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The Talk of Totterdown - Tresa

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<strong>The</strong> <strong>Talk</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Totterdown</strong><br />

<strong>The</strong> Newsletter <strong>of</strong> <strong>Totterdown</strong> Residents Environmental and Social Association<br />

Issue No 5, Spring 2007 www.tresa.org.uk<br />

A Star is born<br />

Jamie Oliver chef relocates to the old Cumberland<br />

to create a new community gastro pub...<br />

Most <strong>of</strong> you will know<br />

by now that the old<br />

Cumberland has gone,<br />

and in its place, the Star &<br />

Dove has appeared. So what<br />

does it <strong>of</strong>fer, and how are the<br />

new owners, Eamon Fullalove<br />

and Christiane Jones, finding<br />

<strong>Totterdown</strong>? Well, they are full<br />

<strong>of</strong> praise for their new “melting<br />

pot” <strong>of</strong> a neighbourhood, and<br />

have been taken aback by how<br />

friendly the welcome has been.<br />

Despite some delayed<br />

building work, all is finally up<br />

and running, including the<br />

fantastic upstairs restaurant<br />

which recently got a maximum<br />

five star review in the Evening<br />

Post. “It’s all about the produce,”<br />

says Eamon <strong>of</strong> the Italianinfluenced<br />

(and extremely goodvalue)<br />

food. Also, for those who<br />

just want a simpler pub meal<br />

downstairs, bowls <strong>of</strong> pasta,<br />

stews, “proper ploughmans”<br />

and pork pies will be available<br />

soon. Much <strong>of</strong> the food is<br />

sourced locally, from the Clifton<br />

C<strong>of</strong>fee Co’s Fairtrade c<strong>of</strong>fee<br />

to vegetables from Reg the<br />

Veg. <strong>The</strong>y have local heroes<br />

Bath Ales on tap, as well<br />

as Butcombe, Addlestones<br />

Cider and a guest ale. When<br />

summertime (and the smoking<br />

ban) comes, we can look<br />

forward to weekend barbecues<br />

outside in a new landscaped<br />

garden area.<br />

What <strong>of</strong> the old skittle alley?<br />

This will be Christiane’s baby<br />

– along with her real one, due in<br />

the summer. She wants it to be<br />

a pr<strong>of</strong>essionally run exhibition<br />

space for up-and-coming local<br />

artists, as well as <strong>of</strong>fering<br />

us the chance to see work<br />

normally only shown in London.<br />

Christiane, who used to work at<br />

the Cube Gallery, also promises<br />

something “pretty corking”<br />

for the Front Room Art Trail.<br />

However, they want to keep the<br />

space for the community: it will<br />

be available to hire for meetings,<br />

weddings, yoga classes –<br />

whatever anyone wants, really!<br />

Eamon has other big plans<br />

for the couple’s new venture.<br />

He is considering lobbying for<br />

speed cameras on St Luke’s<br />

Road, to see if his voice as a<br />

landlord carries any weight.<br />

Continuing from his work<br />

at Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen<br />

restaurant, Eamon is looking to<br />

get socially excluded youngsters<br />

working behind the bar, in the<br />

restaurant and in the kitchen.<br />

It ties in with their overall aim<br />

for the Star & Dove: to create<br />

a brilliant new community<br />

pub that <strong>of</strong>fers many different<br />

experiences so that everyone<br />

can feel welcome. Is this<br />

<strong>Totterdown</strong>’s new best<br />

hang-out? Get down there<br />

and decide for yourselves!<br />

Will Scott & Anne Smith<br />

Community library opens<br />

Sydenham Road Under Fives<br />

celebrated the arrival <strong>of</strong> their<br />

new community library with<br />

a grand opening ceremony.<br />

Playgroup children dressed up<br />

as story book characters, and<br />

local story teller and children’s<br />

author Sean Taylor from Hill<br />

Street came along to tell stories<br />

and sing songs with the children<br />

in the new book area.<br />

<strong>The</strong> library received a grant<br />

<strong>of</strong> £3,606 from Awards for All,<br />

the National Lottery scheme for<br />

local communities. <strong>The</strong> money<br />

has been used to set up a<br />

lending library for the playgroup<br />

and to give the children’s book<br />

area a makeover, in order<br />

to encourage those children<br />

who wouldn’t normally choose<br />

reading as an activity.<br />

With this in mind, the number<br />

<strong>of</strong> books that boys in particular<br />

