Cabot eNews - March 2011

Dear Resident,

Welcome to this edition of Cabot eNews - your monthly local
e-newsletter from Cabot councillors Alex Woodman and Mark Wright.
Cabot eNews is sent to those who have expressed an interest in what is
happening in Cabot ward and central Bristol. If you're receiving
Cabot eNews for the first time, we hope you find it useful and
informative. If not, please let us know and we will remove you from
the distribution list.

In this edition:

1. Upcoming Neighbourhood Partnership Meeting
2. Westmoreland House Progress
3. Minor Traffic Schemes in Cabot
4. Accolade for Broadmead Police Team
5. New Tree Planting in Cabot
6. News from Brandon Hill
7. Cabot councillor Sleeps Rough for Charity
8. Changes to city centre parking arrangements
9. Parks Refreshment Kiosks Update
10. The Census is Coming
11. Crime in Kingsdown
12. Free Street Play Workshop
13. Council Budget Update
14. March Cabot News Out Now
15. Happy Birthday, Cabot eNews!

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1. Upcoming Neighbourhood Partnership Meeting

The next meeting of the Cabot, Clifton and Clifton East Neighbourhood
Partnership will be on 29th March 2011 at The Pavillion (above Jack's
Brasserie), Hannover Quay, Bristol, BS1 5JE - a map to Jack's
Brasserie can be found at http://bit.ly/dgMXmm. The Neighbourhood
Partnership is the committee of councillors, local residents and
representatives of the community organisations which makes decisions
about services in our local area, e.g. street cleaning and minor
traffic schemes. It also has a 'wellbeing' budget which can be used
for improvements to the area.

Members of the public are welcome to attend, and may make a statement
at the meeting. Statements must be submitted by 12 noon on 28th March
- details of how to do this, as well as the agenda for the meeting can
be found at www.bristol.gov.uk/meetings.

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2. Westmoreland House Progress

Local councillors held a public meeting on 18th February to discuss
the future of Westmoreland House in Stokes Croft, a monstrous eyesore
which has blighted the area for far too long. The Council has been
promised £900,000 by the Homes and Communities Agency to look at the
possibility of securing a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) to buy and
redevelop the site. However, for any redevelopment plan to be
successful, it is vital that it has the support of the local community
from an early stage.

There was a good turnout of over 100 people at the meeting. Since then
the Counci's Cabinet has agreed to progress a twin track approach of
exploring options with the building's owners AND pursuing a CPO. In
the meantime, Council officers are reviewing all ideas and suggestions
from the meeting, and are developing a list of people interested in
having further direct involvement in the consultation planning.

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3. Minor Traffic Schemes in Cabot

The Neighbourhood Partnership meeting (see item 1 above) will be
considering proposals for how to spend its minor traffic schemes
budget in the forthcoming financial year. Minor traffic schemes
include things like the installation (or indeed removal!) of zebra
crossings, dropped kerbs or yellow lines, amongst other things. The
Partnership will be given a list of suggestions received from
residents and community groups.

If you have any views on issues which might be addressed by a minor
traffic scheme, please get in touch with Alex
(alex.woodman@bristol.gov.uk) or Mark (mark.wright@bristol.gov.uk) as
soon as possible.

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4. Accolade for Broadmead Police Team

There was good news for Broadmead at the Avon and Somerset Community
Policing Awards on the 8th March. The Broadmead police team received
the 'Neighbourhood Team of the Year' award. We wish them our
heartiest congratulations on recognition of a job well done.

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5. New Tree Planting in Cabot

Some new tree news in brief. The Council is planting seven new
Turkish Hazel (Corylus colurna) trees on Anchor Road, near to
@tBristol. They'll be planted by the end of this month, and are a
result of the Greater Bristol Bus Network project. The Council has a
target of increasing the amount of tree canopy cover in the city from
the current 13% to 30%. If you have any ideas for places where new
trees might be planted, please get in touch with Alex or Mark.

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6. News from Brandon Hill

The Friends of Brandon Hill have asked us to circulate the following news...

