Up Our Street

October to December 2010

Inside this issue... street parties housing champions things to do local jobs

Do you have a story or photo you’d like published in Up Our Street?

We always love to hear from local people so contact us on 377 3638 or sorrel@eastonandlawrencehill.org.uk

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Things to do locally Motorway make-over Some of you will know that the area under the M32 fly over near Stapleton Road and Napier Road is an abandoned site which is used for prostitution and people hanging about drinking and causing a disturbance to residents.

A group of local people have got together to look at ways the community can take action to turn this into a positive space that will benefit the area.

Have you got ideas? Would you like to help put pressure on agencies to focus on this area and make something happen?

St Marks Road Street Party 2 October, 10am to 5pm.

Feast 2.30pm to 4.30pm Dress to impress and sample local flavours and delights at this year‟s street festival which includes Fashionable Flavours, a fashion show hosted by St Mark‟s Road Charity Shop and the popular Community Feast catered

by St Mark‟s Road restaurants.

Come for fun activities, street stalls, displays, great food and live music.

Get in touch with Simon Dilly on underthemotorway@gmail.com or call Sorrel on 377 3638 if you don’t have access to email and she will pass your message on.

New ideas for Old Market Old Market Community Association is an active group of residents and businesses that meet to promote the interests of Old Market. Meetings are operated on a ‘drop in basis’ so anyone is welcome to come along and have their say on any issues that they may be experiencing and on the future of Old Market. All meetings start at 6.30pm. 4 October at The Retreat, 1 November at The Stag and Hounds and 6 December at The Punch Bowl. Contact Oldmarket.future@gmail.com

Can you name Netham’s new netball team?

Local trainer Kate Britton has put together a new netball team which plays every week at the Netham Pavilion in Redfield.

Here Kate from Avonvale Road tells us more: “We have only been

running for a few months and we have had a massive response! The teams are made up of girls/woman in their 20s with their only experience of netball being when we played at school. We all love it so much; the fitness, the game and the quickly growing social side of it.

We all come from different backgrounds, some good some bad, but we all hook up on a Thursday night no matter what for Netball practice!

Have you ever seen the film Brassed off with Pete Posselthwaite? If you haven‟t it‟s a must, if you have then you will catch my drift! We would love to get involved in a league but we don't have a name and we‟d like readers of Up Our Street to help us out!”

If you can think of a great netball team name text Kate on 07540707415. Kate will take all the suggestions to the team, they will choose their favourite and we will publish it in the next issue.

If you‟d like to join the team they play at 8pm on Thursdays at the Netham pavilion.

Things to do this autumn /winter Free Vegan Food Fair Non-vegans especially welcome!

Saturday 30 October 12pm to 5pm Broadmead Baptist Church, Union Street

The Dhol Foundation Sunday 14 November at 4pm St George‟s Bristol, Great George Street, off Park Street The UK‟s most successful Dhol drum group, they deliver raw energy and pumping rhythms in an explosion of Drum and Bass, Tabla, Hip Hop and Bhangra all mixed with a Celtic twist.

Tickets £17/£14/£11 From St George‟s Box Office: 0845 40 24 001 Asian Arts Agency

Celebrate World Vegan Day and find out how veganism can help animals, people, your health and the environment.

Delicious free food Cookery demonstrations Films for all ages Free nutrition surgery Face painting Henna painting Ethical merchandise And more!

Sponsored by Animal Aid, Café Maitraya, Vegan Society and VegFund

My First District Cub Camp

By Shontae Jordan, aged 10 Friday 25 June - first night “My mum took me to Woodhouse Park, where the camp was being held, we got to the camp about 7pm, I was shown the tent that Mia and myself were sharing. I unloaded my rucksack and sleeping bag from the car and put it in the tent ready for when I went to bed. I came out of the tent and said hi to everyone, and then we explored the camp site. By the time we got back to our camping area it was getting dark.

All of the Cubs and Leaders then went down to the Campfire Circle and we sang songs, and acted sketches, at the end of the campfire we went back to the camp site for a drink and had some biscuits before getting ready for bed. Mia and I had a little talk about our first night at camp until we started to get tired so we went to sleep.”

Shontae Jordan is a Cub Scout with 128th Bristol (St Gabriel's) Scout Group.

She enjoys her time at Cubs, why don‟t you come along and join in the adventure?

HELP! The 128th group is also desperately looking for volunteers to be a chairperson and secretary. Contact Group Scout Leader Duncan Biddulph on 07766482850 or duncan@biddulph.net Boys and Girls can also have fun in the forthcoming activities with the Beavers, Cubs and Scouts Rumble in the Jungle (Crazy Golf) Archery, Wall Climbing, 10 Pin Bowling, Abseiling, Canoeing, Camping and Orienteering. Contact Duncan for more details.

