South Bristol Voice Bedminster, January

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southbristolvoice January 2016 No. 3

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Community battles to save event space Page 5

LETTERS P15 | PLANNING APPLICATIONS P29 | POLICE NEWS P23

Lanterns bigger and brighter than before THE LANTERN parade on December 12 was judged the biggest and best yet as for the first time North Street was shut to make life easier for the thousands who attended.

Malcolm Brammar, parade controller, said: “This year’s event more than realised our aim to make the event ‘bigger and more Bedminster’.

“The eight primary schools produced some stunning lanterns, more family groups than ever took part and our parading musicians from Bristol Samba, the Ambling Band and the Ravens Scout Marching Band entertained the thousands of people who lined our traffic-free route. We’ve been inundated with messages of support and thanks and local traders have told us they had a significant upsurge in their takings.

“Yet again we proved Bedminster is a special part of Bristol when an event that’s organised by, with and for our community can be so popular.”

Lantern photos: 16-17

Winged horseplay

Fear for future of much-loved pub

Page 3

Nightmare of the rail works Page 4 Make South Bristol an enterprise zone

Page 7

Green Capital: The verdict Pages 8-9 Parking: One small victory Pages 10-11

History: A Blitz tragedy in BS3 pub

Pages 20-22

What’s on Page 31 Pegasus the winged horse in North Street with Ashton Gate pupils

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southbristolvoice Paul Breeden Editor and publisher

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Editorial team: Beccy Golding and Giles Crosse

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Intro

THERE are winners and losers when property prices rise as fast as they are doing across most of BS3.

It’s welcome for those who own their home to find they are sitting on an asset which may have doubled in value since they moved in.

The losers are those who will never be able to afford to buy a home in their locality.

And as rents shoot up, life becomes more insecure for tenants. Scroll through BS3 Connect or any other local Facebook group and you will

probably find a tenant who has been forced to move because their rent has shot up, or who has been given notice to leave after they had the bravery to ask for repairs.

But there are other losers too: all of us. As property becomes more valuable, the less profitable uses of it tend to get squeezed out.

Witness the severe lack of community space for activities like nursery groups, exposed by our story on Faithspace – see page 5.

And when a much-loved pub is threatened, the heart of the local community can go with it – see opposite.

How do I get in touch with ...

My MP? Karin Smyth MP By email: karin.smyth.mp@ parliament.uk By post: Karin Smyth MP, House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA By phone: 0117 953 3575 In person: Surgeries on Friday January 8 and 22 at Knowle West Health Park, Downton Road, BS4 1WH, 9.1510.45 am. Call 0117 953 3575.

My councillor?

All councillors can be reached by post at Brunel House, St George’s Road, Bristol BS1 5UY Celia Phipps Labour, Bedminster By phone: 07469 413312 USEFUL NUMBERS

Bedminster Office 165 East Street, Bedminster, BS3 4EJ 0117 953 5375 bedminster@besleyhill.co.uk

January, 2016

Bristol City Council www.bristol.gov.uk 0117 922 2000 Household waste, road maintenance Recycling and waste collections, maintenance of roads and pavements, street lighting, graffiti and fly-tipping, street litter. email: customer.services@bristol.gov.uk 0117 922 2100 Pest control and dog wardens Report anti-social behaviour, noise and other pollution, risks to public health and safety (such as food risks), issues with pests or dogs 0117 922 2500

By email: celia.phipps@bristol. gov.uk Mark Bradshaw Labour, Bedminster By phone: 0117 353 3160 By email: mark.bradshaw@bristol.gov.uk Surgery at Marksbury Road Library, 4th Saturday of every month, 10.30am-12 noon Stephen Clarke Green, Southville By email: stephen.clarke@bristol.gov.uk Charlie Bolton Green, Southville By phone: 07884 736111 By email: charlie.bolton@bristol.gov.uk Council tax

0117 922 2900

Housing benefit

0117 922 2300

Adult care & social services 0117 922 2900 Police www.avonandsomerset.police.uk General enquiries: 101 Emergency: 999 Fire

www.avonfire.gov.uk General enquiries: 0117 926 2061 Emergency: 999

EDITOR’S NOTE: South Bristol Voice is independent. We cannot take responsibility for content or accuracy of adverts, and it is advertisers’ responsibility to conform to all relevant legislation.

Feedback is welcomed: call editor Paul Breeden on 07811 766072 or email paul@southbristolvoice.co.uk.

All stories and pictures are copyright of South Bristol Voice and may not be reproduced without permission in this or any other plane of the multiverse.

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News Fears the Imp is fated to close Is new owner hoping to turn it into homes?

ONE of Southville’s best-loved community pubs looks at risk of closure after it was sold last month.

The Imp in Alpha Road, which has been through a succession of managers in the last few years, was marketed as having potential for alternative uses, subject to obtaining planning permission.

A sale has been agreed and is expected to be completed early in the new year, said a spokesman for Bath commercial surveyors James A Baker, who handled the transaction.

The spokesman would not reveal the identity of the purchaser, but said it was a private individual, and he did not think they had decided what to

Sold: The Imp in Alpha Road do with the pub. It was marketed at an asking price of £250,000.

Local people in the Alphaville residents association hope to persuade the new owner to keep the pub open.

They have filed an application to register it as an Asset of Community Value with Bristol city council – a move which could halt any conversion.

Eric Booth, who chairs the

association, has written an open letter to the new owner.

“Many of us have lived in the area for over 20 years and know that, when properly managed, the Imp is a valuable, successful and much loved local hub,” he said. The association started talks with a previous would-be buyer of the pub whose interest was only in the upstairs accommodation.

The residents group was hoping that a community interest company could be set up to run the pub as the “thriving hub of our community”.

In its letter, the group pointed out that two local plans – the Greater Bedminster Community Partnership strategic plan and the Southville Community Plan – both have policies to “maintain and improve community buildings, and ensure developments deliver tangible benefits for local people”.

“Alphaville residents association will vigorously resist

the loss of community assets through any possible change of use planning application,” the letter says.

The Imp’s name is short for Imperial, a reference to the Imperial Tobacco factory that was once nearby. It was previously called the Southville and dates from the 1830s.

Alpha Road is thought to be the first road built in Southville – though the pub was damaged by bombing in the Second World War and was partly rebuilt.

Alphaville residents have made the pub the centre of their annual street party – but they decided not to hold the party this year, partly due to uncertainty over the pub’s future.

The Imp is open under temporary management though it is not clear for how long.

Meanwhile, another landmark Bedminster pub is seeking a landlord: see page 7.

• https://alphasouthville. wordpress.com

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News

FOR TOO many people in Bedminster and Ashton, it’s been a festive season lacking in cheer after they were kept awake for night after night by noisy construction work.

Pile driving by Network Rail took place throughout much of December – though with a partial respite on Christmas Day. Rquests by councillors and by MP Karin Smyth and complaints by residents to Bristol city council failed to halt the work.

But as the Voice went to press just before Christmas, it was announced that the “percussive piling” – the loudest hammer blows – would not start at 3am on Christmas Day as had been announced.

Instead Network Rail agreed to carry out less noisy “vibratory piling” until 8am.

Residents near the site of the work in South Liberty Lane were worst affected. But at times the noise carried over much of Bedminster. Residents tried blocking out the noise with pillows, earplugs and

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Outrage as rail works keep residents awake Brief respite on Christmas morning from worst noise

headphones. Parents complained that their children were left exhausted after nights without enough sleep.

“My three-year-old fell asleep during his first carol service because he’s been kept awake.

We’re all exhausted and sick of it,” said one mother on Facebook.

In answer to someone who queried whether children slept on Christmas morning, she said: “If you had to listen to drilling

and banging every night and had exhausted kids to look after when you’ve not slept either you might have some understanding!”

One Ashton Vale man told the Voice he couldn’t see the point of Network Rail having a 24 hour phone line when staff were unable to do anything about the noise.

Another resident wrote: “I’m in Ashton Vale and have now been wearing earplugs for the last week or so.”

The work is to make a route for the MetroBus service under the railway embankment.

Initially, Network Rail did not send any letters to residents warning them about the work because it believed none lived within 250m of the site.

However, hundreds were disturbed from Long Ashton to

Bedminster. Explaining the Christmas work, Network Rail said: “We are working throughout this period because there are no trains, meaning we are able to get a huge amount of work done over a short period of time.

“Due to the nature of piling works, it is very difficult to reduce the level of sound and because of the location of works, sound augmentation panels would not be effective.”

Mark Bradshaw and Celia Phipps, Bedminster’s two Labour councillors, asked Network Rail to avoid doing noisy works on Christmas Day at least.

“We are surprised and disappointed at the lack of engagement with residents before the work started,” they said.

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News

Southville unites to save halls at disused church

AROUND 100 people turned out on a cold December Sunday to show their love for a cherished community building by covering it with hearts.

Faithspace, a former church in Stackpool Road, Southville, has been boarded up for a year while its owners, the Methodist church, decide what to do with it.

Until it closed, it was a busy venue for community groups, classes, dance events and activities of all kinds.

It is due to be put up for sale at the end of January. It has a covenant stating it must be used for educational or faith purposes.

But residents are worried that with property prices rising so fast in the area, a developer might gamble on overturning the covenant, and so make an unbeatable offer for the building.

