http://www.greaterbedminster.org.uk/news.php News from the Greater Bedminster Community Partnership en-gb http://localhost/gbcp/news.php#2008-06-26 09:34:06 Thu, 26 June 2008 09:34:06 GMT The second Bristol City Farms and Community Gardens Summer Show will take place on July 19th from 12-4pm on Dalby Avenue Green (in front of the GreenHouse, near Bedminster station). Attractions include rare breed animals on show, children's activities, a barbecue, ice cream, show entries, stalls selling produce from the farms and gardens and craft activities. For more information contact Paul Jayson on 0117 923 1800 http://localhost/gbcp/news.php#2008-06-19 13:28:20 Thu, 19 June 2008 13:28:20 GMT Friends of Greville Smyth Park (FROGS) are pleased to announce the return of 'Lazy Sunday' - the annual community event to celebrate and raise awareness of our fantastic local park. There will be something for everyone, from tea and cakes (with chairs to sit on!) to BMXing and live music. Entry is free and all are welcome. Offers of help and homemade cakes will be gratefully received - please email aliceandtom@hotmail.com http://localhost/gbcp/news.php#2008-06-15 08:36:02 Sun, 15 June 2008 08:36:02 GMT GBCP has, for the first time, a small pot of money to spend on useful things across the partnership area. By June we had £12,300. £10,000 of this has come from Bristol City Council and the rest is from local businesses. If you have any good idea about how this might be spent, have a look at the application material under Reports & Research on this website. Closing date for this year is July 30. If in doubt contact the GBCP Secretary on benbarker@blueyonder.co.uk http://localhost/gbcp/news.php#2008-06-11 13:15:51 Wed, 11 June 2008 13:15:51 GMT Campaigners will today urge councillors to "reunite the city" by reopen- ing a railway station which was closed in the 1980s. The Friends of Suburban Bristol Railways (FOSBR) believe the reopening of Ashton Gate station, pictured, would be a major step towards the revival of the rail link to Portishead. And, they say, it could also act as a transport hub, greatly improving access to the rest of the city for people in south Bristol. At the moment, says FOSBR, the River Avon acts as a real barrier to transport links between north and south Bristol. FOSBR members will be presenting their case at tonight's meeting of the city council at the Council House on College Green. Ashton Gate station - which is under Brunel Way where the A369 road to Portishead feeds into the A370 Long Ashton bypass - was last used in 1984. It is a stone's throw from Ashton Gate stadium, home to Bristol City. Freight trains from Portbury Dock run past it today. However, its old platforms still exist. FOSBR says the scheme for the station could eventually improve transport links across the West by allowing trains to travel from North Somerset to South Gloucestershire, for instance, without terminating at Temple Meads. FOSBR members are also keen to see the freight line between Avonmouth and Filton opened up for passenger traffic. The campaign group wants the Ashton Gate scheme paid for with funds diverted from other transport projects, such as bus rapid transit (BRT) routes and the proposed south Bristol ring road link. Commuter Eric Wildman will explain to councillors how the authority's recently-announced three-year investment of £1 million in an improved service on the Severn Beach line could be developed south of the river. He told the Evening Post: "A great improvement for Bristol rail services can be achieved by extending Avonmouth and Severn Beach trains to a reopened Ashton Gate, calling at Bedminster and Parson Street. This would give a large part of the south of the city easy access to the north." A reopened Ashton Gate would also free up capacity at Temple Meads station by allowing local trains to continue through. And it would lay the foundations for reopening the Portishead line to passengers, said Mr Wildman. FOSBR campaigner Julie Boston said: "The catchment area of trains running from Ashton Gate to Severn Beach via Temple Meads will be huge. "Not only will it reunite the city but it will in the longer term connect three counties: South Gloucestershire, Bristol and Somerset." Former FOSBR chairman Peter Gould said that, with political will behind the project, a Portishead route linked to others going through the city would be possible within a decade. And he said that Ashton Gate station could reopen with two years' work on signalling and other improvements. He said: "The track is there. Freight trains are already running on it." The current freight link connects with mainline services at Parson Street station, passing through Bedminster station on its way to Temple Meads. The route from Portbury