Things to do this autumn /winter Put on a show with help from hSquared hSquared, a new Bristol-based music and theatre company have been performing their comedy show A Speck on the Horizon in venues around the city this summer, including Easton Community Centre. If you‟ve missed the shows, don‟t worry, there‟s still an opportunity to take part in this exciting project. We‟re looking for people with or without experience, to put together another show, featuring stories, memories and tales of adventure, loss, travel, being in a different place, or in the wrong shoes! We‟ll be running free workshops at Easton Community Centre during which we‟ll be creating the show together. In the mix will be theatre, comedy, music, story-telling, poetry, visual art and whatever else participants come up with!

Dates of workshops: Sunday 14, Sunday 21, Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 November, all from 1 – 6pm. Performance/showing on Sunday 5 December.

Call 07990 992196 or hSquared@gmx.co.uk for details IT‘SPARTY TIME !!!!!!

By Liz Jones Easton Community Centre opened on September 28th 1990 and we‟re inviting you to come and celebrate its 20th birthday on Saturday October 2nd.

Easton has changed since 1990, but it‟s still a huge mixture of people, food, creativity, kids, old people and the most exciting place to live in Bristol. The Centre belongs to all of us so come and celebrate and become a member so you can shape the next 20 years, and have a brilliant day and night.

Bring yourself and friends and family to the Centre and Chelsea (Owen Square) Park from midday onwards to celebrate with games, food, music, meet old and new friends and local groups and eat cake. Then come back in the evening when DJ‟s and live performers will keep the party going until the early hours.

For 20 years many thousands of people have danced, learned English, sung in choirs, come to nursery and older peoples clubs, campaigned for the area, used computers, shared food, laughed and cried at weddings, funerals and birthdays, and played and worked together to create this wonderful locally-run Centre.

Shake your belly in Easton Beginners bellydancing classes will soon be starting in Easton!

Bellydancing is fantastic for improving posture, coordination, boosting confidence and working those core muscles!

Contact Stephi on 07709433643 www.sjb-bellydanceinbristol.co.uk

Halloween Party Friday 29th October 2010 Barton Hill Settlement, BS5 0AX Main Hall 7pm to 11pm Fancy dress, raffle, disco, Bar Entrance by ticket only To purchase tickets come to the Settlement on 19th & 26th October 9.45 to 11.45 Adults £1, children 50p.

Under 18’s must be accompanied by an adult.

Organised by BHAFF volunteers.

Help is out there Crown Prosecution Service goes live The newly launched CPS South West website includes pages dedicated to CPS Avon and Somerset as well as a raft of information aimed at keeping you informed about what’s going on across the South West and what the CPS does.

As well as contact information for each of their offices and a bit about the Chief Crown Prosecutor and Area Business Manager for each Area, the site aims to give you information you need about the CPS and provide them with feedback on their service. Visit www.cps.gov.uk/ southwest or contact southwest.communications@cps.gsi.gov.uk

Best support for new businesses Bristol Spaceworks is a new organisation which is the result of the merger of East Bristol Enterprise Ltd and Bristol East Side Traders (BEST).

Bristol Spaceworks will have a clear social purpose to make a positive impact on local communities through working with all start-up and entrepreneurial businesses across deprived areas of Bristol, stimulating, encouraging and supporting enterprise and working with community partners to support the needs of individual local areas.

The new organisation will manage four business centres incorporating 140 individual units at the Easton Business Centre in Felix Road, the Old Co-op Business Centre in Chelsea Road, Easton, The Old Library in Trinity Road and The Old School House in Barton Hill. The Bristol Spaceworks team can be contacted on 941 5800.

Photo: Bristol Spaceworks Chief Executive Chris Chapman and Business Development Director Jill Humphrey.

Free Business Support Sessions We are working with top solicitors Burges Salmon to organise free 45 minute business support sessions for small and start up businesses in the area.

Sessions will be held at The Old Bank on Church Road and will cover things like how to set yourself up as a sole trader, your legal responsibilities, dealing with landlords and dealing with debtors.

You must book your appointment in advance.

Session times Thursday 7 October, 1pm to 4pm Thursday 4 November, 1pm to 4m Thursday 2 December, 1pm to 4pm To book an appointment contact Tracy on 377 3638.

By parents for parents—new service SPAN Study Centre, together with Refugee Women of Bristol and Easton Family Project, have set up a new face-to-face signposting and information service. 10 mothers, who are all single parents and/or from a refugee background, have gone through an intensive training programme to deliver the service.

Volunteer Charmain Brown says: “There is so much stuff out there, but most parents don’t know what is available to them and how to access things. We will be there to help you find the right information and to point you in the right direction or make a referral. We can also help you to understand or fill in forms.”

Volunteers speak Arabic, English and Somali.

You can find them in the following places: Tuesdays and Thursdays 10am-12pm at SPAN Study Centre, Millpond, Baptist Street, Easton BS5 0YW. Tuesdays 10am-3pm at Refugee Women of Bristol‘s drop-in, Nawton Hall, Newton Street, Easton Bs5 0QZ. Tuesdays (Arabic speakers only), Wednesdays and Fridays 10am-12pm, Beaufort Street, Easton BS5 0SQ. Appointments are also available at SPAN Study Centre, please call 0117 952 2712 and ask for Lynn Marke.

