Out and About in Brislington West with Jos and Andrew

Another roundup of local news:

Unfortunately, with the number of cases increasing dramatically, the government has announced new lockdown measures starting on Thursday 5 November. We want local people to know that we are here to help in any way we can. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you need support. At the start of the last lockdown in March, we set up an online application form for people needing help, and also for those volunteering to help, for the whole of Greater Brislington. We were able to arrange support for several dozen local residents such as getting shopping and prescriptions, arranging dog walking, organising telephone ‘buddies’ and even setting up a laundry service! This scheme is still in place and can be accessed here: https://forms.gle/JXiaQeEowNU8p7kf7. Alternatively, you can use the city-wide scheme, We are Bristol, by calling 0800 694 0184. In addition to setting up this online scheme, during March and April we made over two thousand telephone calls to older and more vulnerable residents right across Brislington West. Jos said, ‘We were worried some of the most vulnerable people in our ward might not have internet access or might be reticent about completing an online form’. We have now decided to start making follow-up calls commencing this week to check in on people and make sure their circumstances haven’t changed. Together we can get through this.

Back in the summer, we wrote about the increase in the number of motorbikes using the area, which was posing a risk for other users, not to mention the continuous droning, which was having a significant, detrimental effect on local residents. We arranged a meeting with Stockwood councillor, Graham Morris, the local police and the Council’s parks team to discuss the issue and try to find a resolution. The good news is, we now have new signage on the main routes through the space so that riders are fully aware that it is against Bristol City Council bylaws. However, with issues like this there has to be a multi-faceted approach and we want to see more police bikes for South Bristol and better enforcement of existing rules, education about the dangers of riding in the open space and of course the danger it is causing to pedestrians, families and their dogs, and the provision of alternative locations for riders. We will keep you updated on our progress.

We were delighted to spend Saturday afternoon in Tesco Extra on Callington Road, helping the Royal British Legion with this year’s Poppy Appeal. We were both amazed by people’s incredible generosity with several making huge donations. Steven, one of the poppy sellers, told us that this year they are on target to break all previous records in terms of the volume of donations. In just one week, the Brislington Tesco team have raised around £9,000! As you may know, we’ve spent the last few weekends cleaning up and restoring our Brislington War Memorial. This week we will be decorating it with hundreds of knitted poppies donated by our local churches and local residents. Together with our Brislington East colleague, Cllr. Tony Carey, we had also organised a Remembrance Service for Sunday 8 November with local preachers and a bugler to play the Last Post. Obviously, this now cannot go ahead, but if you are passing by, please feel free to remember The Fallen by yourself. We will leave the poppy decorations in place during lockdown.

Last week saw the launch of the eScooter trial for Bristol. It’s being billed as a low-carbon alternative form of transport to get around Bristol. Unfortunately, you can only use them in the central area so they are unlikely to encourage the vast majority of Bristolians to change their travelling habits. To really make a difference, they need to be available at our park and ride sites and other key suburban locations so that people have a real choice in how they travel. We’ll be asking the Mayor about the possibility of extending the coverage of the scheme at the next Full Council meeting because as it stands, it’s a missed opportunity and the eScooters are likely to end up as nothing more than a novelty for tourists.

Lloyd’s Pharmacy have unfortunately now closed down, which is sad news for our premier shopping street and for local residents who depended on the services they provided. The nearest Lloyd’s is now Broadwalk Shopping Centre in Knowle. Sadly, as we pointed out in an article in September, this is unlikely to be an isolated case due to cuts in funding from central government.

Lockdown will mean many of our local shops having to close their doors for a month. Please continue to support the local shops that can stay open as much as possible. #SupportLocal

William Hill have been having difficulty with their waste contractors leading to unsightly, overflowing commercial bins on the corner of Repton and Sandy Park. We’ve asked them to sort out this problem as soon as possible as it’s quite an eyesore and unfair on local residents living opposite.

SPLAT (Sandy Park Locals and Traders) is a new local group working hard to raise funds to light up Sandy Park this Christmas. Andrew said, ‘The Mayor refused to help when I asked him to fund lights a couple of years ago so I’m really pleased local traders and residents have got together to sort it themselves’. They are still a little short of their target so please give generously if you can. There are collection tins in many of the shops and also a Gofundme page if you wish to donate online. https://www.gofundme.com/f/sandy-park-christmas-lights

Sand Hill Community Garden is a new project we’ve been working on with Bristol City Council, Bristol Tree Forum and local residents over the last month or so. We believe the long neglected and litter-strewn grassy verge between Sand Hill and Sandy Park Bridge could become an attractive space full of flowers and shrubs in a part of Brislington with little greenery. Unfortunately, our application for trees has been turned down due to concerns over the bridge foundations but we have got permission for shrubs and flowers. Of course, Lockdown means we are unable to organise a community planting event this year but we are hopeful that we can do so next year. In the meantime, we plan to plant some daffodils over the few days to give us all some much-needed colour in the spring. If anyone has any bulbs going spare, we’d love to take them off your hands.

By Jos Clark, Liberal Democrat Councillor (Brislington West) Email:  cllr.jos.clark@bristol.gov.uk Mobile: 07584 370429

Email: andyvarney@hotmail.com Mobile: 07544 667968