“Our biggest concern is that a developer may buy it and sit on it, not doing anything with it for years,” said Lynda Keeys, one of the campaigners.

“We are doing this to put pressure on the council and on the church.”

Campaigners fear that the Methodist church will claim it is obliged, as a charity, to take the highest bid for the building – which could price out any community bidders.

Parents, children, councillors and others crowded round the building to stick their heartshaped pieces of paper to the shuttered windows. Each heart had a message saying what they wanted to see there, or what they were missing, from dance classes to nursery sessions.

Matthew Symonds, chair of Southville Community Development Association, which runs the Southville Centre next door to the church, is convinced that the needs of the community should be given priority.

“We have 250 families on our

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We need Faithspace for the community

Having a heart: Southville residents gather around Faithspace to show their support for reopening its halls waiting list for nursery places at the Southville Centre,” he said.

“This building happens to be very close to us but there are other community groups too which come to us wanting space.”

Among the groups which could use Faithspace are the Gathering Voices music group, GPs, and the Russian Orthodox Church, which is interested in buying the church, and letting out the halls and meeting rooms to community groups.

The shortage of community facilities has come about because Southville’s population is rising – up 20 per cent between 2002 and 2012 – and because several community buildings have been turned into housing.

East Street Methodist church, Merrywood gospel hall, St Paul’s church hall, Balfour Road scout hut, and the Gala bingo hall have all been lost to housing in recent years, said Mr Symonds.

Stephen Clarke, Green councillor for Southville, asked mayor George Ferguson to put his backing behind the campaign at December’s full council meeting. Mr Ferguson said he would ask council officials to talk to the church and its agents.

Cllr Clarke said it was vital that Southville had enough

Residents’ vision for the Green WHAM, the group campaigning on planning issues in Windmill Hill and Malago, will present a vision for the development planned for Bedminster Green.

www.southbristolvoice.co.uk

Their proposal, a result of ideas gathered from the residents, will be unveiled at a public meeting in January, on a date to be set.

Search Facebook for WHaM.

public venues to keep it a thriving community. Supporters are being urged to attend the next full council meeting at @ Bristol on January 19 at 6pm.

The Methodist church

confirmed it would be putting the building up for sale.

But it did not say if it would sell to the highest bidder, or if it would look favourably on a community bid.

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‘Make South Bristol an enterprise zone’ Call from commercial property firm follows Chancellor’s pledge to back the TQEZ

A COMMERCIAL property specialist has urged the Government to extend Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone – TQEZ – into South Bristol.

The chancellor, George Osborne, said in his autumn statement in November that the thriving Bristol enterprise zone should be expanded – but he did not say where.

Neither is it clear how much would be invested in the zone, which aims to create 17,000 jobs over the next 25 years. It includes the site of the arena.

Paul Williams, head of agency at Bruton Knowles, said the thriving creative hubs south of the river were ideally placed to benefit from an enterprise zone.

He said: “Details are yet to be announced on where the expanded zone will go.

Realistically, the adjacent industrial pocket between the main railway line to the north

The Eye: Part of Temple Quarter. and the River Avon to the south would make a logical extension zone, but we feel South Bristol’s bustling creative hubs should also be given serious consideration.

“We feel that pushing the boundary out into South Bristol could be just the boost this area needs in order to build on recent positive developments, such as the opening of Filwood Green business park, the South Bristol Link Road and the forthcoming

MetroBus system.”

Temple Quarter has already attracted more than 2,000 jobs.

Mr Williams said: “Temple Quarter was once something of a backwater but is now being seen as the trendy place to be. This is exactly what has been happening in South Bristol as new creative and media companies have transformed the fortunes of what were semi-derelict areas of the city. South Bristol has been the poor relation for too long.”

He said a “golden triangle”, bounded by the Temple Studios, Paintworks and Bath Road Studios on one side, extending to the Bottle Yard film studios in Whitchurch and Filwood Green business park, could benefit from being in an enterprise zone.

He believes the South Bristol Link, due to open in winter 2016 and joining Hengrove Park to the A370 at Long Ashton, will open up South Bristol for business.

“Once the new link road is built Filwood Green business park will be far better served.

Business people and commuters will have a faster and more direct route to the other side of Bristol – without having to run the gauntlet of the city centre.”

Preparing for the art trail

ONE OF Bristol’s biggest and longest running art trails is looking for artists, performers and new venues.

The Southbank Bristol Arts Trail takes place on May 14-15.

Organisers want to hear from “those who make pictures or objects, music or stories – anything artistic from textiles to origami, prints to puppetry”.

The Southbank trail is in its 15th year and last year attracted more than 4,000 visitors.

Venues include schools, churches, dozens of houses and community venues such as the Southville Centre, the Tobacco Factory and the Southbank Club.

For the first time, the Acta theatre in Gladstone Street is to open as a performance space.

• www.southbankbristolarts.co.uk

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Put your name on a park tree THE CHANCE to sponsor a tree to be planted in one of South Bristol’s parks is being offered by the council.

They can be marked with a plaque to mark the occasion of a wedding, an anniversary or a memorial.

The council has chosen the sites and the types of trees and is offering two options: £295 will pay for a tree to be planted and watered for two years, while £175 covers only the planting, with the sponsors left to take care of it.

South Street park in Bedminster has seven trees on offer ranging from apple to Japanese flowering cherry and walnut.

There is one tree earmarked for Victoria Park, a Scots pine.

For more details email TreeBristol@bristol.gov.uk or visit www.bristol.gov.uk/ museums-parks-sports-culture/ tree-bristol-sponsorship

Pub for grabs THE OLD GLOBE pub in East Street, Bedminster, is being offered for rent by its owners, Star Pubs & Bars. It is currently closed but Star says it is planned to be fully refubished in 2016, and a kitchen installed. No rent is mentioned but the firm is asking more than £2,000 in fees.

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News From pesticide policy to Paris: As Green Capital Year ends, George Ferguson says Bristol took centre stage at recent climate negotiations in Paris. Is Bristol truly a world leader? In Part 2 of our investigation, we examine the realities of Green Capital year at home JUST across the Channel, what commentators consider the world’s most important deal on climate change has just been struck. It will affect all South Bristol residents; driving the UK’s overall work on climate emissions and Bristol’s new aims for carbon neutrality by 2050, launched at the Paris conference.

“We have been the main talking point,” mayor George Ferguson said. “That means we have been able to put pressure on national governments. It is cities such as Bristol, Paris and Copenhagen that are leading the way in tackling climate change.

“Sometimes it’s difficult to see from within Bristol what we have achieved during our year as Green Capital. But from the outside there is a lot of interest,” he told Bristol Business News However, in Part One of South Bristol Voice’s investigation into Green Capital’s

Paris pledge: Mayor George Ferguson signs up Bristol as one of 400 cities vowing to cut greenhouse gas emissions and report on progress influence, we found 200 adults are still dying each year in Bristol as a result of poor air. The Bristol Green Party said this August that 0.1 per cent of Bristol’s domestic waste is reused, despite estimates that 40 per cent of discarded large kitchen appliances are still in working order.

To the uninitiated, those statistics seem at odds with a city supposedly leading the world on climate change, sustainability and emissions mitigation.

But sustainability is complex.

Judging our city’s improvements is challenging to do.

Are the council’s claims tenable?

One example of the difficulties

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surrounds pesticide use. The Pesticide Safe Bristol Alliance is calling on Bristol city council to adopt safer methods of weed control. Candidates for European Green Capital will be assessed on their efforts to minimise pesticide use from 2017.

Sara Venn, from Incredible Edible Bristol, told South Bristol Voice the council has to date failed to reply fully to a Freedom of Information request on pesticides being used.

Her suspicion is the council doesn’t actually know how much pesticide is sprayed across South Bristol’s parks and pavements.

“We need transparency,” she said. “If the council is spraying we should be able to see where, and how much. This is nothing more than spraying good practice.”

Ms Venn said Bristol should be leading on this. She speculated that historical contracts which do not stipulate detailed record-keeping might be to blame.

“But as Green Capital we must be leading on all this, not struggling to find open data,” she argued. Either way, moving 40 acres of land off pesticide use takes three years, so change doesn’t happen overnight.

Harriet Williams, of Pesticide Alliance member PlaySafe Bristol, said: “Our opinion survey

shows that 55 per cent of Bristolians aren’t even aware that pesticides may be used on school grounds.”

Top level lack of clarity?

There are further areas where Bristol’s realities appear mixed.

The council has just revealed Bristol’s aim for carbon neutrality by 2050.

The council says Bristol has so far reduced carbon emissions per person by 24 per cent since 2005 and the mayor has committed to future CO2 reductions of 40 per cent by 2020, 50 per cent by 2025, 60 per cent by 2035 and 80 per cent by 2050.

But Gary Hopkins, the council’s Liberal Democrat leader, representing Knowle, told South Bristol Voice the mayor could be doing much more to help mitigate CO2.

Bristol should be investing in the hydrogen economy, with hydrogen-poweed public transport, he said. A six-month experiment with a hydrogenpowered ferry boat ended in 2014.

“We need to grab hold of public transport again with bus contracts and delivering the rail improvements that were planned. We would prioritise sorting out waste and importantly, would prioritise investment into the hydrogen economy,” said Cllr Hopkins.

