Kingsdown Conservation Group

United Bristol Healthcare Trust – plans for around 19 new buildings in Kingsdown. UBHT showed us their plans for land that is surplus to the hospital’s needs, which they will sell with planning permission. They propose to build:

• Four 4-storey town houses on Kingsdown Parade on the old ambulance maintenance site between the chip shop and Marlborough Hill, with mews houses behind. We think that 4 floor houses would be too tall; 3 floors would be better. To enhance the Parade, the new houses should step down to meet their 2 storey neighbours.

• On Horfield Road, on the boarded up garden site - a block of flats 3 storeys tall. the large mass of a block of flats is unacceptable. They would overdevelop the site. They would be out of scale with the 2 storey houses on each side of them and would create an unfriendly canyon with the BMH on the other side of the road. Any development must respect its architectural context.

• At Somerset Street West End - 4 houses in place of Rose Cottage. We feel this is an overdevelopment.

• At the bottom of Alfred Hill - houses behind Somerset House. This would involve cutting an arch through the house to gain access to the back garden. This would cause irretrievable damage to the structure of a Grade II listed building. New houses in this small garden would be too close to the existing house and overdevelop the site. KCG says that this proposal is unacceptable.

The proposals are currently on display in Alfred Harris. Please study them and let us know your views.

Bristol University – Phase 1 development. In the December summary we explained why KCG opposed the mass and design of the office block that the University proposed to build on the St. Michael’s Hill, Children’s Hospital site. Our response was reported in the Evening Post. Two of our committee were interviewed on BBC Bristol, Breakfast Live. The University has new proposals. We expect the public to be involved in a further consultation at the end of March. KCG is keenly interested in the University’s development because it affects all of us. We have asked for better documents and displays next time. We want to see the colour and design of the new buildings, how they will respond to the context of the Conservation Area and their effect on the strategic views into and out of Kingsdown. The Evening Post reported that the University has the “sail” tall building on Tyndall Avenue because it had become too expensive and growing more expensive. KCG welcomed that decision.

Next Meeting of the committee – is on Tuesday 19th February. Please email the secretary at secretary@kingsdown.org.uk about any matter of concern on the subject of Kingsdown.

The United Bristol Hospital Trust plans to sell four small Kingsdown sites, all in the conservation area. Naturally UBHT want to get as much money as is reasonably possible, so they intend to seek planning permission for up to 19 houses and flats. They have shown us some of their draft plans, and asked for our comments.

We are pleased to be consulted while there is still a chance to make some changes, but we don’t think the current proposals are appropriate for the area.

We hope to persuade the Trust to amend its plans. First, though, we want to make sure that our comments do accurately reflect the views of our members and other local residents, so please look at the plans which are on on display in Alfred Harris printers.

We only have till Feb 7th to comment, so please call in and let us know what you think.

7.30-11pm at St Matthews Church

Come and party…

Supper (bring a pud or salad)
Bar
Dancing

…and local entertainers invited to take the floor

Entertainers please contact
info@christophersomerville.co.uk

Tickets £5, contact
jenhb@blueyonder.co.uk

Please let me know if you do NOT want this level of detail on the website and email update. I’m trying not to pass on things you might see just as more junk in the in-box, but I thought you would want to know the following. Feedback is always welcome - use the Contact Us link. Thanks. Tony Kerr, KCG webstie dogsbody.

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Graham Syrett from neighbourhood watch reports:

Firstly, I mentioned some while back that someone had been arrested back in December regarding the street robberies (”muggings”) that had been occurring in our area. That person has been “out of circulation” since their arrest and it’s interesting and encouraging to note that there have been no further robberies since his departure from our local scene. Long may this continue.

Secondly, I stated recently that someone had been arrested regarding the local con whereby someone called asking to borrow an electrical extension lead and went on to swindle people out of cash. That statement still stands but I thought that you might fiond the following brief history of interest and enlighten us all about the difficulties under which our local police sometimes labour!

The man in question was arrested on 7th January. He was already known to the police because of many previous similar offences.

Unfortunately he was released on bail and continued with his deceptions.

He was arrested again on 11th January and then unfortnately released once more. He was then arrested again on 15th after being positively identified by three witnesses. The police are still receiving reports from other victims. There is no doubt that there may be more cases that have not been reported.

Thankfully, he was remanded in custody after this last arrest and appeared in court 16th January charged with 25 offences of deception.

I’m trying to find out if a custodial sentence has been imposed - or not!?

Believe it or not, FINE WEATHER is predicted tomorrow for our annual tidy-up, so do come along with your gardening gloves and join in.

Bristol City Council , together with Kingsdown Conservation Group will be planting trees on the lawn outside Prior’s Hill Flats (corner of Kingsdown Parade and Fremantle Road) on Sunday 29th January at 10am.
The Group have initiated the replanting of the trees which died last year. We are pleased that the Council agreed on a large specimum tree on the corner - it will be a native tree - a Scots Pine and there will also be several cherries.
All are welcome to join in.

… at 7am on Jan 2nd