Jos and Andrew report on: Callington Nature Reserve CIL funding update: Thank you to Penny at Greater Brislington Together for organising this year’s public meetings, one online and one in person, to discuss the bids for Community Infrastructure Levy funding, the money developers pay to the council to offset the environmental impact of their developments. Thank you also to members of the public, who attended the meetings, asked questions and voted on the different proposals. By far and away the most popular bid was for road safety improvements along Wick Road and Newbridge Road. According to data collected by the local community speedwatch team, this is the worst road in Bristol for speeding. Last year, we joined the speedwatch team on one of their regular sessions and we saw first hand the regularity of speeding in this location. We have also had meetings with local residents and the police about this issue so we are happy to support this bid’s progress to the next stage of the CIL process. Other popular bids included a school street for Eton Road to encourage safe, active travel journeys for children at Holymead School on Wick Road, ecological and recreational enhancements at Arnos Court Park, a new multipurpose games area for Eastwood Park and new changing facilities at Brislington Cricket Club. Unfortunately, funding is limited and it is unlikely all these projects will get the go ahead. However, there are alternative potential sources of funding, which we shall be pursuing. 26
City Motors redevelopment: Local residents will be aware that Sovereign Housing Association recently acquired a large site in Brislington West, currently occupied by City Motors. We have had a me eting with Sovereign about their proposals for the site and will hopefully be in a position to share more information as soon as possible. You can read more about the deal here: https://www.bristolworld.com/.../ housing-association... John Peer latest: We have received an update on the continuing saga of the long-derelict John Peer site on the A4 opposite Arnos Court Park. Residents may remember the plans were rejected by Bristol city councillors at a planning committee meeting two years ago. The developers submitted an appeal and a date has finally been set. The appeal hearing is to be heard on 31 August with a decision expected by the end of September. Callington Nature Reserve update: We have reported the damaged railing around the pond at Callington Road nature reserve to the council. It was damaged by vandals chucking the owl sculpture into the pond last year! The owl was safely returned to it’s perch but the railings were never repaired.