“We need more trumpeting of the jobs and opportunities that are attached to our environmental industries.

“I think we will have to wait a little while to assess what positive or negative effects the year has had.”

Are local efforts making the grade?

Shaun Hennessy, chair of Victoria Park Action Group, is also a supporter of Bristol South Skyline Walk, a Green Capitalfunded route running through Arnos Vale and Victoria Park to the Northern Slopes and beyond.

“The Bristol Green Capital year has been a great success for the parks of South Bristol,” he said. “It enabled us to establish a walk, taking in spectacular views of Bristol and linking fantastic green spaces.”

Mr Hennessy said hundreds of walkers are discovering the less well-known parts of Bristol.

“We are determined this walk

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News what’s the Green Capital legacy? will become a permanent legacy of the Bristol 2015 year.”

Walking may not easily translate into figures on reducing carbon emissions. But if South Bristol’s residents are out walking, not using cars, the benefit is there, whether quantifiable or not.

“Green Capital funding helped Knowle West Media Centre put on an event in Knowle West where local people shared recipes, food and experiences as part of the project ‘Who decides what’s in my fridge?’” said Rachel Clarke of Knowle West Media Centre.

“The project is bringing together different people to find out how easy is it to access healthy and affordable food and explore different food habits and cultures.

“We hope this will lead to a better understanding of food issues and that people are able to take informed action to bring about the change they want in their area.” It’s another example

Pilot boat: Bristol’s hydrogenpowered Hydrogenesis was tried for six months as a harbour ferry of local Green Capital work that is changing things.

Long term action Media centre director Carolyn Hassan is proud to have played a role in making a success of award-winning environmental Filwood Green Business Park, billed as the most environmentally friendly commercial building in the West of England. The building now hosts KWMC: The Factory, a venture that started life as a pop-up furniture factory in a derelict youth centre.

“We want this to be a resource for local people to learn skills in digital manufacturing, making things locally and using recycled materials. We hope this will contribute to much-needed new

Green workplace: Filwood Green business plark claims to be the West’s greenest commerical building, with energy use cut by 30 per cent, solar panels, low-water use, a green roof, electric car charging and more jobs and opportunities for people in the longer term,” she said.

The truth is hard to find It seems that the benefits of Bristol’s Green Capital year depend on who you talk with.

Politicians focus on top level announcements, linking themselves with aspirations.

They try to gloss over Bristol’s failings.

Local groups, meanwhile, can be more interested in generating local change that can slip under the radar of the council, and whose benefits don’t always throw up easy figures on carbon reduction. Yet this work can be further down the path to true sustainability.

Future ambitions However, Professor Richard Pancost, director of Bristol University’s Cabot Institute and advisor to Bristol European Green Capital, is confident the year has been a success overall.

“There are certain things we could have done better and groups we could have better engaged. However, a great deal has been achieved in terms of developing new educational programmes, creating a new foundation for our city’s energy policy and raising our global visibility,” he said.

He believes some benefits are yet to come. Within a few years Bristol is forecast to produce 1GW of electricity from solar panels and since 2005, the city has cut energy use by 18 per cent.

The council-owned Bristol Energy Company was set up this year with a remit to source low-carbon energy and supply residents at a reasonable cost.

Prof Pancost also has hopes for the Bristol Billion, a $1 billion (or £700m) ambition to upgrade 56,000 homes in Bristol to lift them out of fuel poverty and reduce health costs.

He said: “These should move us rapidly towards carbon neutrality of our energy provision, especially if national policies begin to align with it.

Achieving carbon neutrality with respect to our transport system will be much harder and everyone knows that. Will we all be driving electric cars, powered by a renewable-energy based electrical grid? Or will we all be cycling, walking and using a vastly expanded public transport system?”

He also believes that Bristol made a substantial contribution to the historic claimate change agreement in Paris. “Bristol was pervasive, contributing to discussions about business and

investment, resilience, energy, smart technology and other areas, all with respect to the crucial role of cities. The role of cities in delivering the COP21 pledges and in raising ambition was highlighted again and again, up to their inclusion in the text of the Paris Agreement; Bristol cannot take credit for that but it certainly played a part.”

It will be up to politicians both local and national to determine the true legacy of Green Capital 2015. Research by Andrew Gouldson from the University of Leeds suggests that investment in a sustainable future over the next decade could save Bristol up to £300m on its energy bills and create up to 10,000 jobs. Will that goal prove achievable?

• A guide to the city’s work this year is called The Bristol Method.

You can read it here: • www.bristol2015.co.uk/method

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January, 2016

Nightclub’s relief at yellow THE NIGHTCLUB which has seen its customer numbers fall dramatically since the introduction of residents parking controls in Bedminster has won its fight to get the restrictions re-lifted.

Bristol mayor George Ferguson reacted after the owners of Fiddlers in Willway Street complained that attendance at some of their concerts had halved after the introduction of the Bedminster East parking scheme.

Single yellow lines that had been outside the club were replaced with double yellows – meaning that coaches and other visitors couldn’t park there.

Daniel Cleary, owner of Fiddlers, was not aware that the yellow lines were due to be changed. Willway Street is quiet at night, and many customers have got used to parking there.

Many choose to drive because the

club closes early in the morning when there is little public transport.

Council officers have now agreed for the double yellow lines outside the club to be suspended between 6pm and 8am to allow customers to park there.

The parking team will also enable tour buses to park outside without receiving a fine if the club gives them prior notice.

The club got up a petition attracting more than 2,000 signatures calling for the parking rules to be relaxed near Fiddlers, and on Bedminster Parade, where other traders have complained of a loss of business.

However, no other parts of the RPS are being changed.

Mr Cleary said: “We would like to thank everyone who has contributed to resolving the issues created by the new restrictions of the Bedminster East RPS, which has had a direct

Parking suspended as ambulance A PARKING bay in Lower Sydney Street, Southville, has been suspended after an ambulance found it impossible to get down the street.

Councillor Charlie Bolton asked mayor George Ferguson for action to amend the new bay – part of the Southville residents parking scheme – when the ambulance on a 999 call found its way blocked to a patient in Chalcroft House.

Mr Ferguson responded: “Thank you for raising this issue that, as you point out, could literally be a life or death issue.

“We will suspend the parking effect on the business. We are also really grateful to all of those who made the council aware of the support and passion that is

that is causing this problem as an interim measure and we will propose to remove it when we review the scheme.”

And other residents remain unhappy since the introduction of the Southville RPS in late November.

The scheme only covers the felt at South Bristol’s oldest entertainment venue.”

The double yellow lines on Willway Steet will continue to be

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January, 2016

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finds way blocked on 999 call north side of North Street – meaning those who live the other side of the street are finding it hard to park, as many vehicles have been pushed out of their previous parking spots.

One resident of the south side of North Street said she was no longer able to bring her disabled mother to her home because she cannot leave her mother alone while she drives away to look for a parking space.

She said: “Mum’s visits have stopped because I can’t leave her on her own in my house for long periods of time while I try to find a parking space.

“The businesses on this side of the road now park in my road, actually queueing for residents to move in the mornings despite the businesses having parking bays directly outside their premises. The area has gone potty.”

Another resident of North Street posted on Facebook: “I have been advised to park in the side streets as I will get parking tickets if I park in front of my flat. Surely this defeats the object of the RPS, a resident who can no longer park outside their home since the scheme has come in.”

enforced during the day to enable larger vehicles to access other industrial businesses that operate there between 8am and 6pm.

It is proposed that they will be changed to single yellow lines at the review of the scheme, which is due to take place in the spring.

George Ferguson, mayor of Bristol, said: “I am really pleased to see that we have been able to work out a solution that supports

Fiddlers, as it is such an important venue for the city, one in which I have enjoyed many a good evening! It is vital that we support local businesses.

“As soon as I heard about their concerns, I asked that a sensible solution be found.

“I will always listen to anyone who has a genuine concern about parking schemes’ operational issues such as this.”

Voice winner

Hedgehog hunt

WE HAD lots of entries to our competition in the December issue of the Voice. The winner of two tickets to see Barry Cryer and Ronnie Golden at the Slapstick Festivale was Geoffrey Pegden of Lower Knowle.

WILDLIFE campaigners want to hear of sightings of hedgehogs in Bedminster. As part of My Wild Bedminster, they are hoping to identify some “Hedgehog Champions” in the spring. Email gbcpnewsletter@gmail.com

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The Arena EMPLOYMENT

PEOPLE in BS3 and BS4 are going to have to put up with a lot during the construction of the arena, from roadworks to construction traffic – shouldn’t they get something back in terms of jobs?

Carolyn Magson, an Arnos Vale resident who is also Labour’s council candidate for Knowle, has made a plea for apprenticeships and other employment to be made available for local people when the building work goes ahead.

This would also help keep cars off the roads if workers don’t need to drive in from far away, she pointed out.

Five contractors are bidding for the role of main contractor.

They will be judged partly on the number of local jobs they promise, said Andrew Beard, from the council’s planning consultants, CSJ. However, giving jobs to local people will not be a condition of the planning permission.

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January, 2016

Changes to residents BRISTOL city council has promised to look at the possibility of private car parks contributing to the transport plan if the arena is built next to Temple Meads.

