Arnos Vale Under Threat
Firstly, they visited the Underwood Centre, a beautiful space used for weddings. Recently, the adjacent wood store was broken into and wood Living in Brislington, we are so lucky to have the taken for bonfires. This theft not only deprived beautiful Arnos Vale Cemetery on our doorstep. Arnos Vale of an important revenue stream in With its 45 acres of trees, wildflowers, open spaces, terms of wood sales, but the fires also cracked and classical architecture and more than 300,000 destroyed an expensive stone table used during the people who are buried or remembered there, from wedding ceremonies. Secondly, they took a look at much-loved members of ordinary Bristol families the community garden, which Jos opened last year to those who changed the world or sacrificed their in her role as Lord Mayor. Unfortunately, this has lives in war, it is a great place to visit. suffered repeated vandalism over the last few months, which is incredibly disheartening to the Jos said, ‘Four years ago, I was asked to become a small team of staff who work so hard to maintain trustee of the cemetery and to be honest, I jumped this beautiful space. Damage has also been done at the chance. Like many people in the area, I have to the external stone walls, which will be very costly fond memories of time spent wandering around, to repair. looking at the graves and enjoying the calm surroundings. When my son was small, we would Finally, during the walk back to the main gates, a go into the cemetery and have ‘adventures’ large crashing and banging sound came from the because at that time the place was unloved and café area. Upon inspection a small group of people quite neglected’. were observed pulling down stacked tables and damaging them in the process. Andrew said, ‘What When the Arnos Vale Cemetery Trust took over the we saw today is only a snapshot of what is going on running of the site, things started to improve, but day after day. We reported the incident we with no financial support from Bristol City Council witnessed to the police but the worry is, the the registered charity needs to generate all its own cemetery will not be able to sustain this level of income through events, weddings and burials. vandalism for very much longer’. Unfortunately, as with many other organisations, the pandemic has had a severe impact on Arnos Vale If you know anything about these incidents of Cemetery and its finances. All events have been criminal damage or have any information about cancelled and it has had to restrict opening times to vandalism at Arnos Vale Cemetery, please call the visitors. To make matters worse, during this period police on 101. If you are able to donate to support there has been a dramatic increase in anti-social the work of the cemetery, please text ARNOS to behaviour and mindless vandalism, adding an 70085 to donate £5 (this costs £5 plus a standard unbearable, additional expense for this charity. rate message). Alternatively, go to the Support
Us page on their website https://arnosvale.org.uk/ Last week, Jos and Andrew witnessed this support/ vandalism first hand when they visited the site to discuss the issues with the CEO, Ellie, and a senior By Jos Clark, Local Councillor (Brislington West) member of the maintenance staff, Liam. & Andrew Varney, Local Councillor Candidate (Brislington West) Email: cllr.jos.clark@bristol.gov.uk Mobile: 07584 370 429 6
