Hello from Serena and George, your Green Party councillors for Clifton Down. We hope you are managing to keep cool during what has been a roasting summer so far.
Whiteladies Rd flood prevention works start
As we write this, we’re very pleased to report that construction work on preventing flooding and improving walking and cycling routes at the lower end of Whiteladies Road is due to start. The work, between the junctions with Tyndalls Park Road/St Pauls Road and Queens Road, is expected to be complete by the end of this year.
The lower part of Whiteladies Road has been prone to localised flooding for years. The pavement along the eastern side of the road is also narrow and uneven because of the trees and their roots. However, these wonderful mature trees will stay in place, continuing to give much needed shade and shelter.
The work includes:
• adding a separated cycleway, with a black tarmac surface, on both sides of the road at the same height as the pavements
• adding ‘beany block kerbs’ that combine the roadside kerbs with a built-in drainage system
•resurfacing the road
• raising the driveways of six private properties using like-for-like materials
• repaving the pavements and increasing their height, to reduce the impact of the tree roots
• adding rubber crumb around the trees.
So the work can take place, Whiteladies Road is closed one way travelling northbound from Victoria Methodist Church to the junction with Tyndalls Park Road and St Pauls Road. It will remain closed throughout the project.
The diversion is via Queens Road, St Pauls Road and left onto Whiteladies Road. Access to properties will be maintained throughout. The diversion to access properties on the western side of Whiteladies Road is via Queens Road, Pembroke Road, Oakfield Road, and right onto Whiteladies Road.
Access for pedestrians will be maintained throughout.
There will need to be an overnight road closure towards the end of the project for resurfacing works.
The council updated its plans for the Whiteladies Road project following a public consultation in 2022 as many people did not support the proposal to remove the painted cycle lanes on both sides of the road. This was originally suggested to allow space to widen the pavements and add drainage channels and grass verges to them.
Having gone back to the drawing board, the council has negotiated with the owners of six properties on the eastern side of the road, who have agreed that work can take place to increase the height of their driveways. This will make them more level with the pavement, so excess water flows into the new drainage system.
Costing around £800,000, the project will be funded through the highways maintenance block allocation from the UK government’s City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement secured by West of England Mayoral Combined Authority.
Fly tipping
Don’t forget it’s quick and easy to report flytipping to the council on the Fixmystreet app. https://fixmystreet.bristol.gov.uk/do Residents recently spotted dumped black bin bags and other litter in the Cotham Hill area. We have reported this, and we were pleased that residents did so too.
Ward surgery takes a break
We usually hold monthly surgeries on the first Friday of the month from midday to 1:30 at Redland Library on Whiteladies Road. But we are taking a break in August. The next surgery will be on September 5. In the meantime, do email us if you have any issues at Cllr.george.calascione@bristol.gov.uk Cllr.serena.ralston@bristol.gov.uk .
Contact us:
George Calascoine: Cllr.george.calascione@bristol.gov.uk
Serena Ralston: Cllr.serena.ralston@bristol.gov.uk