Princess Victoria Street
After an early flurry of rain, Princess Victoria Street was looking at its new summer best on Saturday, July 5. The Lord Mayor, Henry Michallat, cut the ribbon to open the newly pedestrianised street!
With young trees, planters, attractive seating and dedicated cycle parking, it has significantly enhanced a sociable and attractive street at the heart of the Clifton community. It’s been a long haul with the proposed pedestrianisation appearing in Jerome and Paula’s councillor manifesto back in 2016. Thank you to the traders, the council transport team, ETM for the build and the West of England Combined Authority for providing the significant part of funding to allow this to happen. Like any building project, it hasn’t been without its minor challenges. But now it’s completed we believe it provides a great example of what a successful flourishing high street can look like for many communities!
Clifton Down encampments
Since our July newsletter there has been increasing local and national awareness of the situation on the Downs. However, the number of vehicle dwellers has been significantly reduced as a result of Council action. The Possession Order, granted in June, will last for one year and covers the whole of the grassed area of the Downs, making it much easier to issue eviction notices, which can immediately put into effect.
As stated in July, an update of Council policy on vehicle dwellers citywide is to take place in the autumn, but your councillors remain concerned at the lack of a systematic Council action plan to address these issues and are working to ensure that there is more substantial and lasting resolution of the challenges associated with vehicle dwelling and encampments, both on the Downs and across the city.
Hotwells Primary School
We are pleased to say that in response to community and councillor pressure the deadline for response to the proposal for Hotwells to lose Key Stage 2 pupils has been extended to September 19. Jerome is seeking a meeting with the Head of the Cathedral School Trust (along with Hotwells School Governors and parent representatives) to better understand the current proposals and to ask that the Trust considers appropriate alternative proposals being developed in consultation with the primary school parents.
The consultation can be accessed here: https://tinyurl.com/5x7dc22.
Solar panels
Clifton residents can now add solar panels to their roofs without having to apply for planning permission to do so
We are pleased that Clifton residents (subject to certain conditions) can now install solar panels on their heritage rooves without applying for planning permission. (see story, right)
Paula, who sits on the Development Control Committee (Planning), argued that a set of regulations, setting out clear parameters of what is acceptable and what is not, could lead to a streamlining of retrofitting heritage properties. While solar panels should always be compared with other energy efficiency investments, the tumbling price of solar panels and batteries means that the payback period for the investment has become much shorter. Her proposal has now been approved and puts the Council in the forefront nationally of removing regulations that prevent homeowners investing in solutions to reduce the carbon impact of their homes.
Neighbourhood Forum date
The next Neighbourhood Forum for Clifton, Clifton Down and Hotwells and Harbourside ward will take place on September 30 at 6.45 at Clifton High School. Your local councillors will be there, hopefully along with representatives from Bristol Waste, the police and other community representatives. It’s an opportunity for you to contribute to discussion of local issues and share your views on how local community funds are spent.
Contact us
Jerome Thomas: cllr.jerome.thomas@bristol.gov.uk
Paula O’Rourke: cllr.paula.orourke@bristol.gov.uk