Renovation of the old bowling green area on Brandon Hill

Friends of Brandon Hill are currently looking for ideas for the future
use of the area on the hill that once was a bowling green as we are in
the process of applying for funding to improve the area. This area is
the only sizeable flat area on the hill and has been quite derelict
for a number of years with the grass area worn and flooded, walls
extensively gratified, and remaining pathways in very poor condition.
We are interested in hearing your views and ideas for the future use
of this area.

Creation of Brandon Hill Community Orchard and Herb Garden

Would you like to be part of a city centre orchard? Help with the
planting and maintenance of the trees and benefit from the fruit of
your labours? Friends of Brandon Hill are currently planning a
Community Orchard and Herb Garden for Brandon Hill and are looking for
people interested in getting the orchard up and running. If you have
an interest in orchards or their produce and would like to be part of
this exciting city centre project then please get in touch.

Brandon Hill Volunteer Days

Throughout the year Friends of Brandon Hill have regular volunteer
days. The friends help out with border planting, bramble bashing, pond
clearing and other activities to make the Hill a better place. If you
are interested in taking part on these days or would like to organise
a group to help on Brandon Hill at times to suit yourself or your
group please contact the Friends.

Friends of Brandon Hill can be contacted by email on
info@friendsofbrandonhill.org or Fraser on 0791 901 5774.

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7. Cabot councillor sleeps rough for charity

Councillor Mark Wright spent the evening of 4th March sleeping rough
to raise money for the Julian Trust, a homeless charity which runs a
night shelter in St Pauls. It is the second year he has supported the
charity in this way, and he writes below about his experience...

"I decided to do this again this year, buoyed by my wife saying that
she would join me this time! This year 4th March was a clear and cold
night. The good news was that no rain was forecast - last year it
rained heavily, which was very unpleasant. The bad news was that it
would be frosty. I wrapped up extra warm, but was reassured by the
knowledge that I would have someone next to me for comfort this year.
Is that cheating, I wondered?

"I actually managed to get a handful of hours sleep this time. After
waking at about 5.30am I noticed frost on the sleeping bag and shoes!
The cold hadn’t got through my layers though, and sleeping out on the
grass instead of concrete made a huge beneficial difference to the
amount of discomfort and aches - an advantage of knowing it wouldn’t
rain. That's the lesson I've learnt this year: what a huge difference
the weather makes for the homeless - when it's pouring with rain just
be thankful you're not sleeping out there.

"This year, Cllr Anthony Negus (Cotham ward) and I raised over £1,000
for the Julian Trust homeless charity. Many thanks to those who
sponsored us."

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8. Changes to city centre parking restrictions

The re-development of the former Cabot House site on Deanery Road, and
the associated stopping up of Brandon Street and remodelling of the
off-street car park, has given rise to a requirement for a review of
the on-street parking and loading arrangements in the adjoining roads.

In addition, as part of its scheme for the enhancement of College
Square, the City Council proposes to review the on-street waiting
arrangements within the square.

A statutory consultation is will be under way shortly for both areas.
The plans will be published online in the near future, they can be
seen online here: http://www.bristol.gov.uk/consultationfinder

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9. Parks Refreshment Kiosks Update

The last edition of Cabot eNews reported the installation of
refreshment kiosks in Castle Park to provide a more welcoming and more
complete service to the park's users. The kiosks are now nearly
complete, and will be formally opened on 24th March.

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10. The Census is Coming

"Census Day" is 27th March, and most Bristol residents will by now
have received their census forms through the letterbox.

It is vitally important that as many people as possible complete and
return the census form (or indeed complete it online!) The results of
the census will be used for the next ten years to plan public
transport, education, healthcare and a whole range of other things.
In addition, the outcome of the census will directly affect the amount
of money Bristol receives from central government (from your taxes!)
to spend on local services. Please ensure therefore that you fill it
in and send it back, particularly as failing to return the form is a
criminal offence punishable by a fine of up to £1000!

