Finally! Hoardings at Clifton site will soon be coming down
Speare Developments, working with restaurateur Josh Eggleton from the
Pony and Trap in Chew Magna, are proposing to open a temporary pop-up restaurant on the former ice rink site in Clifton Village.
Your local councillors have been involved in discussions and welcome an opportunity to see this long-derelict site brought back into use, while longer-term plans are developed.
Because it is a pop-up, the restaurant could open as early as Easter, meaning the site would no longer be fenced off and forgotten. The intention is for the restaurant to complement Clifton’s strong identity and its tapestry of independent traders. There will even be space for occasional market stalls on the site!
Jerome and Paula are ensuring that nearby businesses and residents are kept informed, and that opportunities to work together are explored.
Josh Eggleton is well known as the chef behind the Michelin-starred Pony & Trap in the Chew Valley. Speare Developments is a local company that now owns the site and will be bringing forward proposals for a permanent redevelopment later this year.
The pop-up restaurant is expected to operate for around two years while those longer-term plans are developed. Councillors will ensure that local voices are heard as designs for the permanent development are shaped, ahead of any planning application being submitted. While the final proposals are not yet known, they are expected to include a mix of commercial space on the ground floor and new homes, with the aim of creating a development that genuinely benefits Clifton.
Visitor permits: we’re standing firm
We’ve had a very full inbox about the proposal to reduce visitor permits to 60. We want to reassure residents that we have both objected and are hopeful that the limit will not be reduced. The need for elderly residents and their families to retain adequate visitor permits has been clearly heard.
While some people were unhappy that the consultation ran over Christmas, it’s important to say this was a statutory consultation which usually runs for 21 days, not a survey, and it was extended to cover the bank holidays. We don’t believe the Council is trying to sneak anything through, and all indications are that the Green administration is listening.
Litter over the holidays: better, but not perfect
Overall, Bristol Waste did a decent job over Christmas, but problems arose when bins were left out on collection days that didn’t happen who expects waste to be collected on Christmas Day when it falls on a Thursday? Food waste was quickly scattered by foxes and gulls, leading to avoidable mess. Much of this seemed to come from students heading home early — something we’ll be raising with the universities for next year.
On a positive note, community litter-picking really works. An hour on a weekend morning can be surprisingly uplifting. If you’d like to join in and help keep Clifton clean, text Paula on 07584 370433 to join the WhatsApp group.
How long can the Mardyke Steps stay open?
\Fixing the failing boundary wall beside the Mardyke Steps is one of our key priorities for 2026. While the steps have reopened, this is only possible because temporary safety barriers are in place and the site is being checked every month. This is not a long-term solution.
The fundamental problem is responsibility. Bristol City Council says it is responsible for maintaining the steps only, not the wall. The wall is attached to land owned by the Mardyke pub landlord, who disputes this and argues that the council, as owner of the higher land, should carry out the repairs. This disagreement has gone unresolved for years.
Before any repairs can happen, engineers need access to the site to assess the wall properly. That cannot happen until the landlord engages with council officers — something that has not happened despite repeated attempts.
We are now working with local residents and senior council officers to press both parties to engage, establish responsibility, and finally move towards a permanent repair.
Paula and Jerome
Contact us
Jerome Thomas: cllr.jerome.thomas@bristol.gov.uk
Paula O’Rourke: cllr.paula.orourke@bristol.gov.uk
Valuing our bridge attendants
As a Trustee of the Clifton Suspension Bridge, Paula was recently
invited to a small farewell for Graham Wallis, who is retiring after
14 years as a Bridge Attendant. It was a privilege to thank him for
work that is far more demanding than most people realise.
Many assume Bridge Attendants are there to manage the toll barriers
and the vehicles crossing Brunel’s famous bridge. In reality, they
carry a much greater responsibility. The bridge is, sadly, attended
from time to time by vulnerable members of the community. The Bridge
Attendants keep a close eye on those using the bridge and with the
help of multiple CCTV screens are alert to anyone who may be in
distress and requiring help.
As Graham explained, sometimes it only takes a calm word or brief
human connection to give someone the chance to pause, reflect, and
“take themselves home” and this is one key aspect of the Bridge
Attendants’ role.
So next time you cross the bridge, remember: the Bridge Attendants are watching over far more than traffic, and they deserve our heartfelt thanks.