented on the use of initials instead of proper titles in places in the Annual Report; the Chairman accepted that more attention should be paid to this. A member queried the limited number of Patrons. The Chairman said that the Executive Committee had wrestled with this but had come to the conclusion that no change should be made. The Hon Treasurer spoke to the Accounts to December 2009. He noted that there were some one-off items of income, e.g., bequests. The reserves were healthy but we needed to exercise care. He also noted that, on the expenditure side, we had provisionally reduced the number of Newsletters from four to three. 5. Election of Patrons, for a one-year term The Chairman said that the Executive Committee had nominated, as in the previous year: the Lord Mayor of Bristol; the Bishop of Bristol; the Bishop of Clifton; the Master of the Society of Merchant Venturers; the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bristol; the Vice-Chancellor of the University of the West of England; and the Dean of Bristol Cathedral. Pat Roberts felt that there should be a lady amongst the Patrons. André Coutanche also expressed some concern.
AGM
The Chairman put the names to the vote. There were 24 in favour, 7 against and 7 abstentions. Haydn Mason felt that we should revisit the matter during the year. 6. Election of Officers, for a one-year term The Executive Committee had nominated the following: Chairman Stephen Wickham Vice-Chairman Alan Morris Hon Secretary [Vacant] Hon Treasurer John Jones Hon Membership & Subscriptions Secretary Maureen Pitman Hon Legal Adviser Christian Silk John Frenkel seconded these names. The meeting approved. Jerry Hicks wished to express thanks for the work that the Officers had put in during the year. A gift of appreciation was made for the services of the retiring Hon Secretary, Gordon Tucker. 7. Appointment of Hon Auditor The Executive Committee had nominated Richard Pendlebury, MBE. This was seconded by Audrey Lennox. The meeting approved. 8. Election of Members of the Executive Committee (for a three-year term) John Frenkel, Edwin Hill, Audrey Lennox and Wendy Pollard retired at this meeting but were eligible for re-election. Wendy Pollard did not wish to continue. Colin Jefferson wished to retire. There were six vacancies. Anne Dyke, John Frenkel, Edwin Hill, Audrey Lennox, Jeff Lucas and Gordon Tucker had been duly nominated and seconded by the membership. The meeting approved their election. 9. Any other business The Chairman said that he wished to express his thanks to Charles Fox, who was standing down as Events Organiser. He wished also to thank Danae O’Regan, who had played a significant part in organising Events and Meetings. Janine Derry had also been very helpful as our Press Officer during the last year. 10. The Chairman then introduced the speaker for the evening, Mr Bob Mizon, Co-ordinator for the British Astronomical Association’s Campaign for Dark Skies. These Minutes were provisionally approved by the Executive Committee on 12 May 2010.
The society warmly welcomes the following new members:
• • • • • •
Ms J A Bloor Mr Chris Bloor Ms J Hasse Mr K F L Jones Ms J A Stables Ms Laura Sutherland
‘TOP TEN’ COMPETITION The Redcliffe Press will shortly be publishing a book entitled ‘Bristol’s 100 Best Buildings’, edited by Mike Jenner with photographs by Stephen Morris. A review flyer can be found in this issue of the magazine. We are proposing to hold a competition around this subject, details as yet undecided, but along the lines of ’What are your Top Ten Buildings?’ Watch this space! Softback; Full colour; £16.95 ISBN: 978-1-906593-61-1 FURTHER INFO: John Sansom, 0117 973 7207, E-MAIL: johnsamson@aol.com
HOTWELLS & CLIFTONWOOD CA It is a pleasure to pay tribute to yet another of Bristol’s Newsletters. This one has been going since at least the mid-70s, probably from the time when the campaign to save Hope Chapel was fought. Sue Stops produced a black and white A5 paper for many years which went out three times a year with the Hope Centre programme. She was succeeded by Ray Smith in 2002. He expanded the format to A4 and then upgraded it to colour in 2005, which won him two prizes for Best Column and Best Photo in the Bristol Community Newsletter Awards in 2006. Ray Smith writes: “Now I’m retired and have a bit more time, I’m trying to maintain four editions a year. We are actually more or less self-funding from the advertising revenue but of course I get tremendous help from Rosemary Stibbon, who chases all the advertising, and from various other people who send in material. The current edition, for example, has a centre-page feature on plastic recycling, which was entirely produced by another group without any input from me. We also have an invaluable network of fifty or so volunteer deliverers, so that costs us nothing. If you go to www.hotwellscliftonwood.org. uk/newsletters you can download some early back numbers”. Great work, Ray! Always a joy to read, and very useful personally for the kind of topics you come up with. 13