follows the line of the Avon Gorge. And out to Portishead disused track could be opened up again, said Mr Gould. "Once you start putting a decent transport system into south Bristol, you can develop it," he added. "The river is the problem and this would get round that." Councillor Mark Bradshaw, who is in charge of transport planning, said: "It's right that FOSBR continues to challenge the council and our partners on how we make best use of our rail infrastructure. "We are exploring a number of ways to improve the services but also at the same time to get investment to improve Temple Meads." Source: Bristol Evening Post 10/06/08 http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=145365&command=displayContent&sourceNode=145191&contentPK=20831155&folderPk=83726&pNodeId=144922 http://localhost/gbcp/news.php#2008-06-09 08:48:10 Mon, 09 June 2008 08:48:10 GMT Bristol's Labour- led council has been accused of a u-turn over the cost of residents' parking permits that are likely to be introduced in some areas of the city. Labour councillors suggested a £40 annual permit to park one car and £200 for a second permit soon after they took charge of the council in May last year. This was an increase from £30 for a first permit and £60 for a second as suggested by the Liberal Democrats when they were in power. But now the pricing has been revised so that the first permit would still cost £40 but the second would only cost £80. A third permit would cost £500. The price change follows a consultation with the council's citizens' panel - a group of 1,200 residents who are often asked for their views on key issues. It is not yet clear which parts of the city will have the "permit only" zones but the measures are most likely to come into force in places such as the city centre, Southville, Kingsdown, Cliftonwood and Old Market. There is to be no change to the plan to make the zones active for 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Cabinet Councillor Mark Bradshaw, who is in charge of the council's transport department, said the change of tack on pricing showed his party was listening and responding to the panel. But the move was criticised by Lib Dem Councillor Mark Wright (Cabot) who said: "I have been campaigning in favour of residents' parking for the Kingsdown area since before I was elected. "I have always supported the principle, because the parking situation in Kingsdown is beyond silly - it is downright dangerous at times." "But the Labour Council scored a massive own-goal when they bumped up the proposed price of permits. "The price rises were just a money-grabbing exercise, and were not justified. "Thankfully, the Labour council has finally relented. "Although the permit cost is still £20 more than the Lib Dems originally proposed, I think the new proposed prices are acceptable, and I really hope people will support residents' parking proposals in Kingsdown and other areas that really need them." Mr Bradshaw said the prices of the permits had never been set in stone. He said: "We have been open to views on the broad operational issues. "There is a commitment to see the costs of the first and second permit linked to the likely administration and enforcement costs of the scheme, while sending a clear message about the impact of third car ownership on the limited highway space we have as a city. "Adjustments to the first and second permit fee level were always intended so as to reflect emerging information about the costs. "Last year, the all-party scrutiny commission covering transport matters received a detailed report on progress and agreed with this thinking and approach, indeed supporting the need to discourage ownership of third, fourth or more vehicles in a single household by introducing a much higher charge for permits beyond two per household. "I know of Councillor Wright's enthusiasm for a residents' parking scheme in his own ward and will look forward to his active support during the consultation phase due to begin this summer." Source: Bristol Evening Post 09/06/08 http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=145365&command=displayContent&sourceNode=145191&contentPK=20822851&folderPk=83726&pNodeId=144922 http://localhost/gbcp/news.php#2008-05-16 20:54:15 Fri, 16 May 2008 20:54:15 GMT Front Garden Competition 2008 May Newsletter Welcome to this, the second Front Garden Competition 2008 e-newsletter Just two weeks to go please put these dates in your diary The dates for the 2008 Front Garden Competition have now been confirmed, they are: Mon 2 – Sat 7 June Judges packs ready to collect from the Southville Centre (note Southville Centre only open until lunchtime on Saturdays). Just ask at reception to collect your judges pack. Mon 9 – Sun 22 June First Round (volunteer judges awarding Good Garden Awards). Please complete your judging any time during this fortnight and return your nominations to the Southville Centre no later than 6pm on Monday 23 June Tuesday 24 June, 8pm The Short listing of gardens nominated from the first round will take place at the Southville Centre, Beauley Road, Southville. All first round Judges are invited to help shortlist. Fri 27 June – Fri 25 July Second Round (public voting to decide the winners). Online voting or in person at the Riverside Garden Centre or the Southville Centre. Sunday 3 August Winners announced and prizes awarded 3pm at the Riverside Garden Centre Not too late to help judges this year’s competition? More than half of the 54 rounds now have judges but we still need more! No experience is needed to be a judge as plenty of guidance and support is given, each judge will be allocated a round of only 6 or 7 streets that they should walk around (at their leisure) between Monday 9 June and Sunday 22 June. Many existing volunteer judges find it so pleasurable that they’ve done it for several years now. Some people enjoy doing their judging with their children and other do it with a friend. The following rounds still need judges: A4 – Frayne Rd, Clift House Rd and Clift Rd A7 – Raynes Rd, Banwell rd, Gerald Rd, Smyth Rd (from Duckmoor to Winterstoke Rd) A11 – Duckmoor Rd (From Smyth to Luckwell Rd), Lynnwood Rd, Luckwell Rd (from Duckmoor to Winterstoke Rd) A12 – Silbury Rd, Avebury Rd A13 – Ashton Dr A14 – Risdale Rd, Langley Crescent, Tregarth Rd, Trevenna Rd A15 – South Liberty Lane, Swiss Rd A16 – Hardy Rd, Nelson St, Trafalgar Ter, Winterstoke Rd (from Hendre Rd to Bedminster Down Rd), Winterstoke Close A17 – Gores Marsh Rd, Marigold Walk, Longmoor Rd, Deep Coomb Rd, Colliter Crescent A18 – Bower Rd, Irby Rd, Stella Grove, Gore Rd, Hendre Rd, Greenhill Grove B8 – Elmdale Rd (from Palmyra rd to Chessel St), Pembury Rd, Chessel St (from Garnet St to British Rd), Jasper St, Garnet St B10 – Avonleigh Rd (from Chessel St to Palmyra Rd), Hengaston St, Stanley St, Chessel St (from Elmdale Rd to West St), Ireton Rd, British Rd (from South St to Stanley St) B11 – British Rd (from Cannon St to Stanley St), South Rd, Clifton St, Diamond St, Victor Rd, Westbourne Grove B12 – Dean Crescent, New Charlotte St, Hollidge Gardens, Murray St, Brook Road, St Pauls Road B15 – Osborne Terrace, Brighton Terrace, Temple Street, Harptree Grove, Churchlands Rd B16 – West Street, Cromwell Street B18 – North St (from Greville Rd to Cannon Street) B19 – Bedminster Down Rd, Bedminster Rd (from Bedminster Down Rd to Parson St), Parson St (from Bedminster Down Rd to Bedminster Rd), Willada Close, Hall Street and Mansfield S14 – Acramans Rd, Alpha Rd, Southville Place, Southville Road S17 – Raleigh Rd & Amerind Grove (from Beauley Rd to North St), Greenway Bush Lane, Jennings Court, Vauxhall Ave, Greenbank Rd If you’d like to be a volunteer judge, please contact Matthew Symonds by email at matthewsymonds@hotmail.com or call the Southville Centre on (T) 0117 9231039 to say which round you’d prefer to judge. Website update The front garden competition website is currently being updated ready for this year’s competition. As well as all the usual information there are lots of new bits including: · Wildlife pages – top tips and useful links to help make your garden wildlife friendly as well as look great. · Details of our new wildlife friendly competition for all our local school. · Pictures of all the 2007 winning gardens Hopefully most of the website will be updated by the end of next week. The voting section of the website will be live on 27 June so don’t forget to log on then and vote. New sponsor adds support to competition In addition to Southville Community Development Association (SCDA) Riverside Garden Centre and the 02 ‘It’s Your Community’ fund we’re pleased to announce Ashcroft Veterinary Group as the final sponsors for this year’s competition. Show off your back garden too! Plans for this year’s open back garden afternoon are taking shape. The date have now been narrowed to one of the following: Sunday 20 July or Sunday 27 July. If you’d like to open your garden then contact Matthew Symonds at matthewsymonds@hotmail.com or call the Southville Centre on (T) 0117 9231039. New tree forum branches out Tree lined streets are amongst the most desirable place that people choose to live. Some parts of Bristol are very ‘leafy’ and other (including large parts of Bedminster and Southville) have very few street trees. A new Bristol street tree forum has been launched to help protect and promote street trees in Bristol. To find out more about the new Street tree forum http://www.bristol.gov.uk/ccm/content/Environment-Planning/Parks-and-open-spaces/bristol-street-tree-forum.en