Kingsdown Conservation Group

Sometimes its worth thinking about how we enjoy living in one of Bristol’s nicest residential areas. Many of our positive residential features don’t happen by chance. There is continuous development pressure. The University will build a very large Life Sciences building on St. Michael’s Hill where there is the red security fence. UHB will build a new ward block on Terrell Street. Developers want to convert the former King’s Arms on Paul Street into an unsupervised hall of residence for 45 students. The Committee, contribute to pre-application discussions and write reasoned responses to planning applications. However, KCG can only act as a single body and the response of individual residents is as important. Please take the time to look at planning applications on line and send your comments to the planners. The Committee will always help residents to word their response. Contact the secretary@Kingsdown.org.uk.

The Council is changing the way that it runs the City. The Committee has contributed to the consultation on theCouncil’s new “development framework” and to the St. James’s Parade Conservation Area Character Appraisal. If you are interested in finding out about new planning policies, the Conservation Area Appraisals and the Area Green Space Strategy, look at the Council’s website. Committee members attend the Police, Neighbourhood Forum and the Neighbourhood Partnership to which the Council has delegated some of its powers. KCG supports the spring Bee Day, Homegrown at the end of the summer and other events, such as street parties. Ask to use KCG’s four noticeboards to publicise your residents’ event.

The theme of this notice is that KCG needs as much involvement as possible from residents. We think that KCG gives Kingsdown residents good value for the £5 per year subscription. We run the KCG website and distribute to anyone who gives the secretary their email address the monthly committee business, update.

The Committee looks for more active support. Some of the committee ,who have worked for years, will not go on for ever. With more support, we could extend our activities. If you would like to see how the Committee works, come to a meeting as an observer. Contact the secretary.

The next committee meeting will be on Tuesday the 5th October 2010. If you wish to meet the committee or bring any matters to their attention, please contact the secretary@Kingsdown.org.uk.

The Government has recently urged Councils to cut down on unnecessary (and expensive) street signs and posts, but it often takes a long time for this sort of pronouncement to have any real effect on the ground. So KCG have been approaching local residents to help cut the number of posts that the Residents’ Parking scheme will bring, and City Council Conservation Officer Hannah Porter has been working to influence her colleagues. The net result is: 10 more signs going on existing lamp columns than originally proposed; 12 signs identified as being unnecessary; and 39 signs placed on existing boundary walls and railings instead of on new posts.

Many thanks to everyone who has helped with this important and useful piece of work.

Thanks to Pauline Allen for passing on this info, from PC Jon Derrick:

On 24 August 2010 I had a live Webchat for an hour and a half on behalf of the Kingsdown and High Kingsdown communities. It was very successful and I spoke to a variety of different people about many different topics, from local residents with local issues, to even someone from Greece asking about recruitment. I will certainly be doing this again and will let you know when the next one will be.

Summary of Neighbourhood Policing meeting held on 19 August 2010 at The Centre for the Deaf (Kingsdown and High Kingsdown beats)
Thank you to all who attended the meeting, it was good to see you. The issues raised by the residents were:

• The CCTV not working in the flats, due to lack of funding
• Dog fouling on King Square Avenue
• Noise pollution coming from The Canteen and The Croft public house
• Youths making noise on top of the garages by Armada House and possibly taking drugs
• Damaged gates/garages which encourage rough sleepers

If you’re interested in the new (ish) body that allocates spending locally, with community input, you can find out more at http://www.bristol.gov.uk/ccm/navigation/council-and-democracy/neighbourhood-partnerships/.

You can also download the latest minutes here: NPship13Jul2010

PC Jon Derrick writes:

Hello all

Can I please invite you all to our next Kingsdown and High Kingsdown Neighbourhood Policing Meeting. It will be at the Centre for the Deaf, King Square and will be from 6:30pm until 7:30pm.

Look forward to seeing you

PC Jon Derrick 3763
High Kingsdown Neighbourhood Beat Officer
New Bridewell Police Station
0117 9455023

University Hospitals Bristol Terrell Street and Cottage Place

Committee members discussed with UHB’s management the improvement of the roads at the back of the new ward block to be built behind the Queen Elizabeth Building. Pedestrians and BRI staff use Terrell Street and Cottage Place heavily. There will be more traffic in Terrell Street because when the new wards are finished delivery vehicles will use a one way system. They will enter from Marlborough Hill, pass under the new building, and exit up Terrell Street to Horfield Road. KCG has asked the Council to make a planning condition to require UHB to improve public access and safety in Terrell Street. KCG has complained about the barrier that currently stops cyclists using Cottage Place.

There is no further news about the redevelopment of the Horfield Road or Kingsdown Parade sites or the sale of Rose Cottage.

Residents’ Parking Scheme

Now that the Council has decided to proceed with the Kingsdown pilot Residents’ Parking Scheme KCG wants to see the parking scheme carried out with care and sensitivity to the historic environment. Bristol has two excellent examples of well-designed parking demarcation and management in Queen’s Square and at Temple Meads. Setted streets such as Somerset Street, present a challenge because paint does not stick to stone very well.

Examples of historic towns and cities, where successful schemes are managed without the need for costly and disfiguring yellow lines include Shrewsbury, Wells, Ashford, Halifax, Bury St Edmunds and parts of Bath. These involve “Restricted Parking Zones” signs at each entrance to the zone with repeater signs through the zone and identification of the permitted parking bays. The Traffic Regulations provide that the Zone Entry and Repeater signs make the scheme enforceable. The Regulations do not require yellow lining. The absence of prohibitive lines would remove the confusion about lines outside driveways, and significantly reduce costs.

Fremantle Square phone box

Are there any public spirited Fremantle Square residents who could smarten up the phone box’s appearance?

The next committee meeting will be on Tuesday the 7th September 2010. If you wish to meet the committee or bring any matters to their attention, please contact the secretary@Kingsdown.org.uk.

Good things on Kingsdown Parade

15 Kingsdown Parade – Thank you Care and Repair for replacing and improving the oriel window. Over time, each small architectural detail lost lessens Kingsdown’s quality. The KCG paid £430.55 towards the extra cost of replacing the original timber cladding, under the window, with render.

59 Kingsdown Parade – Thank you Alan Campbell for the rebuilding your wall facing 59 Kingsdown Parade.

Satellite dishes – Thank you the owners of the satellite dish on Apsley Villas for moving it off the Villa’s front wall to somewhere inconspicuous… KCG are trying to persuade the owners of two more satellite dishes to move them so that they don’t spoil their house fronts.

Montague Green – Discussions continue with the Council about the installation of another seat(s), to give a view down Montague Hill.

Spring Hill improvement – Discussions continue with the Council about spending the money that the Unite will pay to the Council to offset the impact of the new student accommodation in the Alexandra House and King Square House redevelopment. KCG wants to see the money spent on making the bottom of Spring Hill look as good as King Square.

Fremantle Square phone box – BT say that they will inspect the condition of the, still used telephone box, which is neglected and covered by ivy.

St. James Barton conservation area character appraisal – committee members will help the Council with the next inner City conservation area character appraisal.

Wheelibins

The Council has said that it will take action under the Environmental Protection Act against users of waste bins who leave them permanently on the pavement. In Kingsdown, 22 houses are affected.

The next committee meeting will be on Tuesday the 10th August 2010. If you wish to meet the committee or bring any matters to their attention, please contact the secretary@Kingsdown.org.uk.

Here are the City Council’s proposals
http://www.opinionsuite.com/bristol/departments/transformation/proposed-zebra-crossing-cotham-road-outside-cotham-school-/consultation/consult_view