Bristol Civic Society
Autumn 2010
DEAR EDITOR The Editor warmly welcomes letters from readers on any subject of interest to the Civic Society. Dear Ed, I much enjoyed reading your article on Bridge House in the Newsletter (April 2009). It brought back some happy memories. The Civil Service Commission used to have its Regional Headquarters on the top floor, and from there it gave careers advice to students throughout the West Country. I suspect aspiring job applicants were overawed by the majestic entrance
John Hirst: Making Bristol Harbourside a world-class destination
lobby and by the chance to park
On 7 September, the Society hosted a meeting at the Pavilion to hear John Hirst, Operations Director for Destination Bristol (ODDB), speak on this ambitious programme.
looked down on the Suspension
John, Broadmead Manager (1995-2008) began with a reminder of Broadmead’s unhappy situation in 1995. John Lewis had moved to Cribbs Causeway, the shopping centre was dull, with rising crime and litter everywhere, while the building of Cabot Circus was a constant noise in the background. His answer was to create a BID (Business Improvement District) with local businesses in partnership. This raised over £7m, which paid for new seating and paving, plus street cleaning, so that streets are now ‘deep cleaned’ each night with water jets, removal of chewing gum from the paving and graffiti. This citizenfriendly environment will provide an opportunity for public events to rival Covent Garden. A second BID is underway, with partners he hopes to have signed up by May 2011. In 2008 John took on as ODDB, heading a public-private partnership for Bristol and South Gloucestershire comprising over 600 major businesses and many local organisations, its aim to make the region a world-class place to work and live. The money raised has transformed Broadmead, with Cabot Circus now providing a top-class shopping area. In addition, work is going forward on the Harbourside to produce a new BID for that area. There is a need for ambianceenhancing architecture, decent restaurants and quality light, to create the delight that is found in such canals as Amsterdam, Brugges and Ghent, for example. John has a huge challenge: for instance, there is poor access to the jewel that is the SS Great Britain, and the problems of McArthur’s warehouse and the area behind the M-Shed remain to be resolved. But John gave us much cause for hope from the impressive plans he has already achieved, and we wish him every success. John Gillett 14
outside without any restriction. Security worries were at a minimum. My splendid office on the corner of the top floor had a tall ceiling with beautiful plasterwork and lovely wooden sash windows. I Bridge, beyond to the bonded warehouse on the Avon, and up to the Downs and way out towards North Somerset. But the uncertain floor-loading capacity of the building meant great care in storing literature, especially in the library, another impressive room with picture windows, reminiscent of an ancient Oxbridge college but where the floor creaked alarmingly. You generally kept to the outside of the room! I should be interested to hear from anyone who worked for one of the many other organisations that were housed there in the ‘old days’. Yours faithfully, Barry Teideman btiedeman@btinternet.com
www.bristolcivicsociety.org.uk
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY THU
21
THE CIVIC SOCIETY’S WORKING GROUPS EVENING
OCTOBER
The Working Groups of the Society are the most important part of our activities. They monitor all of Bristol’s planning applications for those that might affect the quality of our city and if necessary they make submissions to the city’s planning committee and initiate lobbying, or even suggest alternative schemes. They cover all building development, transport and public spaces. This evening is your opportunity to hear about what they have been dealing with over the last year or so and the important issues for the next 12 months. Each of the four groups will give a short presentation followed by questions and open discussion. 7.30PM Members free Non-members £2
SUN
24
A HARBOUR RUNS THROUGH IT GUIDED WALK
OCTOBER
A walk from Cumberland basin to the town centre and beyond following the water as much as possible, looking at architecture and history. Led by Jeff Lucas, the Society’s events organiser (who professes enthusiasm but no specialist knowledge). About 2.5 hrs. Start 10am. Members free Non-members £5 BOOKING ESSENTIAL.
