Round up of news from Jos and Andrew

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM JOS AND ANDREW:

We would like to wish everyone in Brislington a very Happy New Year. 2022 was a particularly turbulent year, politically and economically, so let’s hope 2023 is much better for everyone. As always, if there are any issues we can help you with, please do not hesitate to get in touch. We have tried to keep this issue in the spotlight with regular communications with council officers and questions to the Mayor at City Hall. We are pleased to say our persistence has paid off and the city Traffic Engineer has been in touch to say a new consultation will be commencing shortly. We will give you the link to the six-week consultation as soon as we get it. BRISLINGTON GREENBELT TO GO:

Time is running out to have your say on Bristol City Council’s Draft Local Plan. In the plan, Brislington will not only see massive redevelopment on brownfield sites, but also the loss of much of our Green Belt, stretching from the existing Park and Ride down to and including the former Wyevale Garden Centre. (The Allotments on Bath Road would be retained). We completely support brownfield redevelopment but believe building on our precious Green Belt is unacceptable. Please follow the link below and have your say. You have until Friday 20 January, 2023. https:// www.bristol.gov.uk/residents/planning-and-building-regulations/planning-policy-and-guidance/local-plan/ local-plan-review OUR LATEST COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER:

PEDESTRIAN SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS BACK ON:

Local residents may be aware of our long-running campaign for pedestrian safety improvements by St Anne’s Infants School in Brislington West, including pavement widening and safer crossing points. In 2019 funding was allocated for a scheme, but this failed to materialise, largely due to the pandemic and a new consultation on closing the adjacent Langton Road Bridge to motorised vehicles, which was not supported by a majority of local people. We believe in keeping local residents informed all year round, not just at election time! We are the only team who regularly deliver newsletters throughout the year and our latest one has just hit the doorsteps. We want to thank the many local residents who volunteer to deliver the newsletter to every household across the ward. If you would like to help out for an hour or so every few months to deliver the local news, please get in touch.

YOUTH CLUB ON WHEELS COMING TO BRISLINGTON WEST: You don't need to be married, own your own home or have any qualifications. If you can provide a safe and welcoming home, have compassion, kindness and a sense of humour, you have what it takes to foster.

YOU’LL RECEIVE: dedicated support from an experienced team regular contact with other foster carers training and development opportunities up to £458 a week per child free access to Everyone Active leisure centres and free events

To find out more visit www. bristol.gov.uk/foster or call Bristol City Council’s fostering team for an informal chat on 0117 353 4200

Hundreds of Brislington West residents have signed up to receive our monthly newsletter via email. You can register using this link: http://www.bristollibdems. org/efocus.

A quick reminder that we are getting the Youth Club on Wheels back out on the road. It will be in Brislington starting January 2023. It will be out on Mondays, 3:30-5:30pm, delivering social action work and then staying on to deliver Open Access Sessions, 6:30 – 8:30pm. All will be from the Lynwood Park Area. FOSTER CARERS URGENTLY NEEDED IN BRISTOL:

We recently wrote dozens of Christmas cards to Bristol’s foster carers as a small token of thanks for the work they do. Fostering is looking after someone else’s child to provide them with a safe, nurturing home when their own parents are unable to care for them. In Bristol we have seen the number of people coming forward to foster going down recently and we urgently need to recruit more. Fostering with Bristol City Council is hugely rewarding and helps keep children in Bristol close to their community, schools and important people. We celebrate all types of foster carers from all backgrounds.

By Jos Clark, Liberal Democrat Councillor (Brislington West) Email: cllr. jos.clark@bristol.gov.uk Mobile: 07584 370429

& Andrew Varney, Liberal Democrat Councillor (Brislington West) Email: cllr.andrew.varney@bristol. gov.uk Mobile: 07584 183381