JOS & ANDREW TELLS US WHATS GOING ON Nightingale Valley tar barrels: Following complaints from concerned residents, we wrote to the Council regarding the tar barrels and broken glass in Nightingale Valley. Here’s the Council’s response: “Our staff regularly monitor the site along with occasional visits from the contaminated land officer. Overall, it has been monitored for 20 years with no movement/seepage witnessed, however, should there be any movement or seepage witnessed, please ensure that the Environment Agency and Bristol City Council are notified straight away so that we can witness it for ourselves. We are currently looking into the possibility of covering the barrels and we will speak to the Contaminated Land Officer and ask if she will pay a visit to the site to investigate whether there has been any movement or seepage. Other options regarding removal of the barrels has been looked at but ruled out due to how this may affect the stability of the bank. The last visit was made on 4th May 2021 where it was reported that there had been no movement or seepage. With regards to the broken glass, as this is not on Bristol City Council land it would not be our responsibility to clear it and as the earth is eroded further, more may appear. We could look to erect a sign advising that users use this section of the brook at their own risk and advising of what is present.” Following discussions with the Friends of Brislington Brook (FOBB), we’ve written back to the Council requesting they proceed with new signage and also undertake another inspection of the tar barrels as video evidence from September does indicate fresh seepage. Asbestos clean-up: Earlier in the year we told you about the flats on Callington Road, where some tenants’ belongings became contaminated with asbestos in the storage cages below the flats. The Council has now settled all the claims for compensation with the residents concerned.
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The caged area has been successfully decontaminated and the Council is assessing the feasibility of using the space going forward. Council officers are also looking to install a bike store and will be in touch with all the residents about the plans for this in the near future. Anti-Slavery Day: Sunday was Anti-Slavery Day and we attended a special service at Bristol Cathedral. We learned that there are 136,000 adults and children trapped in modern slavery in the UK, an estimated 951 of whom are in Bristol. Victims come from many different countries and ethnicities including the UK. A giant, knitted and crochet chain consisting of 951 links, one for every victim in Bristol was unveiled and will be on display at the cathedral for a little while. To find out more about modern day slavery, please check out the work of the Clewer Initiative: https://theclewerinitiative.org Welcome Back Fund: We would like to draw your attention to the Welcome Back Fund, supporting activity and events that will safely animate and welcome people back to Bristol’s city centre and high streets, boosting footfall and supporting local businesses. Organisations can apply for up to £2,400 excluding VAT. Funds can be used to cover delivery costs of all, or part of, any activities or events that will help safely attract people to the city centre and high streets. Activity can range from markets or parades to pop up exhibitions or the marketing and promotion of an event or high street. Applications must be made by 12pm on 30 November 2021. All activities or events must be delivered, and funding spent by 31 March 2022. Visit the council website for further information: www.bristol.gov.uk/welcomebackfund Where’s it to? You may have seen the recent video of Brislington Village featuring some of our great local shops as part of the Where’s it to? campaign to help revitalise a small number of the city’s local shopping areas. The good news is, this has now been extended to cover all 47 high streets across Bristol, including Sandy Park Road.
