News and Announcements from the NSI

News, Blog and Events.......

News

August 2010:

Green Gym - is now open and welcomes new people to turn up and have a go....see details in Events on Sites section below.

City Council wins funding for staff to help with arranging public events on the Slopes (and other sites in Bristol).

The City Council announced on 14th June the consultation on the Area Green Space Plans for Bristol - these are plans which show which areas of green space will be sold of/improved/left alone. At the same time the list of other sites which may be developed (known as the site allocations process) was also published.

Further details from:
www.bristol.gov.uk/siteallocations
www.bristol.gov.uk/agsp

There are a number of exhibitions across Bristol on this - see the website for details.

BUT.........the documents and the exhibition dont cover the Knowle West Regeneration Framework area or the Slopes - see the text on the Regeneration Framework below.

The closing date for comments is 29th October 2010.

Kingswear/Torpoint/Marksbury/Novers
Following the Council's exhibition on the Kingswear Road, Torpoint Road, Marksbury Road and Novers Hill proposals on the 18th April 2009 - it had all gone very quiet, except we had heard that the Council was "soft marketing" the development to Developers, to see what their opinion was.

Now we know why.......... at the Cabinet meeting on 25th March - it was revealed that the Council have proposals to take even more land from the Novers end of our sites, than we had originally thought around the Haldon Close area. Also the number of houses/dwellings to be built has gone up to 474. It is unfortunate that the Council claimed the results of consultation in April 2009 supported this option - when in fact the plan of the option shown in April 2009 which gain the most support shows a different area of land involved and states has c100 less dwellings.

To be fair to the Council - we have now been invited with other community groups to take part in Consultations on the preparations for a brief for the development - we have accepted and those meetings are still in progress. The Council at the same time are working towards holding another public exhibition at some point in the future.

For further information on the Council's proposals so far see the 25 March 2010 report at this address:

http://www.bristol.gov.uk/item/committeecontent/?ref=ua&code=ua000&year=2010&month=03&day=25&hour=18&minute=00

The Cabinet passed the proposals without discussion - ignoring the results of the surveys we had carried out of community opinion in which the majority of people were against development of the Slopes.

The information which was on display on the original 18th April 2009 consultation can be found on the website below. The blog closed for comments on 20th May 2009.

http://ktmcommunityinvolvement.blogspot.com/

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)

In the middle of October 2009 the West of England Partnership announced 2 route corridors for the BRT (Northern Fringe to Hengrove Park) through south bristol - one of which had two options which passed through the Marksbury Road/Wedmore Vale/Daventry Road and Melvin Square areas - the other passed down Hartcliffe Way. Consultations with the public were held in early December 2009 and meetings with community groups ran into January 2010 due to the bad weather. The City Council is going to be recommending to the Department for Transport that the route is not across the Northern Slopes.

A big thank you to all of those who wrote to the Council against the Green route - we understand that a number of letters against the route were sent in, with none in favour of it.

The routes and supporting information can be seen on:
http://www.bristol.gov.uk/ccm/content/Transport-Streets/transport-policy/north-fringe-to-hengrove-package.en

or go to the Knowle West Community Website - www.knowlewest.co.uk and search on Bus Rapid Transit

Knowle West Regeneration Framework:
Public consultation started on the Knowle West Regeneration Framework (KWRF) in September - the next stages will be the development by the Council and their consultants - Urban Initiative. Consultations events - called "conversations" were held at four locations across the regeneration area in mid November 2009. Thank you to those that went along and had your say....so far it seems the Slopes may be suggested for improvements to pathways etc, but we await the results of the consultation..... and the next stages.

The Framework was due to be completed in January 2010, but it has been announced that there will be more time for more work to be undertaken and consultation to be held so the period is extended to September 2010.

The Framework approximately covers the area between Wingfield and Marksbury Roads in the North to Airport Road in the South; and Hartcliffe Way in the west to Salcombe Road in the East.