will find appealing has been<br />

increased in the hope that more<br />

boys will start using the book<br />

area. Dual-language books<br />

have also been included.<br />

<strong>The</strong> event was a real success.<br />

<strong>The</strong> children enjoyed dressing<br />

up and sharing stories in the<br />

new library area and they now<br />

have lots <strong>of</strong> fantastic new books<br />

to share both at playgroup and<br />

back at home.<br />

Parents can contact the<br />

playgroup administrator, Wendy<br />

McCarthy, on 07708 142311<br />

or phone Monday to Friday<br />

9-11.45am on 0117 907 4108.<br />

Visits are welcome. Sydenham<br />

Road Under Fives also run a<br />

toddler group which is open<br />

daily from 9.45-11.30am. All<br />

sessions include craft activities,<br />

refreshments and an interactive<br />

song time at a cost <strong>of</strong> £2.20 per<br />

child. <strong>The</strong>re is a reduced rate<br />

for siblings.<br />

Georgina Gray<br />

Petition calls for Bath Bridge Safety improvements<br />

Local residents have called<br />

on Bristol City Council to<br />

improve safety on Bath<br />

Bridge and the Wells Road<br />

following the tragic death <strong>of</strong><br />

Pam Beckett from Balmain<br />

Street, who was struck by a car<br />

on January 21 as she was<br />

walking on the pavement.<br />

More than 550 people signed<br />

an online petition calling for<br />

safety improvements and<br />

Richard Jones and Margaret<br />

Davis from TRESA said in a<br />

Radio Bristol interview that it<br />

was finally time for councillors<br />

and highway engineers to take<br />

responsibility for the terrible<br />

state <strong>of</strong> the stretch <strong>of</strong> road from<br />

Temple Meads to Three Lamps.<br />

Richard Jones said: “<strong>The</strong><br />

Wells Road didn’t just become<br />

a dangerous stretch <strong>of</strong> road,<br />

it’s as a direct response <strong>of</strong> bad<br />

planning decisions over several<br />

decades. <strong>The</strong> council has<br />

shown it can make major road<br />

changes if money is involved, to<br />

the extent <strong>of</strong> diverting the M32<br />

to attract shops to Broadmead.<br />

But are they prepared to<br />

make the same commitment<br />

to safeguard pedestrians and<br />

cyclists in <strong>Totterdown</strong> and other<br />

areas <strong>of</strong> south Bristol who cross<br />

Bath Bridge every day?’<br />

In a detailed response to<br />

TRESA, Bristol City Council<br />

Walking and Cycling Officer<br />

Andrew Whitehead said there<br />

was no easy solution to making<br />

the A4 less dangerous. He<br />

said that the road carries 4,600<br />

vehicles an hour at peak times.<br />

As well as being a route for<br />

pedestrians and cyclists, it is<br />

a priority route for lorries and<br />

a primary transport corridor.<br />

He said that guard rails<br />

could not be fitted between<br />

the pavement and the road,<br />

because it would mean the<br />

pavement wouldn’t be wide<br />

enough for pedestrians and<br />

cyclists. In addition, the road<br />

is too dangerous for cyclists<br />

to use it going up the hill. Mr<br />

Whitehead said it was possible<br />

that pedestrian and cycle routes<br />

from <strong>Totterdown</strong> could be<br />

improved as part <strong>of</strong> the Arena<br />

development, though TRESA<br />

has seen nothing to suggest<br />

that this will be the case.<br />

Sam Menter who set up the<br />

petition (which closed at the<br />

end <strong>of</strong> February) has suggested<br />

the following possible fixes:<br />

• Building a pedestrian / cyclist<br />

bridge.<br />

• Installing a high containment<br />

kerb.<br />

• Installing railings along the<br />

whole route from Three Lamps<br />

to Temple Meads.<br />

• Reducing the speed limit to<br />

30mph / other traffic-calming<br />

measures.<br />

Have your say: What should<br />

Bristol City Council do to<br />

improve safety on the A4?<br />

Drop your comments in to the<br />

<strong>Tresa</strong> Letterbox at Patcos or<br />

email webeditor@tresa.org.uk.


<strong>The</strong> <strong>Talk</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Totterdown</strong> Issue No 5, Spring 2007 www.tresa.org.uk<br />

Mast protest<br />

Remember when…<br />

This picture from Kate Pollard’s book <strong>Totterdown</strong> Rising shows the Wells Road tram junction. <strong>The</strong> building on<br />

the right is the old Lloyds Bank Building, now the Power Station Gym and Banco Lounge. (Pic: Evening Post)<br />