In last month’s South Bristol Voice, Cllr Gary Hopkins called for unused spaces at Avon Meads retail park to be considered.

Other sites have been suggested at the fruit market off Albert Road, Gardiner Haskins, and in Mead Street, behind Fowlers motorcycle showroom.

Cllr Deborah Joffe has also asked how the council would manage traffic if businesses think it a good idea to provide private parking in those areas.

The council told the Voice: “We already work cooperatively with the providers of private parking spaces and will continue to do so. However, by definition, those spaces are not within the council’s control. Avon Meads car park was considered as part of

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AN ENVIRONMENTAL Impact Assessment concludes that increases in traffic will be “limited”, with most roads seeing less than a one per cent rise in vehicle numbers, and none near the 10 per cent level which is considered severe.

It says the impacts in air quality will be “negligible” from extra traffic. It says the construction phase will deposit dust and particulates, but this can be reduced to insignificant levels by a management plan.

The report asks whether the the existing parking supply that could be used by arena visitors but discounted as it is designated for customers only.

“The Transport Assessment shows that, with the proposed mitigation measures such as Park & Ride in place, there is sufficient

former diesel depot is the right site for an arena, and concludes that it is, being brownfield and close to transport links.

Improvements to public transport, new and extended residents parking zones, and an event management plan “will ensure access is possible for all journeys,” it asserts.

With measures to protect wildlife, control noise, restrict unnecessary light spill, and work to restore contaminated land, “there are no significant impacts” on the environment. parking availability for arena visitors in the identified car parks,” said the council.

The Transport Assessment filed with the planning application says the extra shuttle trains and Park & Ride (see panel, right) will fill the gap in

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January, 2016

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The Arena

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parking if arena goes ahead

parking that could occur on the 20 events a year when the arena is at its 12,000 capacity.

However, residents and councillors have voiced doubts that drivers will fill spaces in the city centre, and some may choose to cruise the streets looking for easy parking.

Residents within a 20-minute walk of Arena Island will be consulted on what form of controls they would like though no timescale is apparent.

The Environmental Impact Assessment suggests that new residents parking schemes could cover Totterdown, Knowle, Windmill Hill and the Dings.

It also suggests extensions to existing RPSs covering Bedminster East, Easton, St Philips and Redcliffe.

The council is also talking to Network Rail about future plans for Temple Meads. It is expected that redevelopment of the station will require extra parking – already earmarked by Network Rail but with no location named and no numbers envisaged.

“For some events and for some users, the parking needs could dovetail. It depends on when visitors to the arena arrive and the timing of the event,” said a spokeswoman.

Drop-off places The council has also answered calls from those worried that it will be hard to drop off arenagoers by car – for example, parents who want to deposit teenagers as near to the site as possible.

The Transport Assessment mentions areas in Albert Road, Avon Street and possibly on part of the former PO depot site on Cattle Market Road.

Outdoor events It has been revealed that the open-air event space in front of the arena can be used for performances, outdoor cinema, festivals and markets. “Water jets will provide an area for play when events are not taking place and green terraces will create an informal seating area for picnicking or recreation,” said a council statement.

However, it’s not clear how big or how frequent these outdoor events will be. “The number and size of outdoor events has not been agreed at this stage. The current proposal

Open air venue: Tha plans reveal that concerts could also be held outside the arena on the terrace is for the arena operator to have a licence from the council for the use of the plaza area for outdoor performances,” said a spokeswoman.

Costs and timetable The cost and the timetable for the project have slipped further.

In September, the arena was expected to cost £93 million – up from £91m – and to open in early 2018 – a slippage from late 2017.

Now it’s emerged that the budget has increased further to £95m, and the opening is stated to be “in 2018”.

Two applications Two planning applications have been made: a full application for the arena and its access routes, and an outline application for the rest of Arena Island to be developed with 19,000 sqm of offices, shops and restaurants, and homes.

Affordable homes Originally around 300 homes were envisaged. Now there are likely to be about 80 on the site, with the remaining 220 as part of the redeveloped sorting office site, or nearby.

The application states that 30 per cent of the homes will be “affordable”. Of these 70 per cent would be for social rent – set at 55 per cent of market rent – and 30 per cent shared ownership.

Councillors on the planning committee are expected to consider the applications in

February. If approved, work on the arena itself would start next year and finish in 2018.

The second phase of homes and commercial buildings would start in 2018 and take about three years.

George Ferguson, mayor of Bristol, said: “We have listened carefully, resulting in a number of changes being made to the plans. This includes further consideration of traffic and parking management and an improvement of pedestrian and cycle access from Three Lamps to the arena site, something that local residents were particularly keen to achieve.”

Cllr Joffe welcomed the new footpath and cycleway, saying she had repeatedly lobbied the mayor and the developers to bring it about.

A greener arena The council says the public consultation found strong support for the arena from over 86 per cent of respondents.

And 85 per cent of respondents support a sustainable arena. Solar panels have been added to the roof of the arena, and hi-tech Tesla batteries may be used to store the power for when it is needed.

The arena operator will work to encourage visitors to use public transport, and coordinate travel plans with the police, the council and other bodies.

CHANGES TO THE PLANS INCLUDE:

• A new widened cycle path and walkway from Three Lamps Junction on the A4 via a new bridge over the railway to link with the arena terrace; • Park & Ride services for events of over 9,000 capacity (up from 10,000); • Additional shuttle trains to run between Bristol Temple Meads and Bristol Parkway station for the largest 12,000 capacity events; • Cycle parking increased from 200 to just over 250 spaces; • Temporary closures of Cattle Market Road and Albert Road between Stanhope Street and Feeder Road for large evening events to ease access.

HOW TO COMMENT

THE PUBLIC consultation on the planning applications runs until January 11.

• The plans can be seen at: www.bristoltemplequarter. com/arenaconsultation • Comments can be emailed to: development.management@ bristol.gov.uk • Or write to: Development Management, Brunel House, 2nd Floor, Bazaar Wing, Bristol City Council, PO Box 3176, Bristol BS3 9FS.

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News

Penguins take over the school SOUTHVILLE primary school celebrated its expansion with an end-of-term play in which Eddie the penguin and his friends want to stop the ice melting and save the world.

Children in Key Stage 1 joined together to give three performances of a play about environmental issues for parents, carers and friends. They also learnt about the importance of reducing gas emissions and walking, scooting, skipping or cycling to school through one of the songs.

Following building work, the school now has three reception classes and an intake of 90.

Tours for prospective parents will show off both sites, Merrywood and Myrtle, on Tuesday January 5 and Thursday January 14 at 9.30 am.

If you would like to visit the school ring 0117 377 2671.

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January, 2016

Make exercise a new year habit HABIT formation is the process by which new behaviours become automatic. Old habits are hard to break and new habits are hard to form, especially when it comes to improving our health. That’s because behavioural patterns we repeat most often are etched into our neural pathways.

But by following these five simple strategies you will increase your chances of forming new healthy habits.

1. Repetition is habit forming Research shows the more times we can perform a behaviour the more likely we are to stick with it. So do your workouts as many times as possible within the first month, to increase your chances of success.

2. Start small with short workouts Use short workouts throughout the day to increase your habit forming behaviour.

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and this brings with it feelings of success, which your brain and body love. Remember Pavlov’s dogs; the human brain works just the same way.

3. Set yourself realistic targets Have you ever felt daunted by a task that seems too big? The response to this is generally anxiety and stress. The best way to avoid this is to break down your goals into small, realistic chunks that are realistically achievable. Once you have mastered these smaller chunks you can then set larger goals as you gain confidence.

4. Reward yourself for new behaviours Children thrive off rewards and praise and this is essential in creating healthy behaviour patterns as they grow. Adults are no different, we all like to be rewarded for the good things we achieve, so ensure you reward yourself. This does not mean polishing off your Christmas

chocolates. Instead find alternative ways like watching a film or listening to your favourite music, be creative with it and make it fun.

5. Slot exercise into your diary It’s no coincidence that people who prioritise their workouts and set appointments for them, achieve better results and form habits quicker.

At our personal training studio in Ashton we ask our clients to schedule their sessions weekly to avoid missing workouts. The sooner you think of your workouts as if they were business meetings, the sooner your habits will form and become automatic.

Rich Bignell, Functional Fitness • Functional Fitness Bristol specialise in personal training and wellbeing for individuals and businesses and have a fitness studio in Ashton www.functionalfitness.me

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Will RPS affect our retailers?

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DESPITE our egregious mayor’s crowing over the apparent successful roll-out of RPS, it is clearly too early to make a judgment on the RPS in Southville.

I hope that traders in North Street are keeping a close eye on their trade and maintain records of trading pre- and post-RPS. Vicky Harrison’s ‘feeling’ that footfall is down at Paper Village is not going to wash with the council. She, as well as other traders, must provide cold hard figures and I am glad to see the Bedminster Town Team are conducting a survey.

I don’t possess a car at the moment, but am looking to buy one. As I assume I won’t be able to park it in Southville until I have a permit, I presume it will have to remain at the car dealers until I have it. Any idea how long that will be? I also assume as the permit has the registration number, when you change cars, you have to get a replacement permit. If you move from one

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January, 2016

area to another then again a replacement will have to be obtained.