Contact Jeff on 0117 9621801.
MON QUICK-HALF NIGHT AT THE COTTAGE INN
1
First of a regular series of drop-in nights to be held first Monday of each month. A chance to meet Society members and interested others for a chat, catch up with what’s happening, swap ideas and generally have a pleasant evening at this superbly sited harbourside pub. NOVEMBER
8.00PM Cottage Inn, Cumberland Basin BS1 6XG Free to all, non-members welcome. Just turn up and look for the blue lapel badges.
Unless otherwise stated meetings are held in the Friends’ Meeting House, 126 Hampton Road, Redland, beginning at 7.30pm.
THU
25
NOVEMBER
PROFESSOR KATIE WILLIAMS: ADAPTING THE SUBURBS TO CLIMATE CHANGE – THE IMPACT ON YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD
Professor Williams is Joint Director of the Centre for Sustainable Planning and Environments at the University of the West of England where she leads the SNACC project (Suburban Neighbourhood Adaptation for a Changing Climate). She will explain how her team are trying to find out how existing suburban neighbourhoods can best be adapted, protected and improved to reduce the impacts of climate change such as heatwaves, flooding and storms. The research is in its early stages and uses Bristol as one of its case studies. Computer modelling is used to test the performance of and to visualise houses, streets and public spaces before and after adaptation. The project also assesses the costs of making the changes and the impact on house prices.
TUE
14
7.30PM Members free Nonmembers £2
MON
17
A joint event with Bristol and Bath Branch of the Royal Institute of British Architects
JANUARY
PROFESSOR RICHARD PARNABY: THE STATE OF ARCHITECTURE TODAY – CAN WE MAKE ANY SENSE OF IT? Everybody is in favour of good design but how do we know what is “good”? Contemporary architecture offers a bewildering variety of styles -minimalism, neo-modernism, revivalism, contextualism, deconstruction, hi-tech, parametricism.... How do we tell good from bad, the beautiful from the ugly? Professor Parnaby is Joint Director of the Centre for Sustainable Planning and Environments at the University of the West of England, a member of the Design Commission for Wales and the Bristol Urban Design Forum. 6.30PM Unitarian Meeting Hall Brunswick Square, (N Side) BS2 8PE Members free Non-members £2 Local street parking free after 6pm (single yellow line).
DECEMBER
GLYN DUGGAN’S CHRISTMAS CABINET OF CURIOSITIES, WITH MULLED WINE AND MINCE PIES. Glyn joined the Society in the 1960s and was for some years active in the Amenity Group, the Executive Committee and particularly in the Society’s Tree Appeal. He has long been fascinated by curiosities. Glyn will show slides of curiosities both in Bristol and within day-trip distance for those who’d like to go to see them for themselves. Most of his collection is fresh, so even if you were at Glyn’s previous talks you should still find plenty to interest and entertain you. After the talk hot mince pies and mulled wine (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) will be served. 7.30PM United Reformed Church, Corner of Whiteladies Road/Redland Park. Members free
Non-members £2
PLEASE BOOK EARLY FOR ‘BOOKABLE’ EVENTS TO GUARANTEE YOUR PLACE Feedback and suggestions for future meetings and trips are always welcome. Contact Jeff Lucas by e-mail jalucas@blueyonder.co.uk or telephone: 0117 962 1801.
WEB
16 FEBRUARY
PETER WEEKS: ASHTON COURT MANSION – BRISTOL’S LARGEST UNKNOWN PALACE.