Lavender Bloom<br />

halts hawkers!<br />

<br />

<br />

Fellow residents, as you<br />

may have guessed, Mr<br />

Broom is not always<br />

as keen as I am to<br />

<br />

<br />

Taste’. However, after struggling<br />

under the increasing weight <strong>of</strong> the<br />

recycling box, he is fully behind my<br />

latest campaign to limit the amount<br />

<br />

delivered to <strong>Totterdown</strong> Mansions.<br />

It must be perfectly obvious to<br />

the poor postman that we are<br />

not the sort <strong>of</strong> people who are in<br />

need <strong>of</strong> a loan, or who would shop<br />

anywhere that sold jumbo packs <strong>of</strong><br />

sausages for 99p. Furthermore, Mr<br />

Broom assures me that he did not<br />

request the unsavoury information<br />

he received last week. It has<br />

gone straight into the recycling<br />

<br />

case anyone spotted it and drew<br />

erroneous conclusions.<br />

We are also plagued by<br />

unnecessary telephone calls.<br />

<br />

your Italian’ to a strange message<br />

informing us that we had won a trip<br />

to Disneyland. I need hardly say<br />

that we did not call back to claim<br />

our prize. If they had done their<br />

research properly, they would have<br />

realised that a couple who are<br />

about to tour the basilicas <strong>of</strong> Rome<br />

would not wish to be photographed<br />

wearing inappropriate shorts and<br />

eating burgers with Mickey Mouse.<br />

After all this unsolicited attention,<br />

I have taken action. Unwanted<br />

telephone calls can be reduced<br />

by registering with the telephone<br />

preference service at www.<br />

<br />

398 893). Similarly, registering with<br />

mail preference service at www.<br />

mpsonline.org.uk can reduced<br />

unwanted post. Unaddressed<br />

<br />

delivered by the Royal Mail<br />

<br />

that Her Majesty approves. It is<br />

<br />

optout@royalmail.co.uk or writing<br />

to Royal Mail Door to Door Opt<br />

Out, Kingsmead House, Oxpens<br />

Road, Oxford, OX1 1RX. You<br />

may wish to follow my example.<br />

Until the next issue, Tut, tut!<br />

Lavender Broom<br />

<strong>Totterdown</strong> Green<br />

latest plans<br />

Update on opposition to plans to create a 20-space<br />

car park outside the YMCA building…<br />

A<br />

n attempt was recently made to register the small park<br />

outside the YMCA building as a Town Green in order to<br />

protect the site from future development and help us to<br />

<br />

Unfortunately, planning consultants and solicitors acting for<br />

<br />

surprisingly), Bristol City Council also objected despite the fact<br />

that they had refused consent in January 2004 for “a car park<br />

with 20 parking spaces for use associated with the Power Station<br />

gymnasium” on the grounds that, “<strong>The</strong> proposed development<br />

would result in the loss <strong>of</strong> open space that is <strong>of</strong> amenity and<br />

townscape value in a densely built-up area, and is valued as<br />

such by the local community.”<br />

Most <strong>of</strong> the points made in the objections to the Town Green<br />

application could have been challenged. However, there was<br />

one issue that hadn’t been anticipated.<br />

It seems that the Green got bigger at some point since 1975<br />

<br />

to the YMCA building is actually still designated as highway.<br />

In view <strong>of</strong> this new information, TRESA withdrew the Town<br />

Green application and advised the council that a revised<br />

application is likely to be submitted in order to try to protect<br />

this vulnerable parkland.<br />

Even so, it seems likely that the council will now consider leasing<br />

part <strong>of</strong> the Green as private parking spaces. TRESA thinks that,<br />

before agreeing to these valuable private parking spaces, it is<br />

reasonable and proper for our council to require that the majority<br />

<strong>of</strong> the Green is landscaped and that contributions are also made<br />

for other local improvements.<br />

If you want to help to protect and enhance <strong>Totterdown</strong> Green, or<br />