You can find out everything you need to know about the census at
http://www.census.gov.uk/

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11. Crime in Kingsdown

There have been three burglaries in the Kingsdown area in the past
week. The first was in Sydenham Road at 4.30pm on 11th March where a
male entered a property and threatened the victim with a knife. The
victim was not harmed and the offender left stealing a mountain bike.
The offender was a white male, 5'8" tall of medium build with short
dark hair. He wore a blue hoody and had his face covered with a red
and white bandana. The second was in Kingsdown Parade on 12th during
the morning and entry was gained by kicking in the front door.
Property stolen includes an Xbox console and a television. The third
was also in Sydenham Road on 13th during the daytime. It is unknown
how entry was gained or what property was stolen.

If you have any information please contact the Police on 0845 456 7000
and ask for your call to be tagged 'NHW'.

It appears that the houses that have been targetted by burglars were
those that were insecure. To avoid becoming a victim of crime
yourself, please make sure that your home is secure - front and back
doors should be shut and locked if you are not near to them, and
windows should also be shut or prevented from opening.

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12. Free Street Play Workshop

Free workshops are being held on how to run a street play event, using
funding provided by the Neighbourhood Partnership to promote outdoor
play by children.

The workshops will be on Tuesday 22nd March at 10am, upstairs at the
Spring Gardens tavern in Hotwells, and Thursday 24th March, 10am in
the Hamilton House Community Room, Stokes Croft. To book a place
please contact aliceandamy@playingout.net, or call Alice on 07896 957
141.

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13. Council Budget Update

Since the last edition of Cabot eNews, the Council's budget for
2011/12 was approved with no increase in Council Tax for the
forthcoming year. The Lib Dem administration has sought to protect
front-line services, avoid compulsory redundancies and reduce
bureaucracy. We opposed budget amendments for tokenistic spending
increases in some areas paid for by making several staff redundant,
increasing bus fares on Park and Ride services, stalling the Council's
transformation programme (which will be delivering savings in coming
years) and stopping the Council's investment in green projects.

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14. March Cabot News Out Now

The March edition of Cabot News (the paper version of Cabot eNews!) is
out now and being delivered to 6,000 homes across the ward. You can
download it here:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/50942061/Cabot-News-Spring-2011

If you support the work of your local Lib Dem team, and would like to
see Alex re-elected, then why not volunteer some time to help with the
campaign? We need help to deliver leaflets, stuff letters into, and
write addresses onto envelopes, as well as with a range of other
administrative work. If you can help, please get in touch by e-mail
alex.woodman@bristol.gov.uk, or call 0117 942 8773.

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15. Happy Birthday, Cabot eNews!

Our last edition of Cabot eNews neglected to mention a birthday - at
the start of February, Cabot eNews was two years old! Since the start
of 2009, Mark and Alex have worked hard to try and keep local
residents up to date with local news and information every month, both
from within the Council and around the local area. We hope you enjoy
reading it, and will forward it on to anybody else you think might be
interested in receiving it! And if you have any suggestions or
requests for items to be included in future editions, or if you have
any feedback, please let us know.

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Best wishes,

Alex Woodman and Mark Wright

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Cabot eNews is produced by Alex Woodman and Dr Mark Wright
Liberal Democrat Councillors for Cabot ward

alex.woodman@bristol.gov.uk - mark.wright@bristol.gov.uk
www.cabot-liberals.org
www.alexwoodman.blogspot.com
www.twitter.com/CllrAlexWoodman

This list brings you local community news and information about Cabot
ward. If you no longer wish to receive Cabot eNews, email us to let us
know.

--
Cabot eNews is produced by Dr Mark Wright and Alex Woodman
Liberal Democrat Councillors for Cabot ward

www.cabot-liberals.org
www.alexwoodman.blogspot.com

This list brings you local community news and information about Cabot ward. If you have been forwarded this email from a friend, please don't rely on them to always do so - just email us and say "Send me Cabot eNews". If you no longer wish to receive Cabot eNews, email us to let us know.

alex.woodman@bristol.gov.uk - mark.wright@bristol.gov.uk