Also included in the KWRF consultation process is the Parks and Green Space review for the area, where the Council is looking at the value of spaces like the Slopes.

Further information, will appear here - or go to the City Council's website:
www.bristol.gov.uk/kwrf

or go to the Knowle West Community Website - www.knowlewest.co.uk and search on Regeneration.


If you have ideas for improving the value of the Slopes to people and wildlife - please let us know.


Other news:
We are currently asking for volunteers to help us with fund raising and making people aware of what is happening - if you can help with these things, please contact us using the number below.

Our Northern Slopes - one of Bristol's brilliant green spaces for people and wildlife - now and in the future......

The NSI Blog

This blog tries to give a flavour of what we do in the NSI for the Slopes, it is updated monthly, but text over 6 months old is removed twice a year. We base our information on the best information we have at the time of writing, if we have got something wrong, please just let us know. Dont hesitate to ask for further information if you wish via our email address below. We hope you enjoy it...........

August 2010
Letters written to the Police and the Council about the problems relating to drug use, vegetation maintenance; and about the use of quad bikes around the Kenmare Road/Cavan Walk area.

July 2010
City Council win funding for Wild City project - which includes the Northern Slopes - hopefully will lead to public events on our Slopes being started up again. Thanks to Richard Ennion and his team.
Pinic on the Kingswear site avoids the rain - we managed to hold our picnic on the 22nd. Great to see some new people, as well as see friends who we hadnt seen for a while. We celebrated with some Novers Elderflower "Champagne"...made from Elderflowers collected from the Novers. Thanks Julia for the arrangements and the champagne.
Discussions with Green Gym team at our July meeting go well - further information on the Green Gym to follow.
A series of posters start going up to tell people about what the Slopes are good for - and its not just what you would immediately think (eg: walking the dog) - but also water storage, carbon storage and air pollution controlled.
Two of the Cherry trees planted by the Council in May - vandalised, replaced with Rowans.

June 2010
We write in on the proposals to demolish the Torpoint/Kingswear Flats in September - to ask that the demolition -and storage of material on site, does not affect the areas of our Slopes around it; we welcome proposals to keep the footpath open between Kingswear and the entrance to the Scar and Novers; but are concerned that what ever happens wildlife are able to move around/across the site.
Public Inquiry into City Council's Core Strategy Document starts at the end of June. It includes questions on the number of dwellings to be built in South Bristol, the planning policy for South Bristol - and the role of Green Infrastructure - such as the Northern Slopes. See www.bristol.gov.uk/corestrategyexamination.
Bee orchids again found on the Slopes - the second year in a row.
Green Gym on the Slopes start on 3rd June, thanks to BTCV.
Knowle West Media Centre's Carbon Group pick elderflowers from the Slopes to make drinks.

May 2010
Knowle West Residents Planning Group hold five public exhibitions about their Neighbourhood Area Plan in five locations around our area (Eagle House, Filwood Social Centre, Novers Social Club, Mede Centre and Marksbury Road College) on Tuesdays and Thursday evenings in May/early June. see www.knowlewest.co.uk and search on regeneration for further details of the Plan.
Bridge over stream on path between St Barnabas and Stockwood Crescent totally removed by vandals.
We re-request information from the Council about the baseline reports on wildlife and the landscape value of our area, first requested in Sept last year, but delayed since then.

April 2010
Council publishes latest version of Core Strategy document (the one that sets out the policies which drive changes in the way land is used). A number of changes are proposed which could be as a result of our comments.
Meeting held on what to do next about Kingswear/Torpoint/Marksbury/Novers proposals - we agree to step up our opposition to the increased area being taken from our green spaces.
Council plants 6 large cherry trees on the Bommie around St Barnabas/St Barnabas Close.