if you’re interested in local environmental and social issues, then<br />

please do not hesitate to contact TRESA, webeditor@tresa.org.uk.<br />

<br />

<br />

<br />

<br />

<br />

was always intrigued on<br />

walking up Wells Road near<br />

Ithe Holy Trinity Church, to<br />

<br />

<br />

an iron gateway <strong>of</strong> some years<br />

standing with the letters KCC<br />

embedded into the ironwork.<br />

You enter through a small<br />

door, and inside is a club room<br />

where time has stood still. <strong>The</strong>re<br />

Three Lamps Residents Association opposes T-Mobile<br />

plans for base station on the Wells Road...<br />

M<br />

embers <strong>of</strong> the Three<br />

Lamps Residents<br />

Association are<br />

opposing plans by T-mobile<br />

to erect a base station mast<br />

<br />

Wells Road, by Tesco. <strong>The</strong>y<br />

invited T-mobile to the Three<br />

Lamps Residents meeting in<br />

January. <strong>The</strong>y agreed, then<br />

declined. Eventually they wrote<br />

back showing how, on paper,<br />

they have met guidelines.<br />

However, large questions<br />

remain about the health<br />

implications <strong>of</strong> having a mast<br />

so close to a residential area.<br />

T-mobile are likely to submit<br />

an application for planning<br />

permission within the next few<br />

weeks. If you object to having<br />

the mast near the estate and<br />

would like to be kept up to<br />

date with the situation, contact<br />

bridgeteverett@yahoo.co.uk.<br />

If you live close by, come<br />

along to the next meeting <strong>of</strong><br />

the Three Lamps Residents<br />

Association. <strong>The</strong> group meets<br />

regularly at the George pub<br />

on Wells Road.<br />

Created less than 12<br />

months ago, the Three Lamps<br />

Residents Association can now<br />

boast more than 50 members.<br />

We aim to ensure that Three<br />

Lamps Estate remains a<br />

pleasant place to live and will<br />

work together to eradicate any<br />

<br />

year, the Association has:<br />

• Set up a Neighbourhood<br />

Watch Scheme.<br />

• Challenged the Housing<br />

Association to keep us better<br />

informed regarding policy<br />

updates/increases in our rates.<br />

• Worked to improve the<br />

landscaping on the estate<br />

In the future we want to:<br />

• Prevent commuter parking in<br />

<br />

worse if the arena is built).<br />

• Work to stop the estate being<br />

used as a rat run.<br />

<br />

Association to ensure all tenants<br />

are getting value for money.<br />

We meet every two months at<br />

the George. Membership costs<br />

£2. If you live in Angers Road,<br />

County Street, New Walls,<br />

Highgrove Street or Kingstree<br />

Street, come along to the next<br />

meeting or contact the secretary,<br />

bridgeteverett@yahoo.co.uk,<br />

for more information.<br />

Bridget Everett<br />

Texaco redevelopment<br />

Bristol City Council has<br />

received a planning application<br />

to redevelop the eyesore<br />

abandoned Texaco Garage site<br />

on the Wells Road.<br />

<strong>The</strong> application is for<br />

<br />

<br />

<br />

retail unit with associated<br />

highways improvements.<strong>The</strong>re<br />

are rumours that the retail unit<br />

will be a Sainsburys Local,<br />

but details have not been<br />

announced. <strong>The</strong> plans can<br />

be viewed at Brunel House.<br />

TRESA has asked local<br />

councillors Mark Bailey and<br />

Alf Havvock to see if it’s<br />

possible to make a condition<br />

<strong>of</strong> planning consent that the<br />

School Road Park gets a new<br />

Behind the door...<br />

is an attractive bar, with very<br />

attractive drinks prices. What<br />

is this place? It is in fact the<br />

Knowle Constitutional Club and<br />

it was a pleasure to chat with<br />

the club secretary, Cathy Gibbs.<br />

It started life in 1904 as a<br />

Conservative Club and it has<br />

a list <strong>of</strong> the club presidents on<br />

the wall. However, about eight<br />

<br />

Conservative Party and became<br />

the Constitutional Club.<br />

<strong>The</strong> Constitutional boasts two<br />

snooker tables and a skittle alley<br />

at the rear. I was informed that<br />

Ray Reardon, John Spencer<br />

fence to replace the rusty falling<br />

down one. TRESA has also<br />

suggested smaller retail units for<br />

independent shops rather than<br />

just one retail outlet and has<br />

asked to be consulted on any<br />

development <strong>of</strong> this site.<br />

and Eddie Charlton have all<br />

played at the club. Other games<br />

played are darts, crib, chess and<br />

table tennis. <strong>The</strong> Constitutional<br />

has regular quiz nights and<br />

cater for parties.<br />

<strong>The</strong> club is currently looking<br />

<br />

be sponsored by an existing<br />

member) and costs only £25<br />

a year. For further information,<br />

call 0117 977 3441.<br />

Cathy also informed me that<br />

she organises the choir at the<br />

nearby Holy Trinity church,<br />

and she would welcome new<br />

members, including adults.


www.tresa.org.uk Issue No 5, Spring 2007 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Talk</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Totterdown</strong><br />