Peter Weeks joined the Civic Society when he moved to Bristol 20 years ago. In 2005 he became interested in Ashton Court Mansion. Since then he has worked with the Civic Society and the Council towards restoration and reopening of perhaps Bristol’s greatest hidden treasure. The challenge is the size and history of the Mansion: an architectural mongrel whose lack of coherent style or period perversely makes it so unusual and interesting. Somewhere between a predicament and a treasure house! Planning work has begun for the full-scale restoration of the interior of the house starting with the two floors of the north-west wing with the Civic Society well represented on the Working Group team steering the project. Peter will tell us the fascinating story of the house and the restoration project. 7.30PM St Michaels Church, Vivian Street, Windmill Hill BS3 4LW. Cars may be parked on the grass in front of the church – drive in through the gates. Members free Non-members £2
WANTED: HON SECRETARY The Society is still short of its Hon Secretary. The main business involves attending the meetings of the Executive Committee every six weeks and writing up the Minutes. Anyone interested is asked to contact the Newsletter Editor. 15
Bristol Civic Society
Autumn 2010
Who’s who in the society General enquiries MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY
Maureen Pitman
membership@bristolcivicsociety.org.uk
0117 974 3637
PRESS OFFICER
Anne Dyke
contact@bristolcivicsociety.org.uk
CHAIR
Stephen Wickham
stephen_wickham@btinternet.com
0117 966 3848
VICE-CHAIR
Alan Morris
alan@morrises.fastmail.fm
0117 968 1197
SECRETARY
’Vacant’
TREASURER
John Jones
jj@chh.org.uk
0117 962 0477
01454 632265/0794 647 1861
Organisational
Communications and events MARKETING GROUP
Alan Morris
alan@morrises.fastmail.fm
0117 968 1197
NEWSLETTER EDITOR
Haydn Mason
haydnadrienne@gmail.com
0117 973 5767
E-MAIL BULLETIN EDITOR
Dave Cave
dave_cave@lineone.net
0117 300 9392
WEBMASTER
John Gillett
webmaster@bristolcivicsociety.org.uk
0777 9798 328
EVENTS & VISITS
Jeff Lucas
jalucas@blueyonder.co.uk
0117 962 1801
AWARDS SCHEME
Charles Fox
cfox868@btinternet.com
0117 927 9578
Campaigning PLANNING POLICY GROUP
John Frenkel
johnfrenkel@blueyonder.co.uk
0117 924 0853
TRANSPORT GROUP
Colin Jefferson
colin.jefferson@uwe.ac.uk
0117 955 9534
MAJOR SITES GROUP
John Frenkel
johnfrenkel@blueyonder.co.uk
0117 924 0853
PLANNING APPLICATIONS GROUP
Gordon Tucker
gordonjtucker@googlemail.com
0117 973 2040
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
David Farnsworth
davidfarnsworth@tiscali.co.uk
0785 610 7373
URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Jerry Hicks
jerryhicks.goldrush@googlemail.com
0117 926 0209
Links with other Bristol groups PLANNING NETWORK
David Farnsworth
davidfarnsworth@tiscali.co.uk
0785 610 7373
TRANSPORT ALLIANCE
James Smith
ottervale@blueyonder.co.uk
0117 914 1010
CONSERVATION ADVISORY PANEL
Stephen Wickham
stephen_wickham@btinternet.com
0117 966 3848
ENGLISH HERITAGE
John Frenkel
johnfrenkel@blueyonder.co.uk
0117 924 0853
THE DEADLINE FOR THE NEXT NEWSLETTER IS 15 DECEMBER 2010. The Society‘s e-bulletin is available to download on the website at www.bristolcivicsociety.org.uk/en/e-bulletin or by signing-up to the subscription service.
Bristol Civic Society, Registered Charity No: 244414. Website: www.bristolcivicsociety.org.uk The newsletter is edited by Haydn Mason,11 Goldney Avenue, Clifton, BS8 4RA; tel 0117 973 5767; e-mail: haydnadrienne@gmail.com The opinions expressed in this newsletter do not necessarily represent those of Bristol Civic Society. Designed and produced by Cole Design Associates; e-mail: designers@cole-design.co.uk