Keeping in touch Throughout the spring and summer there will be a monthly e-newsletter to keep people informed about the Front Garden Competition. Information on the website will also be updated from May onwards at www.frontgarden.org.uk Please forward this newsletter to others who you think might like to receive it. You have received this email because you’ve either been involved with the Front Garden Competition in the past or have expressed an interest in the competition. If you would prefer not to receive this newsletter in future then please email matthewsymonds@hotmail.com Matthew Symonds Front Garden Competition coordinator matthewsymonds@hotmail.com http://localhost/gbcp/news.php#2008-05-16 11:37:15 Fri, 16 May 2008 11:37:15 GMT The Greater Bedminster Community Partnership website was launched earlier this year and now we're are beginning to update it and make it an interesting place where people can go to find out what's happening locally. To help us do this we need: 1. a small team of news gatherers to collect materials for the site. These do not have to be particularly computer literate and anyway, we can give instructions, if needed. If you think that you can help, get back to GBCP secretary Ben Barker at benbarker@blueyonder.co.uk 2. lots of photos to keep the site fresh. Do you have a picture or two of your favourite bit of Bedminster, Southville, Ashton or other parts of the area? Or even of something that you hate? The picture could be a building or a whole street scene. How about an event in the park? It's up to you. Give the photo a title and send it to derek@idew.co.uk 3. please pass this message on, if you can. Thanks in advance for your help http://localhost/gbcp/news.php#2008-05-07 08:25:53 Wed, 07 May 2008 08:25:53 GMT Cleaning up graffiti is costing councils in the Bristol area hundreds of thousands of pounds a year. In Bristol alone, the clean-up cost was £100,000 last year.Last year, vandals sprayed blue paint on the walls of the £1 million sports pavilion at Filwood playing fields in Knowle West, which opened only eight months previously. Weeks earlier, graffiti was sprayed over the entrance of grade II-listed Blaise Castle House, at Henbury - just as a multi-million-pound refurbishment neared completion. Graffiti and vandalism contributed to the £100,000 debt of the Ashton Court Festival in 2006, with an £8,000 bill for graffiti damage and an £11,000 bill resulting from other vandalism. North Somerset Council has paid out about £80,000 in the past year, cleaning up 63 recorded instances of graffiti and vandalism. In Bath and North East Somerset the bill to clean up graffiti is £50,000 a year. South Gloucestershire Council spends the same figure each year for graffiti removal. In the past two years it has had to clean up following a total of 370 different incidents at council- owned or managed sites. Two years ago the Government launched a campaign to cut vandalism and other forms of criminal damage across England and Wales. Crime Disorder and Reduction Partnerships were formed to identify the scale of the problems and draw up plans to tackle them. People caught carrying out acts of graffiti face prosecution and a maximum fine of £5,000. Some schools, pubs, youth clubs and building sites have been given consent to decorate blank walls with graffiti designs. Graffiti Badges, a Bristol business that designs badges depicting graffiti from around the world, says there should be more legal graffiti sites. Keith Reay, who runs the business and is a graffiti photographer, said: "Some of this money spent by the council is a waste. They have just removed some from the M32, which no one could see. If there were more legal sites the amount spent to remove illegal graffiti should be less." Bristol currently has two legal graffiti sites - one in Bedminster and now Riverside Park, off the roundabout at junction three of the M32. Mr Reay said of the new site: "This demonstrates a willingness by the council to provide public spaces to artists where they can practise their art legally, and where anyone interested in street art can go and meet artists and learn about the culture. "Bristol has been crying out for more space, other than Dame Emily Park, in Bedminster, and this is a welcome step in the right direction." Source: Bristol Evening Post 07/05/08 http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=145365&command=displayContent&sourceNode=145191&contentPK=20561798&folderPk=83726&pNodeId=144922 http://localhost/gbcp/news.php#2008-05-01 07:52:23 Thu, 01 May 2008 07:52:23 GMT A Bristol vicar has persuaded his flock to see the light and back plans to install solar panels on the roof of their church. The Reverend David Moss is hoping planning