Victoria Park update<br />

T<br />

he line <strong>of</strong> black poplars<br />

that ran parallel to St<br />

Luke’s Road in Victoria<br />

Park have been chopped down<br />

because the trees had died and<br />

were dangerous. Unfortunately,<br />

the trees were too rotten to<br />

be used for tree sculptures.<br />

Victoria Park Action Group<br />

hope to replace the poplars<br />

with tulip trees because they<br />

are one <strong>of</strong> the few species that<br />

Bristol City Council can source<br />

in quantity at this time <strong>of</strong> year<br />

but also because they are in<br />

keeping with the Victorian idea<br />

<strong>of</strong> introducing new species to<br />

city parks.<br />

<strong>The</strong> Victoria Park Action<br />

<br />

<strong>of</strong> other exciting projects on<br />

the go. Work is starting on the<br />

£100,000 project to improve<br />

facilities for young people in the<br />

park. This will include a large<br />

football pitch on the top <strong>of</strong> the<br />

hill and a smaller one between<br />

Hill Avenue and the wetland.<br />

A cricket wicket will be built<br />

at the bottom <strong>of</strong> the park near<br />

Hill Avenue, and a teen seating<br />

area will be installed near the<br />

<br />

<strong>The</strong> bulk <strong>of</strong> the funding is being<br />

Face it. As inner city hipsters<br />

with a streak <strong>of</strong> bohemian about<br />

the cut <strong>of</strong> our distressingly<br />

purple jackets, we <strong>Totterdown</strong><br />

folk can be a bit sniffy about<br />

. Yet consider this:<br />

if the medical soap had been<br />

<br />

Brenda Fricker might never<br />

have moved to a home in the<br />

vicinity <strong>of</strong> Hawthorne Street.<br />

At the time, the Dublin-born<br />

actress had a regular gig on the<br />

show as nurse Megan Roach.<br />

But she was also moonlighting<br />

in the movies, most notably<br />

. Director Jim<br />

spent on rebuilding the existing<br />

skate zone near Fraser Street.<br />

We hope to create a small but<br />

challenging and imaginative<br />

skate area that will eventually<br />

be enlarged and enhanced with<br />

a second phase, once more<br />

funding has been sourced.<br />

Together with Bristol City<br />

Council, VPAG is drawing up an<br />

Improvement Plan for Victoria<br />

Park which will lay out how we<br />

see it being developed over the<br />

coming years. <strong>The</strong> plan will be<br />

based on the consultations we<br />

have carried out over the last<br />

four years, and a draft should<br />

be ready for inspection by the<br />

end <strong>of</strong> March. We will then be<br />

holding further consultation<br />

events for members <strong>of</strong> the<br />

public to examine and comment<br />

on the plan, which will be<br />

<br />

VPAG is continuing to work<br />

on its plans to renovate the Park<br />

Lodge and bring it into use as a<br />

community facility, incorporating<br />

a café. We have been<br />

approached by a restaurateur<br />

who wishes to operate a<br />

temporary café on the site and<br />

we hope that this will be up and<br />

running within the next couple<br />

<strong>of</strong> months. Please do give it<br />

your support. Our next aim<br />

is to have a structural survey<br />

carried out on the Lodge to<br />

determine its condition. We are<br />

also applying for grants for the<br />

renovation <strong>of</strong> the building.<br />

VPAG would like to see more<br />

children’s play equipment<br />

provided in the park, catering<br />

for a wider range <strong>of</strong> ages. As<br />

part <strong>of</strong> the Improvement Plan<br />

we are considering whether<br />

another play area needs to be<br />

established in the park and, if<br />

so, where. We are discussing<br />

play provision with the City<br />

Council and will be applying<br />

for grants to fund this project.<br />

VPAG wants to organise an<br />

Art In <strong>The</strong> Park event, at which<br />

members <strong>of</strong> the public could<br />

watch artists creating artworks<br />

in the park which would then<br />

remain in situ for everyone to<br />

enjoy. If you would like to get<br />

involved with Art In <strong>The</strong> Park,<br />

or any <strong>of</strong> the events or projects<br />

VPAG is organising, please<br />

contact Andrew Campbell on<br />

0117 3775013, or come along<br />

to one <strong>of</strong> our meetings on the<br />

<br />

8pm at Windmill Hill City Farm.<br />

Blue plaque <strong>Totterdown</strong>: Brenda Fricker<br />

Sheridan’s drama, recounting<br />

the story <strong>of</strong> writer Christy Brown,<br />

who was born with cerebral<br />

palsy, was an unexpected<br />

mainstream hit. Star Daniel<br />

Day-Lewis and Fricker, who<br />

played Brown’s long-suffering<br />

mother, both won Oscars.<br />

History doesn’t record exactly<br />

what the mercurial Day-Lewis<br />

might have done with his golden<br />

statue, but Brenda Fricker<br />

