Kingsdown Conservation Group

This time we’ve listed the pending planning applications to give members more detail about the things we discuss and act on. For further details, please contact one of the committtee members (listed on the website).
Planning Applications. We reviewed progress on the following applications:

4-10 Stokes Croft – Blue Lagoon – application to build shared student accommodation on five floors – refused – applicant has appealed.  KCG objected to the loss of employment space and to the design of the proposed new building.
King Charles – King Square Avenue – application to demolish (part) and rebuild as café and flats – still pending.  KCG objected to the demolition of the pub, which the Stokes Croft Conservation Area Appraisal called a building of merit.
77/79 Stokes Croft – DHS Heating – change of use of upper floors to residential use approved – design details changed before approval.  Most of KCG’s objections met.
22 Fremantle Square – application to destroy the Ninetree Hill boundary wall to create parking in garden – refused on conservation grounds.  Application to build single house in Dove Street refused on design grounds (in line with KCG’s objections).
76 Kingsdown Parade –application now approved after assistance from the conservation officer.
Somerset House Alfred Hill – still pending.

University – phase 1 – a different architect has had a meeting with the planning officer, and the proposals sound more promising.  The Maths building will be lower and the St. Michael’s Hill façade of the Bio building is broken into smaller units, which are more domestic in scale.

Westmoreland House Stokes Croft.     There is no good news.  The City must assist the owners, Comer Homes, who have submitted a planning application, to produce an acceptable development.  A compulsory purchase cannot proceed until (i) Comer Homes can be shown to have no intention to produce an acceptable planning application, and (ii)  the City has an agreement with a preferred developer (in this case, Crosby Homes).  The development agreement is to ensure the repayment of public funds.  It is probable that neither Comer Homes nor Crosby Homes would build out the development without a change in the housing market.

We also disccussed:
UBHT plans for a helicopter pad; the Council’s new “Approach to Planning Enforcement”; illegal (and legal) destruction of walls to create parking spaces; Residents’ Parking (the Council should soon be making a decision in principle, in October.  If the RPS proceeds the Council will then hold local consultations.  St Michael’s Conservation Area; the high costs of proposed lamppost replacements, a tree to replace the felled one in the Clevedon Terrace triangular garden, bright lights in the new Cabot Circus development.
Next Meeting of the committee – is on Tuesday the 14th October.  Please email the secretary at secretary@kingsdown.org.uk about any matter of concern on the subject of Kingsdown.

Note: You can download a more colourful version of this informaion if you right-click or CTRL-click here:kh-08-flier-2.pdf

Evening Party
7.30 - 11pm St Matthews Church Hall
Music, Dancing and Food
With Ceilidh band ‘Jiggerty’  9pm

Adults £6  Child £4
Tickets available from the St Matthews Church Office tel.9441598  or from Alfred Harris 1-3 Kingsdown Parade

Donations for Stalls
Books Have you any interesting books you wish to pass on? Gardening books; too often read  children’s books or  a jolly good novel - go on clear a shelf or two!! Leave in shed at No.73 KP the week before.
Plants & Flowers We need your surplus plants and bunches of garden flowers. Please leave at the bottom of the garden of No.69 KP in a pot or bag with its name
Bric a brac ( Definitely not Junk!) Could worthy donations please be brought to the Kingsdown Surplus Stall on the day or for your own stall contact Helen tel. 9422922
Help on the Day  Setting out or running a stall. tel Helen 9422922

MUSIC Would local musicians who would like to play on the day please
tel. Ruth 9247098

Fancy Dress Paraders
And the Fancy Hatters, meet at the end of St. Matthew’s Road at  1.30 for the start of the Parade.

This year’s charity is
Friends of Alalay (Santa Cruz)
Come and write messages and make pictures to send to these street children of Bolivia

Exhibits for the Cookery, Gardening and Crafts Competitions need to be handed in to the Church Hall by 12.30.
Judging starts at 1pm

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

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

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 !

This important and encouraging City Council document is now available online here

It sets out the Council’s view of the history, development and current character of the area (including a newly-incorporated triangle on Horfield Road). There are lots of photos, and discussion of individual streets and buildings, views, opportunities threats and some fascinating maps. KCG has contributed a lot of the material, during the several years (!) that we have been talking to the Council about the document and its predecessors.

You can buy a hard copy from Heather Porter in the Planning Department, but it costs £15 so we are hoping that the Council will give us a few that we can lend to KCG members.