Bristol Zoo Gardens update
In recent weeks, Paula and Jerome have met with the Chair of Trustees and Chief Executive of the Zoo, as well as with developers Acorn Property Group, regarding the proposed residential development at Bristol Zoo Gardens. We also continue to meet regularly with local campaigners and raise the concerns they bring to us.
Concerns about Acorn Property Group have been widely reported, but the decision about the sale of the Zoo Gardens rests with the Zoo. The sale has not yet been completed, although both the Zoo and Acorn expect this to happen in early summer.
Some amendments to the approved plans are expected through a Section 73 application to Bristol City Council. We are clear that these changes will need careful scrutiny and have been assured by Acorn that councillors will be informed of, and able to comment on, proposed amendments before submission.
Alongside the design changes, Paula and Jerome are particularly focused on the Management Board required under the Section 106 agreement in the planning consent. This board will oversee the long-term management of the gardens and help safeguard public access in perpetuity. We are pleased that the legal agreement requires an independent incorporated body to manage the gardens for the benefit of the wider community in the future.
Some enabling tree works and site clearance have recently taken place. Bristol City Council planning enforcement and tree officers are regularly visiting the site to ensure works comply with planning permissions. Paula and Jerome also visited the Zoo Gardens on 29 April to better understand the current condition of the site, the proposed development sequence, and the likely impact on local residents.
Encampments on and around Clifton Downs
Your local councillors have been actively involved in ensuring that Clifton Downs are available for the enjoyment of all the city’s residents. This means that van dwelling and encampments are not possible.
At the same time, the city is trying to ensure that alternative accommodation is available for people currently living in vans and caravans around the Downs. In particular this includes council operated secure ‘meanwhile’ sites where vehicle dwellers can have access to water, waste and toilet facilities, for the payment of a monthly charge.
On 16th April the council was granted a possession order covering the roads surrounding the Down and notices to leave were served on 30 April. On 7th May the council also secured an antisocial behaviour injunction preventing new vehicles from parking to live on and around the Downs. The injunction runs until May 2027, with a review scheduled for September.
Already numbers of lived-in vehicles have declined significantly, and we expect this trend to continue. The situation may change when possession orders and anti-social behaviour orders expire, but your councillors will carefully monitor any future changes.
Surface dressing in Clifton
Surface dressing works to 159 Bristol roads have started. These include a number of roads in Clifton.
Surface dressing is a cost effective way for the council to prolong the life of roads across the city by preventing damage from water and UV sunlight. It can extend the life of a road by 10 to 15 years, ensuring safer and smoother journeys for all road users. It includes a number of different stages which need to be carried out on separate days and are dependent on weather conditions.
Councillor Ed Plowden, Chair of Bristol’s Transport Committee says,
“We know that temporary road closures can be frustrating, but these short periods of disruption will help deliver smoother, safer roads for years to come. We really appreciate residents’ understanding while this essential maintenance work to our road network is carried out.”
Neighbourhood Forum and local police feedback
The Neighbourhood Forum meeting took place at Clifton High School. Topics covered included the Zoo Gardens, latest WH Smith site news, updates on buses and public transport and feedback from Ellie Ince, the beat officer for Clifton. While crime figures in the Clifton area remain relatively low and stable the highestpolice priority is shoplifting, which has seen a big increase over the last year and anti social begging. On August 8 between 10 and 12 the police will be doing a bike marking event at the Whiteladies Road Farmers’ Market.
Keeping Clifton Clean
Keeping Clifton Clean volunteers are meeting regularly for litter picking and tidying, to add to the routine street cleaning and litter pick carried out by Bristol Waste. We are supported by Bristol Waste who provide us with waste bags and litter picking kit. If you would like to join us please email Paula or Jerome and we will add you to our WhatsApp group.
Councillors’ surgery
Jerome and Paula continue to meet residents at Clifton Library on the first Wednesday of each month at 5pm. If you have a matter which your councillor can deal with, do pop in for a chat.
Contact us
cllr.jerome.thomas@bristol.gov.uk
cllr.paula.orourke@bristol.gov.uk