Bristol Labour throw in the towel

At a dramatic budget meeting yesterday, Labour resigned the leadership of Bristol City Council. The Liberal Democrats as the largest party are now in the process of forming an administration for the city.
Labour's resignation followed a Liberal Democrat amendment to the budget, which removed the funding for the next stage of the bid for a mass-burn waste incinerator. Liberal Democrats have consistently opposed this, and we have fought this proposal at every stage in its passage through the Council. The Conservative group has now done a u-turn late in the day and voted with us, as did the one Green Councillor.
There are more environmentally friendly solution to waste disposal such as digestion and pyrolysis, and the new administration will be working with neighbouring councils to find a more sustainable solution.
For further information, check out the website for Bristol Against Mass Burn Incineration here: http://www.bambi-network.org.uk/

Pub protest at Council House

On Wedensday the planning committee for South and East Bristol considered an application to change the car park at the Frienship Inn in Knowle. On the face of it a pretty straightforward application. but......The subtext to this is that the premises has been acquired by Tesco who want to convert the pub to a shop. This would leave a huge are with no local pub, and threaten the viability of the existing shops in the locality and on the Wells Rd. I spoke in opposition to the plan, and joined local residents and the Bristol Pubs Group in a small demonstration at the Council House.

Knowle may be accross the city from Eastville, but the issue is the threat to local shopping areas. Fishponds Rd. is already under pressure following the sad closure of Woolworths, and we have seen some pub closures in this area too. We need to do all we can to try to keep our community facilities in all parts of Bristol. A final decision on the Friendship has been deferred to allow a site visit to take place.

A walk in Grove Wood

At the end of January the Snuff Mills Action Group organised a walk through Grove Wood. About 150 or so local residents turned up to walk the footpaths, as part of the campaign to save the wood. I was with a group that used the public right of way that goes alongside the river (well mostly). Its many years since I've walked this far along the path, and it was a good opportunity to see just why Grove Wood is so important to the local environment.

Further details of the campaign to sav Grove Wood can be found here: http://snuffmills.blogspot.com/

Back to blogging!

I've had limited computer access for a few days, which is why this blog has been quiet. but I'm hoping to change that over the next couple of days...watch this space.