Frankly, the bureaucracy behind this scheme is mindboggling, not to mention the cost of all the ticket machines and white-line painting. I have noticed fewer cars parked around here, but the traffic still seems as bad. I imagine that few commuters have taken to public transport and are simply parking in non-RPS areas. Who could have foreseen that? I assume the council will be monitoring public transport passenger figures etc and publishing the results so that we can all glory in the mayor’s success.

PR, Bedminster

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Have you got strong views about what’s happening in South Bristol? Email paul@ southbristolvoice.co.uk, post to Letters, South Bristol Voice, 18 Lilymead Avenue, Bristol BS4 2BX or call us on 07811 766072. Please keep letters short. We may edit your letter.

Blocking the pavements YOUR last issue had a welcome piece on making it easier to walk around Bedminster, and getting us out of our cars. In my opinion this is something where we all have to take responsibility.

It would be a lot easier to move around if some of our narrow pavements weren’t obstructed by people’s dustbins.

Worse are the recycling bins where the recycling hasn’t been sorted and so the council won’t collect it, and it just stays there in everyone’s way.

FS, British Road

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Half term fun for children

NEW year may have only just gone but those planning for half term may want to know that they can use childcare vouchers to pay for some children’s holiday activities.

Sessions will be run by Shine at Southville primary school from Feburary 8-12. Activities include a football academy, creative workshops, Olympic multisports, and a forest adventure.

Activities start from £13 per day. Next month’s Voice will have details of more holiday activities.

• www.shinesportscoaching.com

Gallery appeal SPIKE Island is looking for volunteers who would like to help show visitors arund its gallery spaces. Applications are open for enthusiastic individuals who have an interest in contemporary art, enjoy meeting people and have a helpful attitude. Email beckie.upton@spikeisland.org.uk

Got a story or any other inquiry? Call Paul on 07811 766072 or email paul@southbristolvoice.co.uk

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January, 2016

Picture special ... Bedminster Lantern Parade

Bringing the rainforest and its wildlife to North Street were Parson Street primary.

Pegasus the winged horse leads th

Fiery beast: A dragon dragged along By Ashton Vale primary school

Big wave: One of Luckwell school’s giants

Bristol Samba Band and dancers g

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January, 2016

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southbristolvoice

he parade as part of Ashton Gate primary school’s theme of Ancient Greece

gave an infectious rhythm to the parade as they led it down North Street

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Which way: Compass Point school’s lantern shows all directions

Watch out, there’s a dragon about, courtesy of Luckwell primary school

Got a story or any other inquiry? Call Paul on 07811 766072 or email paul@southbristolvoice.co.uk

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January, 2016

Karin Smyth We need to decide what happens after the bombing

southbristolvoice

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RITING this in mid-December, it feels distant now, but we all know how politics has recently been dominated by our response to the threat from ISIL/Daesh extremists.

In the end I voted against extending UK airstrikes into Syria. This was the culmination of many days carefully weighing up the cases for and against; listening to different views of constituents; background reading; talking to colleagues and attending briefings. Ultimately I remained unconvinced about the Government’s case for what happens after the bombing.

Nonetheless the vote was carried. Action began swiftly, then the media coverage evaporated quickly. But make no mistake, this

The MP’s view Each month Bristol South Labour MP Karin Smyth gives her perspective issue hasn’t gone away, and won’t any time soon. Reflecting on chilling events in Paris reminds us of the threat we all face. And the situation for millions of women, men and children living in Syria, and millions more who have fled the country, is truly desperate.

That’s why the day after the vote I began pushing the Government on a number of key issues, and I asked the prime minister to

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ensure ministers make regular reports back to Parliament on all developments. The first of these was delivered on December 16. I have asked the prime minister to focus on the impact of UK military action and to ensure that this forms part of a multi-faceted strategy: the use of ‘soft’ power alongside the ‘hard’ power approved by Parliament last month.

The prime minister has a huge moral responsibility to see this through: not to bomb and effectively try to walk away from Syria’s major future challenges. I’ll continue to press the Government to ensure there is a long-term plan and that the effect of military action, alongside proper negotiation efforts, is being productive, and that the Government also continues to work in other ways to combat the ongoing terrorist threat.

The UK must also use all means, political and diplomatic as well as military, to help improve the situation for those living in Syria.

So I have also urged the prime minister to rethink the Government’s approach to refugees fleeing the conflict, which I believe is inadequate. Finally, we of course support our military as they undertake their task, but it is vital that the Government ensures necessary support is available to them – and to their families – as a result of this action.

As ever, please let me know your views.

• Email: karin.smyth.mp@parliament.uk

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History

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January, 2016

The old soldier who made the Simon Bennett, a Voice reader who lives in Knowle, has discovered the story of his great uncle’s tragic end in an air raid on South Bristol in 1940. It was a sad end – but it has its lighter side.

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HILE carrying out some family history research, I came across an interesting and rather unfortunate story about my great uncle, Arthur Woodworth, who died during the Bristol bombing in 1940.

Firstly, however, I would like to give you some background information on Arthur so you can get a picture of what he had done in his life before 1940.

Arthur Woodworth was born in Shepton Mallet, Somerset, on November 16, 1884. He moved to Hotwells, Bristol with his family before the turn of the century when his father William got a job

Tales from the Cemetery

Every month we tell a story from Arnos Vale Cemetery

As the bombs rained down on Bedminster, Arthur made a fateful decision as a steam crane driver at Bristol docks.

Unfortunately, at 14 years of age, Arthur and his father William got into some trouble stealing bicycles. The crime was

reported in the Bristol Mercury.

Arthur was convicted on May 2, 1899 and sentenced at the Petty Sessional Court at the Bridewell to four years and six months as an inmate of the Kingswood Reformatory school. The school was for boys convicted of criminal practices and given sentences of three years or more.

William Woodworth got two months hard labour at Horfield prison for his involvement.

On entry to the reformatory school, Arthur was described as living at 6 Little Caroline Row in Hotwells. His education was recorded as “poor” and his character “indifferent”. He was described as 5ft 2in tall with brown hair, of medium build and with a fair complexion.

The superintendent of the Reformatory in 1902 was a Mr B Andreys, an ex-army officer, and this may have been why following his release, Arthur joined the Royal Scots Fusiliers as a private.

He was stationed with the Royal Scots in India from 1905.

In the 1911 census Arthur was shown as a musician in the 1st Battalion stationed at Roberts Heights, Pretoria, in the Transvaal, South Africa.

As a full time soldier (No 8583) he returned to Europe in March 1914 and in August he joined the war that they said

Rediscovered: The resting place of Arthur Woodworth, now restored by his great nephew would be over by Christmas. He was one of some 120,000 regular troops who were in the British Expeditionary Force. The Fusiliers were one of the first British formations to move to France.

Arthur was present at many of the First War’s setpiece events including the battle of Le Chateau; the first battle of the Marne; the first battle of Aisne; as well as the second Battle of Ypres, which saw the first use of a new German weapon on the western front – poisonous gas.

Bristol’s first taste of THE RAID in which Arthur Woodworth died in 1940 was the first major Nazi air raid on Bristol city centre. It was to prove both an example of how terrifying and deadly air attacks could be – and also a lesson for the attackers in how much punishment a city could soak up.

The Luftwaffe dispatched 148 aircraft to Bruder, its code name for Bristol. It might have been more, but fog was feared over the German airfields in northern France, and the planes were ordered to return at midnight.

Of those aircraft, 135 are believed to have dropped bombs – 156 tonnes of high explosive, 4.75 tonnes of oil bombs, or

Flammenbombe, and 12,500 incendiaries, according to John Penny’s book Bristol During World War Two. The target was the docks and the aim was of “eliminating Bristol as an importing port supplying much of the Midlands and South of England”.

The Luftwaffe used several methods of radio direction finding, some of which could be jammed by the British. On the afternoon of November 24 the RAF did suspect that Luftwaffe X-beams were centred on Bristol. Unfortunately, Bristol was easily found by following the Bristol Channel and then tracking down the Avon; in any

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January, 2016

History

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wrong call as the Blitz began

He was also present at the battle of the Ancre in the freezing winter 1916-17; the third battle of Ypres and the battle of Lys. On Armistice Day he was at Romaries, according to his army records.

How he managed to keep alive and even sane I don’t know!

In 1919 his battalion had to renew one of the regiment’s former duties in Ireland – but this was during the Irish civil war. He landed in Dublin on May 13, 1919 and the battalion was stationed in Tullamore barracks, Tullamore until 1921 when the British and Irish Governments would agree on the future political structure of Ireland.

Some time after this Arthur left the army. Many soldiers were left destitute after the war and our family has stories of him and some ex-army colleagues busking on Castle Street to make a living.

At the start of the Second World War in 1939 it is no surprise that Arthur would want to do his bit for king and country again. He joined the Auxiliary Fire Service as a firewatcher.

German heavy bombers could carry a thousand incendiary bombs and according to the Home Office a single bomber could start up to 150 fires over a three-mile area. Arthur was to spot fires over the Bedminster

area and pass on information to the fire service.

One cold evening in 1940, November 24, while off duty, Arthur ventured to the Cricketers Arms on the corner of Greenway Bush Lane and Greenbank Road, Southville, for a few beers with his mates. I can only imagine it would have been a busy evening and the pub was full.

