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

You can also download the latest minutes here: NPship13Jul2010

To help residents of Kingsdown appreciate how the proposed panels will appear we have put up a full size marker to show the exact height and position on the roof.  An existing water tank enclosure on the Clevedon Terrace half of the house will be removed.

Comments are invited from the public in the interests of proper consultation.”  Any concerned neighbours and others may contact the Macfarlanes at 14 Clevedon Terrace or by email : sandj@kingsdown.me.uk

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

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.

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.

Wednesday 30th June 8 – 9.30 in St Matthews’s Church hall

It might not be well know, but the Kingsdown Homegrown has given up to £1000 the past three years to various charities from 3 different continents. Each time we have had a link with a member of the Kingsdown community. So on Wednesday, Annie Syrett will be giving us news of what remarkable things she has achieved with the street children of Bolivia; Hilary Green will be reporting from Sri Lanka and Donald Sammut will show us what amazing things he has already been doing for leprosy in Promise Nepal. We will have refreshments and nibbles on offer and music from around the world.
Do come. All welcome

The Council intends to make a final decision on the residents’ parking scheme in July.

The owner of 15 Kingsdown Parade (which is currently being rebuilt) will retain the oriel window.

The Planning Committee gave permission for a development at the back of 26, Somerset Street, against the recommendation of the Planning Officers.

An application has been submitted for 3 houses to be built at the back of Alfred Harris.

The Area Parks officer has estimated that a paved area on Montague Green, with two extra bins and benches, would cost over £8,000, so it may be necessary to look for other approaches.

We continue to pursue the improvement of Spring Hill, and are currently urging the Council to allocate some of the improvement money made available by a developer.

The next meeting is on Tuesday 6th July at 8pm. Please send any items for discussion to secretary@kingsdown.org.uk

Horfield Road abandoned garden - the planners say that the expected planning application to build houses on the former garden is UHB’s last opportunity to start work and remove the hoardings. There is an agreed timeframe, which includes dates for the planning application, sale and construction. A Planning Enforcement Notice will require UHB to remove the hoardings by the end of November. The Council’s legal department have completed the initial stages to prepare the notice for service. KCG has replied to say that the response was inadequate because vegetation is coming over the fence.

New entrance to BRI – 10/01545/F – KCG supports the application to put a new entrance on the Maudlin Street front of the BRI.

New Terrell Street wards – 10/01505/F – UHB will build a new ward block between the King Edward Building (E) the Heart Institute (N) the Queen Elizabeth Building (S). It will be visible only from Horfield Road. KCG supports the application but it wants the Council to impose a planning condition to lay out and manage the public areas. . The public space includes Terrell Street, Alfred Place, the Oncology car park, Bedford Steps and Cottage Place. More vehicles will use the area because, in addition to the vehicles, which will put down and pick up at the new Ward Block, UHB wants a one way route for delivery vehicles from Marlborough Hill, through Alfred Place to Horfield Road. This is a welcome safety measure. There is a lot of pedestrian traffic. Patients, visitors and staff use this area behind the BRI as do the public who walk along the historic streets. KCG supports separation of traffic and pedestrians where this is possible.

Westmoreland House Planning Appeal – The Planning Inspector dismissed the developer’s appeal but there are no current proposals to redevelop this eyesore although the Council says that the problem is under active review.

Residents’ Parking Scheme – On the 25^th March, the Cabinet decided to proceed with the Kingsdown scheme. The Council will proceed to the statutory consultation stage next.

15 Kingsdown Parade – The owner says that he intends to replace the existing oriel window with a like-for-like replacement. This is excellent news because of the oriel’s contribution to the street scene.

Montague Green – Committee members met, the central area parks manager who agreed to provide an estimate for the cost the removal of the rose bed and to replace it with a paved area and one or two seats, which will enjoy a view down Marlborough Hill.

The next committee meeting will be on Tuesday the 1^st June. If you wish to meet the committee or bring any matters to their attention, please contact the secretary@Kingsdown.org.uk.