Kingsdown Conservation Group

Vicky Wright from St Matthew’s church has asked us to publicise details of this week of events celebrating Hope, Creativity and Community:

ART GALLERY EVERYDAY 10–5PM @ THE ARK. Coffee, tea, fruit juices and cake. Feel free to wander, browse and relax.

FLAVOURS OF HOPE SAT 5TH JULY 7:30PM @ THE ARK. An evening of international food and wine with information about overseas projects with local connections. Ticketed event: Tickets £5 please contact 0117 944 1598 or pop into St Matthew’s Church Office)

PHRASES OF HOPE MON 7TH JULY 7:30PM @ THE ARK. An evening of live jazz and poetry with jazz musicians Adam Kishtany and Julie Dunn.

STORIES OF HOPE WEDS 9TH JULY 7:30PM @ THE ARK. An evening to hear about projects that offer hope in our local community.

ROOTS OF HOPE THURS 10TH JULY 7:30PM @ ST. MATTHEW’S. An evening exploring environmental issues and sustainable living.

RHYTHMS OF HOPE FRI 11TH JULY 7:30PM @ THE ARK. An evening looking at how music can bring hope with special guests ‘Changing Tunes’ and ‘Transition’.

CREATING HOPE SAT 12TH JULY 10-4PM @ THE ARK. A day of creative workshops for all the family.

SERVICE OF HOPE SUN 13TH JULY 7:30PM @ THE ARK. Join us for an evening service looking at the theme of ‘Hope’.

A normal morning on Marlborough Hill. Maybe strengthens the case for a lorry restriction on this steep, narrow hill with tiny pavements and a lot of pedestrians? Let’s hope the city council manage to sort this in the traffic improvement scheme they are currently preparing for Marlborough Hill

Stick to the policy – keep the gardens

After two recent unsuitable applications – both withdrawn after widespread criticism - the UBHT hospital authorities have now put in a third one, this time to build four flats in the garden of the listed building at 42 Alfred Hill. (Ref: 08/02222/F)

We say: Bristol Council’s Policy is very clear, so let’s stick to it.

The Council’s recently completed Character Appraisal of the Kingsdown Conservation Area sets out a very clear policy: “The many mature private gardens in Kingsdown are an important complement to the general urban character, they also have biodiversity value….Many original gardens have been lost to development on their southern edges. Where they remain, gardens should be presered in order to protect the special interest of the area.” The accompanying map shows the garden as ‘private space under threat from redevelopment’.

You can find KCG’s full response here on the website. Please help to ensure that these plans are rejected. You can find the application details, and make your comment, at http://tinyurl.com/6s3td5

Or you can email the Planning Officer: north.planning@bristol.gov.uk to say that you object.

The deadline is June 18th – don’t forget!

Building on the success of last year’s festival, we hope that this year’s Kingsdown Homegrown will be even bigger and more enjoyable for all ages. St Matthew’s Church is again offering the community the use of their Hall and grounds to fill with…..

Music  Fancy Dress Parade  Exhibitions  Stalls Traditional Teas  Food Sampling  Competitions Games  Sideshows  and much more 
Evening Party with Music and Dancing

We would like to continue to encourage local talent and local businesses to join in the Festival by using it as a showcase for their work. So if you would like to be involved in any way, whether it is running a stall or a new sideshow or just to serve teas, or even to pass on ideas - then check out the link on the right or contact Helen on 942 2922

Good news! UBHT has withdrawn their applications for 6 Kingsdown Parade and 78 Horfield Rd., in the face of strong local criticism. Thanks to all those who wrote in.

Bad news! They still keep sending in unsuitable applications. The latest is to put four flats in a garden at the bottom of Alfred Hill. We’ll work on a response.

The University has also withdrawn its pre-application for the Maths and Biology buildings, again in the face of strong local criticism. It feels as if we’re playing that familiar game where developers always applyfor more than they could hope to get approved, then come back later saying “Look, we’ve listened and cut a bit off, so now let us build it”.

The Council’s Character Appraisal of the Conservation Area has now been published. It’s good to be able to report that the officers concerned were efficient and supportive, and we think the final document (available on the web-site, or in hard-copy from the Council) is excellent. The Conservation Area has now been extended by the addition of the triangle formed by Alfred Hill, Horfield Rd, and the line joining the two below the terrace of Victorian Houses in Horfield Rd. We have now put a leaflet through all the doors to welcome them to the area.

There were a lot of other committee discussions about planning applications – Lakota club and old coroner’s court demolition, the Full Moon, the Premier Inn sign, the King Charles pub, Westmoreland House. If you want to know more, ask one of the Committee (contact details over on the right) or use the contact form to get in touch.

Thanks to everyone who wrote in objecting to the two unsuitable building schemes that the United Bristol Hospitals Trust had submitted for planning approval (see earlier items, with pictures, below). The City Council Planning Department say they told UBHT that both applications would be refused, and UBHT then withdrew them.

UBHT may just be biding their time and waiting for the property market to pick up. We can, of course, expect new applications to be made in due course, and we hope that the Trust will then genuinely take note of the very sensible and reasonable views of local residents, instead of just ignoring them. That would save a lot of time and effort for all concerned, and might even lead to a scheme we could simply support.

Thanks again, but stay vigilant.

From PC Martin Durbin:
A robbery occurred on kingsdown Parade yesterday at 1145pm. A female had her bag taken from her after being approached by four black teenagers between 13 - 15 years, all on bicycles , believed two girls/two boys. One of them threatened her but no weapon was seen. The main offender, was wearing a grey hoody. The group then cycled off along Kingsdown Parade, and down Nugent Hill.

Any sightings please call the police.

There was also an attempt burglary at 82 Cotham Rd where two males were disturbed in the rear garden, attempting to climb the building. One of them was wearing a cream wooly hat, and was holding a torch. Both made off into Cothamside.

Please relay these incidents to neighbours, friends , and NHW members, emphasising the need for vigilance, and calls to the police, 999 if applicable !

6KDP