OUT AND ABOUT IN BRISLINGTON WEST Sorry State of Sparke Evans Bridge The elegant Sparke Evans footbridge was recently added to the Bristol Local List as Asbestos Removal at Callington Road Flats an important heritage asset. Unfortunately, despite being structurally sound, the beautiful Over the past few weeks, a number of residents from the Callington Road flats have lattice work railings have become badly corroded and are quite jagged and sharp in placbeen in touch to complain about their treates. However, it would be a travesty if these ment by Bristol City Council during recent were replaced with unattractive sheet metal asbestos removal work. The asbestos was panels, which would also be an invitation to found in the separate lockable storage area local graffiti artists to grab their spray cans! below the flats where many residents store their valuables in metal cages. Before work by Therefore, we have written to the Council to specialist contractors commenced, residents insist that when repairs are carried out, they are done so in a sympathetic manner and the were told that items that could be saved beautiful character of the bridge is protected. would be washed and returned to them and items that needed to be disposed of would be photographed for compensation purposes Successful School Streets Since February, 2020, An 18-month School before being destroyed. Unfortunately, we Streets pilot scheme has been trialled at two have been informed that many items which could have been cleaned and saved, such as Bristol primary schools, Wansdyke Primary School in Whitchurch and St Peter’s C of E bicycles, have instead been thrown away. Primary School in Bishopsworth. The aim of Furthermore, other items have been School Streets is to make roads directly discarded without being recorded by the outside of schools safer, by turning them into contractors for compensation. This has left pedestrian and cyclist priority zones before residents feeling upset as they have lost not and after the school day using moveable only items of value, but items of sentimenbollards. Residents living within the new tal value too. We are working on behalf of school street zones are issued with permits, residents to try and sort out this unfortunate allowing them to continue to enter and leave situation. the zone freely. Emergency services and Blue Badge holders are also exempt and Arbour Walk Care Home Briefing have normal access. The trial is proving to be We were all worried recently when popular and BCC is now looking to extend it Brislington West became one of the worst to other schools. Following discussions with places in the country for COVID infections. parents and local residents, we have asked It quickly became clear that an outbreak in a for Holymead Junior School on Wick Road local care home, Arbour Walk in Hungerford to be included in the trial. This would likely Road, was the location of this spike in numinvolve the closure of neighbouring Eton Road bers. As the councillor for Brislington West, to through-traffic at school opening and Jos had a number of briefing sessions with council officers to ensure that everything was closing times. Once full details have been and is being done to bring the numbers down worked out, local people will be consulted before any changes are implemented. and put in place measures to prevent this from happening again. The Council and the Care Quality Commission are working together with the care home to deal with the current infections and prevent further infections when they are able to admit new residents. We want to give all the affected residents, family members and care staff our very best wishes at this challenging time. Another round-up of local news from your hardworking Lib Dem team:
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