loaned her award to a local<br />

corner store for the day. <strong>The</strong>re,<br />

if <strong>Totterdown</strong> legend is to be<br />

believed, it passed a pleasant<br />

day as a temporary doorstop.<br />

News in brief...<br />

Arena update<br />

Discussions are still ongoing<br />

between the city, SWRDA<br />

and BWA, the proposed<br />

arena developers. <strong>The</strong> latest<br />

estimate <strong>of</strong> when a plan <strong>of</strong><br />

any sort will be ready for<br />

public release is in the spring.<br />

<br />

raised in February 2004, it<br />

may be some time yet before<br />

residents have anything<br />

to comment on. However,<br />

TRESA has found a website<br />

that carries a concept <strong>of</strong> what<br />

the development could look<br />

like. Head to: www.burlandtm.<br />

com/_sgg/mbm3_1.htm<br />

Bellevue allotments<br />

A small group <strong>of</strong> residents<br />

is trying to revive some<br />

long-abandoned allotments<br />

at the end <strong>of</strong> Bellevue Road.<br />

<strong>The</strong> council is lending its<br />

support to the idea, the<br />

next step is to identify who<br />

actually owns the land.<br />

At that point we can start<br />

to apply for funding to<br />

regenerate the plots.<br />

Maggie Telfer OBE<br />

Maggie Telfer from Balmain<br />

Street, the director <strong>of</strong> Bristol<br />

Drugs Project, was awarded<br />

an OBE in the Queen’s New<br />

Year Honours List. Maggie<br />

was one <strong>of</strong> the founders <strong>of</strong><br />

Bristol Drugs Project in 1986<br />

since when more than 15,000<br />

problem drug users have used<br />

the service. BDP is based in<br />

Brunswick Square, St Paul’s<br />

and can be contacted on 0117<br />

987 6000 or info@bdp.org.uk.<br />

<br />

Bristol City Council was<br />

given a one-star rating in<br />

the recent comprehensive<br />

performance assessment<br />

(CPA) published by the<br />

Audit Commission. <strong>The</strong><br />

overall rating took into<br />

account: what progress the<br />

council has made in the<br />

last year; how the council<br />

<br />

provides value for money;<br />

how the council’s main<br />

services perform; and how<br />

the council is run. Almost<br />

80% <strong>of</strong> councils were given<br />

three or four stars. Bristol<br />

was amongst the bottom-<br />

<br />

only one star. For more<br />

information, go to: www.<br />

audit-commission.gov.uk<br />

Front Room appeal<br />

<strong>The</strong> 2007 Front Room Art Trail<br />

may not go ahead because<br />

it hasn’t got a co-ordinator. If<br />

you think you can help out,<br />

contact Front Room via its<br />

website, www.frontroom.org.<br />

uk. <strong>The</strong> next Front Room<br />

meeting is on June 7th at the<br />

Methodist Church in Bushy<br />

Park. It is likely that a decision<br />

will be made at that meeting<br />

over whether to go ahead<br />

with this year’s Art Trail.<br />

Kate’s prize<br />

Kate Pollard was named<br />

Volunteer <strong>of</strong> the Year at<br />

the Bristol Newsletter<br />

awards. Kate, who is one<br />

<strong>of</strong> the founder members <strong>of</strong><br />

TRESA, was presented with<br />

a Bristol Blue Glass award<br />

for all her work by the Lord<br />

Mayor <strong>of</strong> Bristol Councillor<br />

Peter Abraham and local TV<br />

personality Richard Wyatt<br />

in an event at the Bocabar.<br />

Trolley penalties<br />

Are you fed up with<br />

<br />

around the park or sinking in<br />

the Avon? At last, after years<br />

<strong>of</strong> campaigning, help is at<br />

hand. Thanks to the 2005<br />

Cleaner Neighbourhoods<br />

and Environment Act the<br />

council now has the power<br />

<br />

<br />

trolley. So next time you see<br />

one don’t ring ASDA, phone<br />

0117 922 3838. Hopefully<br />

straying trolleys will now<br />

become a thing <strong>of</strong> the past.<br />

<strong>The</strong> amendment to the act<br />

that makes this possible was<br />

suggested by the former<br />

Windmill Hill ward Labour<br />

councillor, Christopher Orlik.<br />

New neighbour<br />

Deborah Gubbay from<br />

Balmain Street got more<br />

than she bargained for<br />

when she brought back<br />

a Ganesha from India.<br />

Tucked inside the<br />

<br />

Hindu elephant god was a<br />

lizard which had survived<br />

the journey from Dehli<br />

inside the elephant head<br />

wrapped up in bubble wrap<br />

in the hold <strong>of</strong> a plane. At<br />

<br />

lizard’s tail and thought<br />

it was a snake. Eventually<br />

a four-inch lizard, thought<br />

to be a gecko, emerged.<br />

It is now recuperating at<br />

a specialist pet shop in<br />

Ashton. Debbie hopes to<br />

keep the lizard (called GG<br />

for Gecko Ganesha) if it’s<br />

given a clean bill <strong>of</strong> health.<br />

Mena (aged seven) drew<br />

this picture <strong>of</strong> GG so you<br />

all know what it looks like.


