Hello again from Serena and George, your Green Party councillors for Clifton Down. We have lots of news to share this month.
Library budget protected
We are delighted to tell you that next year’s library budget has been protected in full.
The council operates 26 libraries across the city, including our much-loved Redland Library on Whiteladies Road. It also runs a community-organisation led access point in Lockleaze.
Recognising the continued importance of Bristol’s libraries to local communities, Green Party and Liberal Democrat councillors have secured the library service’s annual budget of around £5m for the 2026/27 financial year. This announcement comes in the face of increased financial pressures for councils, with spiralling costs involved in the statutory provision of adult social care and SEND education and underfunding from Government.
The library budget was protected in the Green’s balanced budget for this year, and, barring any unexpected cuts from the Labour government, it will be protected for the next financial year.
Have your say on a new vehicle dweller policy
The council is developing a new vehicle dweller policy to balance offering help and advice to vehicle dwellers to better meet their health and housing needs, alongside considering the needs of the local community. It will also look to refresh the way the council responds to people living in vehicles, providing a clearer process and explanation for when action will be taken.
The council wants to hear from everyone affected by these issues – including vehicle dwellers and members of the local communities who live around groups of lived-in vehicles.
The consultation runs until midnight on Thursday 23rd October and there will public drop-in sessions during this time.
The policy aims to significantly reduce the number of people living in vehicles on highways and council-owned land in Bristol without consent, by offering meanwhile site pitches to those who qualify, welfare advice and help finding ways to move into fixed accommodation.
There has been a big increase in the number of people living in vehicles across Bristol. Since 2019 the figure had risen by more than 300% to a peak of around 680 vehicles. The latest count revealed a slight drop in numbers with 614 vehicles recorded.
Council teams are also working to identify more meanwhile sites across the city. Meanwhile sites are on land due to be developed. They provide a valuable safe space for vehicle dwellers, with access to much needed services such as toilets and running water. There are currently five sites open, and two sites will open shortly. This will bring the current number of pitches up to 99. Another four sites are going through the planning process.
Officers are also continuing to explore opportunities for providing service sites – which would provide drinking water, waste disposal and laundry services.
To find out more about the policy, details of the drop-in information sessions, and to have your say, go to the council website’s consultation section.
Your feedback will help inform the final policy which will be taken to Homes and Housing Delivery Committee on Friday 19th December.
Listening to you: scooter parking
Residents told us they were concerned about proposals for new micromobility scooter parking in the Cotham Hill area. We arranged a meeting with officers and now have an agreement to not go ahead with this type of parking in some areas and pause it in others.
Community student event
Are you a student living in the area between Whiteladies and Pembroke Roads and north of Alma Road to the Downs? If so, the Clifton Down Community Association would love to see you at their social event , with free pizza and a drink, on Wednesday 22nd October from 6.30 to 8pm. Held in a local pub, this is a great fixture on the Clifton Down calendar and we’re looking forward to going too! If you fancy going, email the association cliftondownca@gmail.com to reserve your place.
Councillor surgeries
Please note there will be no ward surgery in October. The next one will be on Friday 3rd November from midday to 1:30 at Redland Library on Whiteladies Road.
In the meantime, you can get in touch by emailing us:
Serena Ralston cllr.serena.ralston@bristol.gov.uk
George Calascione cllr.george.calascione@bristol.gov.uk