The main topic of conversation was probably the recent bombing in Bristol and I’m sure some old First World War stories were told as well. It was late in the evening when the dreaded air raid siren disturbed the pub and people started evacuating for the local air raid shelter or pub basement.

Arthur got up from his seat needing to go to the toilet. Could he hold on during the raid or should he use the pub’s facilities?

He decided to use the pub toilet.

It was the wrong decision. A German bomb destroyed the pub and the only fatality there was poor Arthur. What an unfortunate call of nature.

Arthur died aged 56 and is buried at Arnos Vale cemetery.

Recently, with the help of Arnos Vale and some extensive undergrowth clearing, I located and restored his resting place.

Simon Bennett Langham Road, Knowle

Arthur Woodworth, right, in the uniform of the Royal Scots Fusiliers, with his younger brother Alfred, grandfather to Voice reader Simon

city bombing has Luftwaffe claiming victory DO YOU HAVE A BLITZ STORY? Do you rememember the bombing of Bristol? Do you have family mementoes of the Blitz? In 2016, the 75th anniversary of the worst raids in Bristol, the Voice will look back at the Blitz and its aftermath.

If you’d like to contribute, email event the bombers reached their target. Bedminster was one of the first targets. The gasholder in Marksbury Road took a hit and

exploded at about 7.15pm. The explosion was spectacular and German pilots thought they had hit the larger gasworks at St

Philips. As a result of this false impression the Luftwaffe claimed it had destroyed Bristol as a distributing centre and major railway junction.

This conclusion was wrong, but the cost to Bristol was heavy: 200 people, including Arthur Woolworth, were killed, and 689 injured. Here started the destruction of the historic city centre which has been mourned ever since with the central shipping area burning all night.

The AFS or Auxiliary Fire Service – of which Arthur was a member, though off duty during the raid – worked well. Within 30 minutes of the air rad warning, nearly 900 personnel

were on duty. Seven were killed that night.

The fire service was overwhelmed with 194 reports of fires but contingency plans were in place and at 7.38pm reinforcements were requested.

Eighty one appliances were sent from seven counties as far away as Kent, as well as London, and 20,000 feet of fire hose was brought in.

At 11.10pm bombs damaged the water mains and firemen had to pump their water from the harbour, the River Frome and elsewhere. The fires were all under control by dawn, but 26 were still being damped down 36 Continued on page 32

Got a story or any other inquiry? Call Paul on 07811 766072 or email paul@southbristolvoice.co.uk

22

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History

southbristolvoice

www.southbristolvoice.co.uk

January, 2016

Knowle church and Bedminster gasworks are early casualties Continued from page 31 hours later. The devastation was widespread. On the south side of the river, Bedminster and Marksbury Road as well as Knowle were hit badly, and the Holy Nativity church in Wells Road was destroyed in the first hour of the attack. It was not to be rebuilt until 1958.

Mildred Ford, now 85, gave her recollection of that night to BBC Bristol. In 1940 she was 10 staying with her aunt and uncle in Totterdown. ”I spent that evening in a big cupboard under the stairs,” she said. “It’s very strange because a part of you was frightened and the other part very inquisitive.

You really wanted to get out and see what was happening.

She saw the flames from Holy Nativity burning down on Wells Road. The sensation was a “strange feeling – excitement but

frightening at the same time”.

“It wasn’t until we went to see what happened that it really struck home,” she said.

Among those who died that night was a fire watcher, as well as 24 air raid wardens, plus two ambulance drivers.

There were 86 calls about people buried in bombed buildings, and 137 were rescued – though some rescues took many hours and were conducted while bombs still fell. The rescue teams found 107 bodies and gave first aid to the 187 severe casualties and to 703 less seriously injured.

The Luftwaffe, misled partly by the violence of the fire at Marksbury Road, claimed they had knocked Bristol out of the war as a productive centre. The claim may sound exaggerated now, but in the 1930s and 40s, there were real fears that intense

bombing could cause enormous casualties and bring cities to their knees.

Both sides expected devastating casualties. So the toll from Bristol’s first heavy raid was bad but not nearly as high as had been expected. Partly this was due to the day being a Sunday and the city centre being quiet.

But the wreckage, especially in the centre, was intense. The scale of the disruption to ordinary life can be judged by the fact that over the next 12 days voluntary workers served more than 70,000 meals to people who were homeless or had lost the facilities to cook for themselves.

The performance of Bristol’s under-gunned and untested defences was mixed. Anti-aircraft guns fired more than 3,000 rounds but hit nothing – nor did RAF night fighters, though a Hurricane tried to engage a

Heinkel 111 caught in a searchlight over the city. And the Starfish decoy sites which were designed to draw bombers away from the city with realistic illuminations, were not even turned on because the expert needed could not be found.

The barrage balloons which surrounded the city centre at locations including Perretts Park and Victoria Park were successful in keeping the bombers higher than the Luftwaffe wanted. But the balloons themselves became a target – 15 were destroyed and one member of a balloon crew was killed.

There were plenty of lessons for the military and for Bristolians as the city awoke from its first Blitz raid. Some improvements would be made.

But the death toll – and the damage – were both to get far worse.

To be continued ...

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F YOU have a child who is turning five this year don’t forget to send in your primary school application in this month. The closing date is midnight on Friday January 15 and it is simple to apply either online or by post.

Too often I’ve seen the stress and heartache caused by late applications or hopes pinned on one school. I want to give you some tips for making sure you’re in the best position when you make your choices for September.

Visit and chat to parents.

There is plenty of information online but nothing beats visiting your local school and talking to other families with children there. Results and Ofsted inspections can only give a partial picture and can’t answer your own instincts on whether your child will be happy there.

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Jamie Barry, Headteacher, Parson Street Primary School

childcare? Would your four or five year-old cope with a car or bus journey across town?

Use all your choices. You’ll have a better chance of getting a school you prefer if you make use of your three choices. We all know there is growing pressure on places and reception classes can’t go beyond 30 children, so the more information you supply to the council’s admissions team the more likely it is that you’ll have one of your options.

Above all don’t forget to submit the form! Every year I look forward to welcoming new faces and families to our school.

You are with us for seven years and I’m sure will leave with lifelong skills and friendships.

Parson Street Primary is part of Malago Learning Partnership • Bristol city council admissions advice line: 0117 903 7694

To advertise, contact sales@southbristolvoice.co.uk or Paul on 07811 766072 or Emma or Hollie on 0117 908 2121.

January, 2016

E: paul@southbristolvoice.co.uk

Police update

H

APPY New Year! My hope is that everyone in Bedminster and Southville had a safe and peaceful Christmas. I and my teams look forward to working with you during 2016, to make our communities as safe, strong and open as they can be.

Many of you will have received cool new gadgets such as tablets, phones and computer consoles for Christmas. Make sure you keep any packaging or boxes out of sight until bin day, as leaving them on display can be an advert to thieves that your house is worth burgling. It’s also a good idea to log any new stuff you’ve got on Immobilise, the property marking database. That way if anything is stolen, we have a better chance of returning it to you.

Unfortunately, people are often making it easy for thieves by not properly locking their doors and windows when they go out, or go to bed. In fact one in four burglaries in Avon and

southbristolvoice

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23

With Sgt Paul Honeychurch, Bedminster police station

Please don’t make it easy for burglars – know how to lock yourself in Somerset happens because a property has been left insecure.

Properties which have a certain type of door handle, known as a paddle or stub handle, are being targeted by thieves, as many people don’t properly lock them. Simply lifting up the handle until it clicks does not fully lock the door: you also need to turn the key, as thieves can easily disengage the lock mechanism if it hasn’t been locked with a key.

When you are inside, always remove the key from the lock, to stop burglars hooking keys out

Get a handle on it: These doors need a key to make sure they’re locked through the letterbox.

If you’re an early riser, please keep your eyes open for anyone acting suspiciously, driving around slowly, up and down roads in a white Transit-type van. There have been a couple of incidents of lead thefts in Bedminster recently, where flashing has been taken from roofs in the early hours. If you notice anything strange, please

call us, on 999 if you think a theft is happening there and then, or on the non-emergency number 101, if you have information you think we need to know.

To find out when the next neighbourhood forums are taking place in your area, as well as our local policing priorities, type your postcode into the ‘Your Area’ section of our website www. avonandsomerset.police.uk.

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Got a story or any other inquiry? Call Paul on 07811 766072 or email paul@southbristolvoice.co.uk

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January, 2016

To advertise, contact sales@southbristolvoice.co.uk or Paul on 07811 766072 or Emma or Hollie on 0117 908 2121.

January, 2016

E: paul@southbristolvoice.co.uk

George Ferguson

southbristolvoice

T

HE PAST year has been a particularly significant one for Bristol. 2015 started with our city becoming European Green Capital – the first UK city to receive the honour – and ended with us playing a key role in climate-change negotiations in Paris.

Upon our return I was delighted to announce that I had reached an agreement with all of the political leaders in Bristol, yes, politics was put to one side as Bristol took a lead by making a commitment to accelerate the city’s already ambitious target of pursuing carbon neutrality by 2050.

When I was elected in 2012 I made it clear that tackling Bristol’s transport problem would be a top priority. We have made great strides.