<strong>The</strong> <strong>Talk</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Totterdown</strong> Issue No 5, Spring 2007 www.tresa.org.uk<br />

<strong>Totterdown</strong> Square feedback<br />

<br />

following key issues in a recent<br />

TRESA survey about the area<br />

around Oxford Street shops:<br />

• <strong>The</strong> area needs rejuvenation.<br />

<br />

be lowered and replanted.<br />

• Drainage should be improved.<br />

• More litter bins should be<br />

provided and people should<br />

be encouraged to use them.<br />

• <strong>The</strong> plastic recycling bank<br />

<br />

into the car park) with notices<br />

about its proper use.<br />

• Car park should have an open<br />

aspect so users can be seen.<br />

• Parking restrictions should<br />

be enforced, although police<br />

presence was preferred to a<br />

<br />

<br />

considered.<br />

• Anti-social behaviour and drug<br />

<br />

• Most people felt the area was<br />

safe, but some people felt<br />

unsafe at night and worried<br />

about young children.<br />

• Better lighting and regular<br />

police presence were preferred<br />

to CCTV.<br />

• <strong>The</strong> backs <strong>of</strong> shops facing<br />

Wells Road should be improved.<br />

• Tesco should help to<br />

rejuvenate the area.<br />

• Independent businesses and<br />

shops should be supported.<br />

• Suggestions for new<br />

businesses included a café,<br />

regular market and bakery.<br />

• Many favoured a change <strong>of</strong><br />

emphasis at the Oxford pub.<br />

• Although ball games can<br />

cause nuisance, there are<br />

Ads and announcements<br />

GUITAR TUITION<br />

• Pr<strong>of</strong>essional teacher<br />

• All styles<br />

• Beginners welcome<br />

• <strong>The</strong>ory and grades<br />

Individually structured lessons to<br />

suit your needs<br />

Please call Jim Tigwell<br />

0117 977 5878 or 0771 447 5595<br />

DESIGNER WANTED: <strong>The</strong> <strong>Talk</strong><br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>Totterdown</strong> needs a volunteer<br />

designer to help produce the<br />

<br />

<br />

concerns about the lack <strong>of</strong><br />

facilities for young people.<br />

• <strong>The</strong>re should be more seating,<br />

public art and trees, although<br />

there were concerns about antisocial<br />

behaviour and vandalism.<br />

• In trying to improve the area,<br />

the sense <strong>of</strong> a friendly and<br />

relaxed community should not<br />

be undermined.<br />

<strong>The</strong> full report <strong>of</strong> the survey<br />

is available on the TRESA<br />

website. If you would like would<br />

like to help with improvements<br />

to <strong>Totterdown</strong> Square, pop a<br />

note into the TRESA green<br />

letterbox at Patco supermarket<br />

or contact the website at<br />

www.tresa.org.uk.<br />

Front Garden Festival 2007<br />

Following the successful<br />

festival last year, TRESA is<br />

now planning the 2007 Front<br />

Garden festival to take place<br />

in July. <strong>The</strong>re will be awards<br />

for categories ranging from the<br />

creative use <strong>of</strong> front gardens<br />

<br />

through to overall use <strong>of</strong> plants.<br />

A garden market will be held<br />

<br />

in front <strong>of</strong> the YMCA building)<br />

with stalls and refreshments.<br />

Music and dancing will also<br />

be encouraged!<br />

Members <strong>of</strong> TRESA and<br />

community volunteers will be<br />

out and about in the weeks<br />

before the festival improving<br />

<br />

<br />

<br />

and litter picking around the<br />

area’s green spots.<br />

InDesign and want to help out get<br />

in touch by dropping a note into<br />

the TRESA letterbox at Patco’s or<br />

email webeditor@tresa.org.uk<br />

INDIGO<br />

• Oriental Cuisine<br />

• Quality Chinese food<br />

12.00-2.30pm<br />

5.30-11.00pm<br />

29 Oxford Street, <strong>Totterdown</strong><br />

0117 980 1901<br />

Takeaway: 20% discount<br />

www.oldcathay.co.uk<br />

JOIN TRESA<br />

<br />

preserve, protect and improve the environment and to encourage,<br />

support and promote social events and activity within <strong>Totterdown</strong>.<br />

