Grove Wood Tree Preservation Order confirmed

Yesterday the City Council's South & East planning committee voted to confirm the Tree Preservation Order (TPO) on Grove Wood in Stapleton. The TPO was initiated following a campaign by residents concerned about the destruction of trees in this historic woodland.
Under planning law, once a TPO is requested there is a sx month peiod where objections can be made before the TPO is finally confirmed. The landowner objected to the TPO but all members of the committee voted to confirm it.
We hope this will protect this amenity for future generations.

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.

M32 Junction 2 - how can it be made safer?

Three people have been killed within a year whilst attempting to cross the slip road onto the M32 at junction 2 (Eastville/Fishponds). Bristol City Council has now commenced a full safety review of the area in conjunction with the Highways Agency who own the motorway. Future proposals will have an impact on the whole locality; there are plans to improve cycle routes, and upgrade the bus lanes into the Centre to showcase standards. We need to make sure that improvements for local people are key to such plans, and that the whole area is made safer for residents.
Cllr. Muriel Cole and I are asking local people to give us have their views. Nearly every resident in Eastville Ward will use this junction or Fishponds Rd. at some point in the week, as will many other in north and east Bristol.

You can contact us by posting a comment on this blog, so please let us know:

1) If you think a surface crossing would improve safety?
2) Whether you want to see Stapleton Road closed at the roundabout, and the creation of a
cul-de-sac in the area between the M32 and Fishponds Rd?
3) Do you want speed limits in the area be reduced?
4) Any other comments you might have on safety and traffic issues at this junction?

All is quiet on New Years Day...

Well it is in Upper Eastville (BS5) anyway! I think this is the quietest day of the year, hardly any traffic, very quiet, the air is still, and the trees are barely moving. An opportunity for me to spend the day at home, start to catch up with e-mail and paperwork, and listen to some music.
I'd like to thank everyone who has commented on the blog, the many more who have told me they read it, and to wish everyone a very Happy New Year. (I can't believe its the last year of the first decade of the 21st Century already).