I am realistic and these things do not happen overnight. In the last few months, significant progress has been made on the MetroBus and work on extending the bus network is well under way. Last year more than 70,000 people were using buses in Bristol, with a 25 per cent increase in bus use over 18 months.

As a result fares are decreasing and public transport is becoming more affordable.

As many of you will know, we also extended the 20mph zones across the city this year. I know that some drivers would prefer it if they could drive slightly faster in certain areas but this policy saves lives. That is the reason for it. It is safer for children and, along

New Year

The Mayor’s view Each month Bristol mayor George Ferguson shares his take on South Bristol life with Residents Parking Zones, encourages people to use alternative forms of transport that help clean our air. In 2020 we will have a transformed transport system across the whole city that works for future generations.

Our economy is continuing to grow and we are bucking the trend. The average person in full-time work in Bristol is now £1,700 better off than they were six years ago, a

New Start

www.southbristolvoice.co.uk

25

better performance than all comparative UK cities. More people are employed and we have seen over 30 per cent of young people coming off jobseekers allowance.

I am also proud that our European Green Capital legacy includes the creation of thousands more jobs over the next few years.

However, not everyone in Bristol shares equally in this success. With substantial cuts from Westminster applied to our council and billions cut from welfare this job has not always been easy. However, I am not someone to sit around and complain. Instead, I have taken action. We have protected the most vulnerable by safeguarding the council tax reduction scheme for those least able to afford it for three years, and we have introduced the living wage for all council staff and encouraged business to follow. In addition, I have defended those most affected by the bedroom tax.

I wish all South Bristol Voice readers a very happy Christmas and a successful 2016 – Bristol’s Year of Learning, of which more next time. We are getting things done, and I am extremely proud of what we have achieved so far as a city. Let’s work together to ensure we keep the momentum going!

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Got a story or any other inquiry? Call Paul on 07811 766072 or email paul@southbristolvoice.co.uk

southbristolvoice www.southbristolvoice.co.uk Reports from your councillors – Southville 26

T: 07811 766072

A

T THE December full council meeting, the Green Party pushed through a motion asking for Charlie the Avon pension Bolton fund to go ‘fossil Green, free’ by disinvesting Southville from all fossil fuel industries. The Avon pension fund pays for the pensions of former council employees in the four local authority areas around Bristol.

This is part of a campaign by Green councillors to try to end our reliance on fossil fuel investments – I first asked the council to stop its investments in fossil fuels a year ago.

This they have now done. Cllr Carla Denyer also put a motion to the University of Bristol Court asking for the university to ensure none of its empowerment fund is invested in fossil fuel industries a few weeks back. And now Cllr Martin Fodor has presented this motion about the

pension fund. The proposal also has support from union Unison, as well as Fossil Free Bristol.

Obviously, as Greens, we want to live in an environmentally sustainable society, and combating climate change is a vital part of this.

Divestment is one strand.

Campaigners campaign: we now need investors to invest sustainably. (And profitably – don’t forget it’s a pension fund).

The motion went through (amended by Labour). It doesn’t mean divestment will take place, at least not yet. But it does mean that the mayor will contact the fund (controlled by Bath and North East Somerset council) to ask them to act. I remember thinking in 2006 that if we are to combat climate change in any meaningful way, it will take an awful lot of decisions in an awful lot of what used to be smokefilled rooms going the right way.

Avon pension fund investments amount to £3.8 billion. If we do divest that’s one significant decision gone the right way ...

R

EGULAR readers of this column will know that, with Charlie Bolton (the other Green councillor Stephen in Southville), I am Clarke always banging on Green, about the parking Southville chaos that is caused

by Ashton Gate stadium. As we have said on many occasions, it is only going to get very much worse when the new West stand (which is now towering over Ashton) is completed.

Well, it seems that the pressure has had some impact as there is some (cautiously) good news in the mayor’s draft budget.

Firstly, he has agreed to fund another study into the business case for a new Ashton Gate train station. The last report apparently totally discounted the fact that there is going to be three million people a year going to the stadium and associated conference centre! Secondly, the council are agreeing that there

January, 2016 How to contact your councillors – page 2

should be an additional Metrobus stop at Paxton Drive, just across the park from the ground, which will be perfect for visitors to the stadium.

All we need now is for the 1,600 spaces in the Long Ashton Park & Ride to be available to visitors to the stadium and we will be getting somewhere near a coherent transport plan.

We have had many discussions with the club and they are equally frustrated and are really trying to push these measures through. There just seems to be various blockages, largely in the council, which can only be unplugged by public pressure – so write to your elected representatives and keep that pressure building.

Talking about pressure; if you want to apply some personal pressure to keep the Faithspace building in community use, come along to the full council meeting at 6pm on January 19 at @Bristol in Millennium Square and show your support. We are hoping for a big crowd! (Story, p5)

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To advertise, contact sales@southbristolvoice.co.uk or Paul on 07811 766072 or Emma or Hollie on 0117 908 2121.

www.southbristolvoice.co.uk southbristolvoice Reports from your councillors – Bedminster T S January, 2016

E: paul@southbristolvoice.co.uk

HE council has unveiled a new housing strategy. To be fair, it’s the council and key partners. Welcome Mark news given the Bradshaw urgency of Bristol’s Labour, housing crisis Bedminster which illustrates the national affordability gap and lack of supply.

In Bristol, both the gap and lack of available property are at the extreme end and getting worse. A strategy alone will not build any houses. The council can barely manage 100 new council homes over the next few years when we have 15,000 people on the waiting list. So, partnership is the key.

In a speech to full council, I asked whether the latest strategy (in a long line of action plans and similar documents) is what we need to tackle the housing emergency in our city. It is an emergency in terms of the impact on people and families, but also a

growing threat to the future economic strength of Bristol.

There are some useful proposals such as placing a senior council director in charge of all housing issues – long overdue, but we will have to wait until March for a more detailed plan. We need to start building in greater numbers now! As well as challenging developers to build faster and include more truly affordable properties, the council needs to inject more pace, consistency and resource. One good place to start would be to make clear that residential applications are expected to include affordable homes or proposals to fund them.

Bristol is increasingly seen as a soft touch on affordable homes with recent examples of almost embarrassingly low numbers being agreed. Perhaps the deal to be done is for the council to help reduce the risk and delay, while developers shape proposals to deliver more homes within reach of more people in Bristol. That would be good for 2016.

O, how many of you have made New Year resolutions and will stick to them?

I plan to be out and about in Celia Bedminster even Phipps, more this year.

Labour, As we put away Bedminster the decorations, it is often a time to reflect on where this year will take us. I am taking some thoughts from a recent scrutiny day where we looked at why culture means such a lot in a city like Bristol. Big events like the Harbourside Festival are great and bring in many visitors to the city, but I much prefer events such as the fabulous Bedminster Winter Lantern Parade. This has developed from small beginnings at Acta five years ago, when the need to develop local talents and inspire others was understood. The parade now engages with many local people. Ultimately, the parade will continue as long as there is the enthusiasm and an

27

idea that community spirit can carry it forward.

Being a good citizen helps to make the local area a better place to live and really can make a difference. We face a tough year as the funding to local authorities is reduced and many across the city will be reliant on care services for daily support, so we expect services to continue to be respectful, led by need and sufficiently resourced. The phrase ‘prevention is better than cure’ is more important than ever. As a local resident I would like to generate new ways of thinking and doing in order to encourage greater community spirit, a sense of citizenship, and pride in the area we live.

So whether it’s picking up litter or knocking on your neighbour’s door, there is a lot to do this New Year. I will be keeping a watchful eye on services to make sure residents get the best deal and I would value any suggestions to generate a better sense of community, so do contact me if you have an idle moment.

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To advertise, contact sales@southbristolvoice.co.uk or Paul on 07811 766072 or Emma or Hollie on 0117 908 2121.

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January, 2016

southbristolvoice

Planning applications 243 West Street, Bedminster BS3 3PZ Creation of access to classified road and formation of a parking area. Pending consideration 243 West Street, Bedminster BS3 3PZ Application for a Lawful Development Certificate for remodelling rear facade.

Increasing height of walls to single storey extension and new double doors to rear.

Replacement of utility room door with window. Replacement of utility room roof with fibrecement slate. Pending consideration 25 Clinton Road BS3 5PB Extension to roof to create habitable space within roofspace.

Insertion of additional roof lights. Pending consideration 57 Coronation Road BS3 1AR Application to approve details of render and tiles in relation to condition 2 (Samples) of permission 12/04907/F: Erection of two storey dwelling

house to rear. Granted subject to conditions 82 Marksbury Road BS3 5LE Two storey side and rear extension. Pending consideration 296 North Street, Bedminster BS3 1JU Demolition of storage building and construction of a two bed dwelling. Pending consideration

Redcliff Crescent 144 York Road, Bristol Amendment of planning permission for 10 apartments and associated car parking - addition of collapsible gates to undercroft. Granted 43 Langton Park BS3 1EQ Conversion of house into two flats, external alterations, rear access, hard standing and rear dormer. Granted subject to conditions

63 Upper Perry Hill BS3 1NJ Removal of lean-to covered shelter. Erection of single storey rear extension. Granted subject to conditions

St Lukes Hall, William Street, Bedminster BS3 4BW Non-material amendment to planning permission for change of use from Class B1(c) light industrial to residential: three 1-bedroom and 11 2-bedroom apartments with parking for 7 vehicles and 14 cycles. Repositioning of biomass boiler and pellet store on ground floor.