Membership costs just £2 per year per person. Please enclose<br />

cash or a cheque payable to TRESA and return this form to TRESA<br />

c/o Patco Community Store, Wells Road, (green letterbox behind<br />

till next to front window)<br />

Grave need for help<br />

T<br />

he Friends <strong>of</strong> Arnos Vale<br />

Cemetery are appealing<br />

for volunteers to help<br />

with fundraising and to provide<br />

labour for maintenance <strong>of</strong> the<br />

grounds. This is particularly<br />

important since a large number<br />

<strong>of</strong> the self-seeded trees are<br />

being removed by the Trust<br />

<br />

restoration work.<br />

<strong>The</strong>re is a working party on<br />

most Saturdays from 10am<br />

onwards – most people stay<br />

for two or three hours – every<br />

little helps. For those not able<br />

to do physical work, there<br />

are a number <strong>of</strong> indoor roles<br />

– assisting with the current<br />

visitors room, which also has<br />

the books <strong>of</strong> remembrance that<br />

are accessible in the mornings,<br />

Monday to Saturday.<br />

<strong>The</strong> Friends are also looking<br />

to increase their group <strong>of</strong> tour<br />

guides. Above all, the Friends<br />

PATCO’S<br />

• Super Community Store<br />

• Open 10.30am-10.30pm<br />

• Seven days a week<br />

• Health/organic food – <strong>of</strong>f licence<br />

• Hardware – key cutting<br />

• Electrical supplies – car care<br />

• Supplies – Polish food and mags<br />

• TRESA letterbox<br />

• More choice, small queues<br />

Wells Road BS4 2BS<br />

TERESA REES<br />

MCFHP, MAFHP<br />

Foot Health Practitioner<br />

Foot Odour, Corns & Verrucas<br />

Burning & Aching, Fungal Infections<br />

Cracks & Fissures<br />

Hard Skin & Calluses<br />

Ingrown Toe Nails<br />

General Foot Care<br />

Mobile Foot Health Care Service<br />

Tel: 0117 977 6383 or 07748 414987<br />

THIS SPACE FOR £25<br />

are looking for volunteers who<br />

would have an interest in the<br />

preservation and maintenance<br />

<strong>of</strong> this important social history<br />

and wildlife area <strong>of</strong> central<br />

Bristol. More details can be<br />

found on the Friends <strong>of</strong> Arnos<br />

Vale Cemetery website:<br />

www.arnosvalefriends.org.uk<br />

Arnos Vale Tours:<br />

Apr 7: Arnos Vale Heritage<br />

Tour, 10am, £3 each, please<br />

contact Dave Napier, 01275<br />

542491, 0789 167 5373, dave.<br />

napier@blueyonder.co.uk.<br />

Apr 7: Arnos Vale Wildlife<br />

Tour, Bat Walk, 7.30pm. Tour<br />

fee is £3.00 per person.<br />

Apr 15: Arnos Vale Wildlife<br />

Tour, Spring Flowers, 2pm.<br />

Tour fee is £3.00 per person.<br />

To book your place on either<br />

<strong>of</strong> the wildlife tours, please<br />

contact: Mary Wood 0117 972<br />

1079, marywood@talktalk.net.<br />

In brief...<br />

Rat run action<br />

Stanley Hill residents have<br />

welcomed the news that<br />

Bristol City Council has<br />

agreed to spend £21,000<br />

<br />

<br />

is to make stop cars from<br />

turning left from the Bath<br />

Road into County Street.<br />

If you have any views on<br />

<br />

drop a not into the TRESA<br />

Letterbox at Patcos or email<br />

webeditor@tresa.org.uk<br />

School Road Park<br />

Local residents are<br />

gathering support to<br />

renovate the swings and<br />

introduce some new play<br />

equipment. If you have any<br />

suggestions about how the<br />

park could be improved,<br />

drop them in at the TRESA<br />

letterbox in Patcos or email<br />

webeditor@tresa.or.uk.<br />

Get in touch<br />

To contact the editor <strong>of</strong> <br />

with a story, email<br />

webeditor@tresa.org.uk.<br />

<br />

is also available as a pdf<br />

document on the TRESA<br />

website at www.tresa.org.uk.<br />

Printed by Doveton Press<br />

Ltd: www.doveton press.co.uk,<br />

0117 966 0078.<br />

is<br />

edited by Richard Jones and<br />

Jonathan Wright. Editorial<br />

assistants: Samuel Wright<br />

and Mena Telfer.<br />

Name<br />

Address<br />

Email<br />

Telephone<br />

<strong>The</strong> <strong>Talk</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Totterdown</strong> is delivered<br />

to 2,500 home. To advertise here<br />

contact Richard Jones on<br />

07890 267983 or email<br />

webeditor@tresa.org.uk. Save 20%<br />

if you book four issues – that’s £80<br />

for four issues. Other advertising<br />

rates available on request. Issue 6<br />

deadline: April 30..

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