News and Announcements from the NSI

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

News

February 2010:

Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) - awaiting results of Partnership discussions...

In the middle of October the West of England Partnership announced 2 route corridors for the BRT (Northern Fringe to Hengrove Park) through south bristol - one of which has two options which pass through the Marksbury Road/Wedmore Vale/Daventry Road and Melvin Square areas - the other passes 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 corridor which crosses our area has two options:

The Green route comes across open space between St Johns Lane and Marksbury Road, across Marksbury and Lynton Roads, then onto the Slopes between Kingswear and Timsbury Roads. Then across Glyn Vale to run through the Glyn Vale site, before turning to go uphill over the Slopes into the eastern end of Kenmare Road/Daventry Road, before turning right into Melvin Square - and then continuing to Filwood and Hengrove Park.

The purple route travels along St John's Lane, up along Wedmore Vale and then right into Daventry Road, into Melvin Square, before continuing to Filwood and Hengrove Park.

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

The basic message to the Partnership/City Council from the NSI has been NO RAPID TRANSIT routes across the Slopes....please scrap the Green Route.

Our view is that the route would be better away from the Slopes; if the route is across the Slopes - the sites will be divided even more as the route is going to be c5 to 8m wide affecting the landscape, the ability of people to use the slopes, and the way wildlife can get across.

As importantly there is a high risk that other parts of the Slopes will become available for development, as the route will degrade the value of the areas around allowing more land to become available for housing etc.

We await the decision on which route is being taken forward.

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. 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 June 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. A meeting on the Parks and Green Space Review and the Regeneration Framework was held on Monday 7 December, and a further one is due to be held.

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.

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 - the Council's consultants have opened an information and blog website - which contains all the information which was on display on the 18th. The blog closed for comments on 20th May, but the information remains on the site:

http://ktmcommunityinvolvement.blogspot.com/

In the meantime we await the Council's Outline Planning Application which we understand has now been delayed beyond July/August 2009.

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

We are currently asking for volunteers to help us with Web 2.0 work 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...........

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 8 page 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.

December 2009
Contact made with City Council's sports department about the orienteering course.
Meetings organised by Neighbourhood Planning Network held between commmunity groups and the City Council about the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) route.......see also January 2010
800 leaflets delivered by NSI and Marksbury Area Community Association members to local houses about the BRT.
City Council launches its Core Strategy Document of policies which will guide development in our area.
Green Gym on the Slopes likely to launch in January 2010.

November2009
Meeting held with consultants working with the City Council on a bid called "Wild City", for Lottery Money to help get more events on places in Bristol, like the Slopes.
Vegetation management on Glyn Vale site by Blue Sky underway. Thanks to Blue Sky for getting involved.
We continue to get involved in the Regeneration Framework, Knowle West team - it seems that the Slopes may be avoided for development (at least from the Framework - dont forget the BRT and Kingswear proposals), but we wont know for certain for a while.
Northern Slopes included in Active Travel brochure from Knowle West Media Centre - see www.kwmc.co.uk for further details. Thanks Misty.

October 2009
Dead skinned animals, including cats and dogs, are being left on the entrances to the Sites. We are reporting them to the Police - and urge others to do so as well.
Meeting held with City Council parks manager to continue with improvements to the maintenance of the Slopes.
City Council initiative with Blue Sky and BTCV under discussion, likely to bring better vegetation management and paths on Glyn Vale and the Bommie.
Offers to run "mini-work groups" on the Slopes are made - we are following those up - along with a offer to run a "Green Gym" from the BTCV.
We remain concerned about future of the Slopes, as the Slopes are not discussed at Knowle West Team/KWRF meetings, but indications are that there may be a preference to "formalising" the Slopes - something we oppose as the Slopes are great as "informal natural green space".

September 2009
We attend a community groups fair in Southville - talking to other groups who are having similiar pressures on them, is very revealing - especially in ensuring that community wishes are not ignored or overriden by the Council.
The area of grassland on Glyn Vale cleared by BTCV last year - is really beautiful - totally covered in devil's bit scabious flowers (pale blue) and teeming with bees and other insects.
Results of the surveys done in July/August on Kingswear/Torpoint/Marksbury/Novers - show that of the 138 responses so far - 69.6% dont want the green spaces built on; and 79.7% do not want to see the amount of dwellings suggested by the Council's option 3 carried out.
6 new people came to our meeting and talk about their ideas for the Slopes - we need more people to come along and do this.
We attend the Council's Bristol Development Framework discussion on green infrastructure planning policy - which will include areas like the Slopes. We argue, with others, for positive targets for increasing green space - not reducing it.
We encourage people to attend the Council's event on 19th Sept at the Knowle West Fun Day - and say what they think about the Slopes.
We write to Council saying that our position is that the Slopes are "non-negotiable".
Bristol Evening Post have two page spread about Northern Slopes - thanks to Tracey, Alister, Mil and Glenn -and of course Suzanne Savill.
We attend the first event on the Knowle West Regeneration Framework - a conference on the 6th Sept for local residents and council officers. The residents planning group present its objectives and vision which includes keeping and improving the Slopes for people and wildlife. It becomes clear that open spaces in the Framework area (including the Slopes) are in the category of "trade offs" against other changes - eg: increased amounts of housing, changed retail and industrial areas, new transport corridors. There are calls for the Slopes to be "non-negotiable" - eg: not to be traded.

August 2009
Preparations start for our involvement in the Consultation process for the Knowle West Regeneration Framework which starts in September.
Bristol Evening Post run article on possible routes for the Bus Rapid Transit system to Hengrove - one is up Wedmore Vale; and two are across Kingswear and Glyn Vale green spaces.
Venue magazine, thanks to Anne-Marie a freelance journalist, runs an article on the Slopes, as "The place with horses" in its Secret Bristol series. Its really good.
Surveys of local opinion, using randomly selected houses continues.
Work continues with the local Residents Planning Group on the future of our areas. This is a separate initiative from that being carried out by the City Council.

July 2009
Additional wildlife surveys are carried out on the Kingswear site ready for evidence to use, if we need it, in response to the Council's planning application.
Thanks to those people who are coming forward with offers of help following our various requests.
Reply sent to City Council on draft planning policies on developers contributions to planning gain, green infrastructure, refurbishing buildings, climate change and urban design stressing the value of informal natural green spaces like ours.
We are surveying a random number of houses in our area, with colleagues from the Marksbury Area Residents Association, about peoples views on the Kingswear/Torpoint/Marksbury/Novers proposals. A very big thank you to those that are responding with their views.
Bristol Evening Post on July 3rd cover the ability of the Slopes to provide food, as part of the Knowle West Food Festival thanks to the Knowle West Media Centre for the mention.
Information requested in Feb provided in hard copy from the Council about Kingswear/Torpoint/Marksbury/Novers proposals obtained.



What we are currently trying to do- January 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 NSI notice boards on Glyn Vale, the Bommie and Novers. 2 are in already - with 2 more to go in.

Set up some more schools events with Knowle West Media Centre in 2010.

Coordinate health and walking initiatives across the Slopes

Investigating whether we can 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.

Nature in the City walks and events have been held on the slopes but are currently not being held, but the Council is applying for money to have two posts to do similiar work - see Wild City above.

2 - Our next meeting will be held on THURSDAY 18TH FEBRUARY 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!