March 2010
The City Council Cabinet on 25th March - agrees to push ahead with the Kingswear/Torpoint/Novers development of housing - as well as demolishing existing Kingswear/Torpoint Flats. The submission to the Cabinet, unfortunately does not provide full information on the value of the areas, mixes up the results of the April 2009 consultation, and ignores community opinion. We attend the meeting and make a statement so that the Cabinet is fully informed. We also ask for better consultation with local people. We point out that the new proposals take more land from the Slopes. The Cabinet do not respond to our submission.
Knowle West Residents Planning Group - of which we are part - present their Neighbourhood Area Plan to the City Council and local Councillors. Copies of the plan can be found at www.knowlewest.co.uk - and search on Regeneration.
Third noticeboard put up next to St Barnabas entrance. Only one to go.
Our marquees are checked and restored thanks to the people that came along to help.
Vandalised bridge over stream on the path between St Barnabas Church and Stockwood Crescent, put back into place, but it needs further work to make it secure.

February 2010
Council and Blue Sky work on Glyn Vale completed.

January 2010
You Tube video of one of our wildflower areas launched, it was taken on a cloudy autumn day, but considering how small the area is, have a look at the number of birds and bees around.........www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7aGttf-xCU
Meetings with the City Council and other community groups in south Bristol organised by the Bristol Neighbourhood Planning Network about the BRT options, were delayed into January due to Christmas and the snow. The meetings did not support the choice of the Green Option.
Avon Wildlife Trust, Bristol Parks Forum and Knowle West Residents Planning Group - all wrote to the Council against the Green Route.
We send a letter opposing the green route - and expressing concerns about the other routes to the Council and councillors.
We send formal representations to the Council on their Core Strategy documents - asking for it to be made clearer how the policies are to be used by the Council to decide on planning applications, conserve and enhance wildlife, and to improve the ability of the text to be used by people.
We deliver leaflets with letters to local residents asking them to write to scrap the green route.
Green Gym launch put back to Spring 2010.
City Council and Blue Sky undertaking major vegetation clearance on Glyn Vale site to improve the extent and quality of the grassland, and to open up the site so that people dont feel so concerned about walking through the site. Thanks to both parties for doing this.


What we are currently trying to do- August 2010

Keep up with and influence the Council's proposals for the whole of South Bristol; and for Knowle West/Filwood/Marksbury Road - including Torpoint/Kingswear/Marksbury/Novers, the Bus Rapid Transit Route and the Knowle West Regeneration Framework.

Sort out the orienteering course across the site.

Set up "mini-events" using local people to help with looking after the site.

Put up the final NSI notice board on the Bommie. 3 are in already.

Get more funding for improvements to the sites from various places.


Events and meetings to come

Below is a list of events and meetings to come.

You are very welcome at any of the events and our meetings too - but for those marked on site please come prepared with suitable shoes and scruffy clothes for outdoor work in any weather.

1 - Events on site.

Green Gym - BTCV run a Green Gym which helps you become physically and mentally healthier by taking part in nature conservation activities on the Slopes. All are welcome to come along....please meet up at the entrance gate to the Bommie next to 105 Wedmore Vale. Its every Thurs between 10am and 1pm. The Gym starts with a warm up, then works on tasks such as vegetation clearnance, improving paths - and there's chance to meet people during the tea break. Further details from Heather on 07740899707, or h.mchale@btcv.org.uk; or www.btcv.org.uk/avon.

City Council wins funding for someone to help run public events and other things on the Slopes (along with other sites in Bristol) as part of the Wild City Project - details to follow.

2 - Our next meeting will be held on Thursday 16th September at 6.30pm at:

Meeting Room in
The Park Local Opportunity Centre,
Daventry Road,
Knowle,
Bristol BS4 1QD

Ask at Reception for which meeting room we are using.

The blog above gives a summary of our meetings - but formal minutes are available on request from the phone number below; or the email address on our contacts page.

If you want to know more about any of the above please ring 07810 474558

and finally.....
Its true to say that we could not carry on with the help from:
...the City Council and their contractors,
....The Park, Daventry Road
...voluntary organisations amd volunteers,
...individuals who spend their time organising, campaigning and of course the
...users of the Slopes.
A big thank you for your help and support!