Pending consideration

77 Leighton Road, Southville BS3 1NR Proposed single-storey rear extension. Granted subject to conditions

• The status of these applications may have changed since we went to press. Check for updates at planning online.bristol.gov.uk

99 Greville Road BS3 1LE Erection of a rear dormer to main roof. Granted subject to conditions

No need for car journeys

Tip-off leads to cocaine find

A BEDMINSTER business has won an award for reducing car journeys from work to zero.

Minuteman Press in Nelson Parade took the Best Newcomer award from TravelWest for its work to cut the use of vehicles.

The printing firm achieved this by encouraging all its staff not to commute by car. Even deliveries are made by bicycle or electric bike and trailer.

Deliveries out of Bristol are handed to a courier firm.

Minuteman also won its category in TravelWest’s Big Commuting Challenge last summer.

POLICE say a tip-off from the community led to a raid which uncovered cocaine with a street value of around £3,000.

Officers obtained a search warrant for a home in Silbury Road in Ashton Vale, Bristol, on December 15, and found around 300g of suspected cocaine, just over £2,000 in cash and a hydraulic press, all of which were seized.

A 19-year-old woman who lives at the property was arrested on suspicion of possession with intent to supply, and conspiracy to supply Class A drugs. She was remanded in custody.

Anger after rubbish spill COMMUNITY group Way Out West (WoW) is deciding how to take action after the latest in a spate of rubbish dumping.

Boxes of waste spilled onto the narrow pavement in front of West Street flats owned by Sovereign Housing. WoW said problems began in 2011.

Sovereign blamed “flytippers”.

www.southbristolvoice.co.uk

29

Police station could be offices THE OLD police station in Bedminster Parade could be converted to offices.

Planners are considering a proposal to change the use of the building from a restaurant.

Bottelino’s Italian restaurant occupied the site from 2006 until it closed in 2013. The building failed to sell for two years and is now dilapidated inside.

The listed building is also home to rats, said to be a worry to people living in the flats above.

The plan from Preconstruct Ltd is to remove internal stud walls – which provide a home for the rats – and reveal more of the police station’s Victorian features, including a block of white glazed cells.

The building dates from 1882 and was a police station until the 1970s. Its predecessor in 1850 had the only street light and flushing toilet in Bedminster.

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January, 2016

E: paul@southbristolvoice.co.uk

What’s on

Wednesday January 6 Painting and drawing for all, Windmill Hill City Farm, 10am-12.30pm. “This art course explores a variety of approaches to drawing and painting, helping you to develop your own personal artistic expression.” Run by the WEA. 10 sessions, cost £120 (free for those on a means-tested benefit), plus materials fee payable by all.

• www.windmillhillcityfarm.org.uk Thursday January 7 Silver and copper jewellery making Windmill Hill City Farm. Beginners classes 10am12.30pm, improvers 1-3.30pm.

“Learn about the basic skills involved in making silver and copper jewellery and produce wearable pieces of your own design. Techniques include: soldering, sawing, basic forming, texturing and finishing.” Run by the WEA. 10 sessions, cost £120 (free for those on a meanstested benefit), plus materials fee payable by all.

• www.windmillhillcityfarm.org.uk Friday January 8 Stained glass workshop for beginners, Windmill Hill City Farm, 1-3.15pm. “A course for beginners and students with only a little previous experience, to learn how to cut glass and assemble a stained glass or copper foil panel.” 10 sessions, cost £110 (free for those on a means-tested benefit) plus materials fee payable by all. Run by the WEA. • www.windmillhillcityfarm.org.uk Saturday January 9 Paul Tonkinson plus guests The Comedy Box, upstairs at the Hen & Chicken, North Street, Southville. “High-energy comic Paul Tonkinson is effortlessly likeable, and deft at drawing the viewer into his charming anecdotes.” 8.45pm, £12.

• thecomedybox.co.uk Bal Folk with Expire, Moussaka and Big Jeans (France), Southbank Centre, Dean Lane, 7.30pm. “Four wonderful musicians, three fantastic bands - get 2016 off to a great start. These guys play music you just have to dance to, it’s energetic, fun and full of life.

There will be a short workshop at the start of the evening, no experience needed!” Tickets £10/£8 concessions.

• http://southbankclub.webs.com Thursday January 14 Young Theatre Makers Tobacco Factory Theatre,

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Eavis joins the lineup for a second night of 15m stories AFTER a sellout debut last autumn, storytelling event 5x15 returns to the Tobacco Factory Theatre on Sunday January 17.

The speakers each get 15 minutes to talk about a passion. Michael Eavis, the founder of Glastonbury, will give a rare take on the

world’s most famous music festival. Psychiatrist David Nutt talks about the impact of psychedelics on the brain.

Jay Griffiths will talk about A Love Letter from a Stray Moon, her fictional account of the painter Frida Kahlo.

6-7.45pm for 10 weeks. “Our fantastic youth theatre for 14-19 year olds returns. Work with theatre professionals, develop your performance skills and gain an insight into how theatre works through exclusive opportunities to see live theatre and meet those behind it.” Cost is £50 per term If you need help with the fee, email bryony@tobaccofactorytheatres. com • www.tobaccofactorytheatres.com Friday January 15 Ain’t Misbehavin’ Swing Night at the Southbank Centre, Dean Lane, Southville, from 8pm-late. Billed as a friendly place to practice, in the longest running home of social dancing in Bristol.

• swingdancebristol.com Saturday January 16 Angela Barnes plus guests, The Comedy Box, upstairs at the Hen & Chicken, North Street, Southville. “Angela Barnes and her witty world view have been catapulted onto numerous radio and television shows. She mixes warm autobiographical material with plenty of strong jokes.”

8.45pm, £12.

• www.thecomedybox.co.uk Tuesday January 19 Parkinson’s UK coffee morning. The Bristol and District branch of Parkinson’s UK begins a monthly coffee morning at the Grant Bradley Gallery, Bedminster Parade, at 11am. Queries to Elaine, 0117 966 7621 Keeping an illustrated journal 10am-12noon, Windmill Hill City Farm. “Do you want to draw and keep an illustrated journal but don’t know where to begin? This course will show

you how to get started keeping an illustrated record of your daily life even if your drawing is somewhat rusty.” Seven sessions, cost £70 (free for those on a means-tested benefit). Run by the WEA. • www.windmillhillcityfarm.org.uk Wednesday January 20 Mmm Hmm “Verity Standen’s mesmeric piece of a cappella song theatre returns to Tobacco Factory Theatres. Mmm Hmm is a playful, poignant musical journey by three exceptional female voices. Using intricate vocal techniques and rich harmony, Mmm Hmmm holds a magnifying glass up to everyday life. One moment a fragile apology, the next a perilous trip to the buffet car; Verity’s original a cappella songs evoke awkward, heartrending and hilarious moments that characterise what it means to be human.” Until January 23. £13 and £9.

• www.tobaccofactorytheatres.com Sunday January 24 Yoga for the seasons: winter Windmill Hill City Farm, 11am-1pm. “This workshop will specialise in positions and techniques to help keep you warm, healthy and happy! For adults and children over 8 accompanied by an adult.” Cost £8 child (8-16 yrs), £12 adult • www.windmillhillcityfarm.org.uk Tuesday January 26 A Girl is a Half-formed Thing by Eimear McBride, adapted for the stage by Annie Ryan, Tobacco Factory. The multi-award-winning sell-out hit of the 2014 Dublin Theatre Festival and the 2015 Edinburgh Fringe follows the inner narrative of a girl, from the womb to age

Photographer Matilda Temperley’s subject is the people of the Omo Valley in Ethiopia and Jess Thom, who co-founded Touretteshero, will talk about Tourettes syndrome. Tickets are £17 and £12. Starts at 7pm.

20, with vivid intensity and originality. With Aoife Duffin, winner of the Stage Acting Award, Edinburgh Festival 2015.

Contains violent and sexually explicit material and strong language. £13 and £9, 8pm, matinee Saturday 2.30pm.

• www.tobaccofactorytheatres.com Wednesday January 27 Performance skills and confidence building: session exclusively for home educating families. Parents are welcome but attendance is not necessary.

Brewery Theatre, for ages 7-11 years. Tickets £8.50, 10-11.45am.

• www.tobaccofactorytheatres.com Friday January 29 Quiz night at Windmill Hill Community Centre, Vivian Street. Held on the last Friday of every month from 8.30pm. £2.50 per entry including a half-time curry. “Come along and enjoy a fantastic evening and meet new people!“ Memberships available on the night.

• www.whca.org.uk Sunday January 31 We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at David O’Doherty New tour by the Irish comedian who describes himself as the least famous person ever to have hosted an episode of Never Mind the Buzzcocks. Presented by the Comedy Box at the Tobacco Factory.

• www.thecomedybox.co.uk Monday February 1 Friends of Marksbury Road Library meet at 6pm in the library. The Friends organise community events, fundraising and lobbying in the community.

• www.facebook.com/Friendsof-Marksbury-Road-Library

Got a story or any other inquiry? Call Paul on 07811 766072 or email paul@southbristolvoice.co.uk

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January, 2016

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