Area Committee funding proposals
At the Area Committee meeting on 19 May, covering Clifton, Clifton Down, Cotham and Hotwells, councillors considered a range of local spending proposals.
Funding was approved for several projects, including tree planting near the former Zoo North car park site. Other applications are still under consideration, with decisions expected later this year or early next year. These include garden restoration and sound system improvements at Hotwells Primary School, additional litter bins, and further floating green spaces in the harbour. These floating habitats could be like the green pontoons opposite the SS Great Britain, which provide valuable space for plants, insects and wildlife.
Encampments on and around Clifton Down
We are pleased that the number of occupied vehicles on Clifton Down has reduced substantially in recent months. This follows sustained work by your local councillors and Bristol City Council in response to concerns raised by residents.
At the same time, high housing costs continue to create significant challenges, and homelessness—both visible and hidden—remains a serious issue. The Council’s provision of “meanwhile” sites for vehicle dwellers reflects the city’s commitment to providing practical accommodation alternatives for people who have been living in vehicles on public highways and around Bristol’s parks.
Summer road resurfacing: why the disruption?
We have previously written about the benefits of surface dressing, a cost-effective way of extending the life of roads and reducing the need for more extensive repairs in future.
We appreciate that the work can be inconvenient, particularly when residents need to move their cars on the days their roads are scheduled for treatment. This year, some frustration was caused when wet weather delayed works, leading contractors to continue into the weekend and requiring some residents to move vehicles on a Saturday morning.
Unfortunately, both surface dressing and the subsequent road-marking work are highly weather-dependent. However, completing the lining work promptly is important. In previous years, delays have led to problems with illegal parking while yellow lines were temporarily absent.
We appreciate residents’ patience during these short-term disruptions. The result will be roads that last longer and are less prone to potholes during the winter months.
Princess Victoria Street in the news
Clifton has been making headlines for all the right reasons. A recent article in Bristol 24/7 has highlighted the successful pedestrianisation of Princess Victoria Street, quoting leading authors and urban mobility advocates who described it as “a compelling case of how such measures can reshape public opinion”.
Back in 2016, Paula and Jerome’s Green Party manifesto committed to exploring, with residents and traders, the possibility of a car-free Clifton Village. We are delighted that what began as a tentative vision ten years ago is now widely recognised as a significant success.
This achievement has been made possible through persistence, hard work, constructive engagement with residents and traders, and vital public investment.
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
Paula and Jerome with residents and members of the Bristol City Council transport team visiting Dowry Square
Dowry Square
As plans progress for lower speed limits and improved bus lanes on the Portway and Howell Road, your local councillors are working closely with residents to introduce traffic-calming measures at the western end of Howell Road, around Dowry Square. We have met with local residents and the council team to look the right mix of trees, benches and changed
parking and junction arrangements to improve safety and enhance our local environment.