permission will be given for a strip of solar panels to be mounted on the roof of 122-year-old St Michael and All Angels Church in Vivian Street, Windmill Hill, to cut electricity bills and help the environment.At first the congregation was sceptical but eventually came round to the idea and donated £6,400 towards the scheme. Mr Moss said: "The church believes in carbon neutral energy creation. The congregation were initially sceptical. But part of the role of a vicar is to make people aware of issues and envision people to take those issues on. I believe I've won them round. "As an inner city church that always struggles for money, getting £6,400 from the congregation made me think wow, people have a passion for green issues. "We want to be the showcase for churches and public buildings throughout Bristol and the wider area, showing that if we can use this technology, so can they. "Other churches are thinking about doing the same thing." The church has already swapped most of its bulbs for low-energy versions and hopes to add extra insulation to the building. Mr Moss said he planned a similar scheme for St Mary Redcliffe Primary School where he is chair of governors. He said council planners welcomed the church proposal after it was submitted in April. If councillors give consent, Bristol firm Solarsense will clip 26 panels onto the church's south facing roof some time after October 2008. The church still needs £5,000 for the scheme and is applying for grants. Source: Bristol Evening Post 01/05/08 http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=145365&command=displayContent&sourceNode=145191&contentPK=20518130&folderPk=83726&pNodeId=144922 http://localhost/gbcp/news.php#2008-04-30 08:31:06 Wed, 30 April 2008 08:31:06 GMT Introducing SOFA Project http://www.sofaproject.org.uk Who are we: We specialise in the supply of re-use furniture, household goods, and domestic appliances and we provide affordable solutions for everyone. SOFA Project was founded in Bristol as the Shifting Old Furniture Around Project. What started as one man and his van now consists of a large shop supported by 8 lorries and vans, a workshop, two warehouses and 23 staff. It was incorporated as a company in 1982. SOFAs charitable object was set as supplying furniture, household goods and domestic appliances to people in conditions of need by sourcing items from community donors. In time this has expanded to include graded domestic appliances sourced from manufacturers like Baumatic and BEKO and retailers like Dixons: these are now attracting people looking to buy more smartly for their home refurbishments. Did you know We are open to everyone? a.. We have new items: Beds, cookers, washing machines, fridges b.. We have graded items (which may not have been used): fridges, televisions, microwaves, dish washers, wine coolers and so on. c.. We have used items: sourced from community donors, we have dining room furniture, storage units, sofa beds etc Stock changes regularly so you must visit often. All electrical items come with warranty cover so you can buy with confidence. SOFAcard System: Two-tier pricing Our SOFAcard system provides further discount for people on low income and benefits and allows us to price more competitively for those who need it. Applications can be picked up at the West Street shop reception. If you bring proof of address cards will be processed there and then. Would you like to get involved with our enterprise? We are always looking for help we reply heavily on volunteer support and have worked with agencies in the past to help people move back into employment having gained experience within the workplace. If you or anyone you know would be interested in volunteering we would like to hear from you particularly in the admin area, helping to answer calls, booking in collections and so on. We pay 5 per day to cover expenses. Please call Lucy Pitt on 0117 954 3573 Collections We collect items of unwanted furniture and bulky waste that is in good condition. Please know that we can only collect as fast as we can sell due to limited storage and therefore our bookings are often taken 4-6 weeks in advance. Therefore please give us enough time to collect! Website: Now live at http://www.sofaproject.org.uk Featuring Bargain of the Week! We look forward to seeing you soon come and pick up a bargain at SOFA! How to find us (West Street Shop): 48-54 West Street, St Phillips (Old Market), Bristol, BS2 0BL Tel: 0117 954 3567 info@sofaproject.org.uk Open: Mon Fri 9.30 5.00, Saturday 10.00-4.30pm We have limited parking on Waterloo Street, or you can park at Gardiner Haskins round the corner. West Street is on 4 6, 6a, 7, 24, 36, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 47, 48, 49 and 67 bus routes.