Your Neighbourhood Forums Come and report problems one to one with officers and hear what’s happening in your area.

At the July meetings we heard about issues in Bloy Street with people’s usage of the square, speeding and aggressive driving on Westminster Road, problems arising from gangs and drug dealing around Stapleton Road, litter and flytipping, parking problems in Talavera Close, issues about housing allocation in the inner city and the Council’s plans for promoting community cohesion (how people get on with each other). Turn over the page for news on some of the concerns you have raised.

In September we found out that residents remained concerned about Westminster Road, speeding on Goodhind Street, anti-social behaviour around the new shops on Avonvale Road and Beam Street and drivers ignoring road safety measures on Bellevue Road by driving down the middle at speed. Large gatherings at Bellevue Road Park were also noted. Pigeon faeces on Stapleton Road in the location of the jobcentre was raised as a public health concern and the inclusion of bin space when houses are converted into flats.

Look out for more of your issues raised and actions from the forums in the next issue of Up Our Street.

Anti-social activity on Armory Square has been curbed following action from your Neighbourhood Forums.

Residents requested that the lane that leads onto Armoury Square be gated, and support from residents in the area has ensured that this will be carried out by October. The parks department is to ensure that Clark Street Park is well maintained, to minimise the risk of weapons used in crime being hidden in bushes there.

Residents thanked police for their increased presence on Ducie Road in Barton Hill, which has reduced antisocial behaviour and drug dealing in the area. Police also reported that community concerns about drug crime in Marsh Lane have resulted in four warrants being conducted, with three arrests made . A cannabis factory has been raided, a drug dealer with 40 bags of cannabis and £1,000 seized, 15 wraps of crack cocaine seized from another arrested dealer and suspected class A drugs seized from a tower block location. Drugs and sex litter in the Dings tunnel has also been cleared up following request for action at the Forums.

Next meetings: 11 October at Barton Hill Settlement and 24 November at Hannah More Primary School.

6pm to 8.30pm.

Contact Farhan Ahmed on farhan.ahmed@bristol.gov.uk or 903 6442.

Better bus route following residents‘ response In July a number of residents responded to plans for a new bus route down Fishponds Rd and Stapleton Rd. It was discussed at two Neighbourhood Forum meetings. One of the biggest concerns was the proposal to stop cars turning left from Stapleton Road into Easton Way on the Trinity side.

full report or an edited version about our area please let us know.

Meanwhile, what next? Works such as improvements to bus stops and pedestrian areas will start soon. Works requiring legal proceedings (Traffic Regulation Orders ) take some time and are subject to further formal consultation .

We will let you know the schedule as soon as possible. Final plans will be available at the We are pleased to say that these proposals have th been dropped. Also, new plans are being drawn up Neighbourhood Forum on Wednesday 24 for Lansdown, Villiers Road and Seymour Roads. November. Please contact the Neighbourhood Management team for further details.

Further consultation with the residents on these streets is now taking place. If you want to see the

News Whitehall and millpond primary — pressure for inner city school places Plans are a foot to increase capacity at two local primary schools in Easton. Whitehall and Millpond Primary Schools are reviewing options for increasing the amount of children they can take. The Council consulted a small group of local people and those affected by the proposals to draw up some options which will be sent out to a wider public consultation this autumn.

Westminster Road rage Concerns continue to be raised about aggressive driver behaviour sparking into conflict on Westminster Road and excessive speeding.

Residents at the Neighbourhood Forum in September questioned whether a child would be seriously harmed before action could be taken.

Safer Bristol assured forum attendees that the investigation is ongoing, and that a radar counter will be in place to measure volume and speed of traffic for several weeks.

Choose a school now for your child Primary school Was your child born between 1 September 2006 and 31 August 2007?

If yes, you need to apply for a place in a reception class by 15 January.

Secondary school Is your child in year six?

If yes, you need to apply for a place in secondary school by 31 October.

If you live in Bristol and your child is due to start primary or secondary school then you need to think about which schools you want to apply for.

You need to fill in the Bristol application form (either a paper copy or online). If you choose a school outside of Bristol you still use the Bristol form.

You MUST state three preferences. If you only choose one and you do not meet the criteria because too many children have applied to that school you may be given a school you do not want. If you give three preferences you may be offered one of them.

You MUST get your form to Bristol City Council BEFORE the deadlines above. If you make a late application your form is not looked at until after everyone else has had their school allocated and you may then get given any school left with places.

Need help?

Contact school admissions on 903 7694 (if possible after 2pm) or school.admissions@bristol.gov.uk

News Mothers act against rising gang violence On Thursday 9 July, 18 year old Abdi Mohamud was stabbed and killed on Stapleton Road. It is suspected that his death was linked to a turf war between local drug dealers.

Up Our Street has been chatting to people who work and live in the area to find out how people feel about what‟s been happening on Stapleton Road and how we can work together as a community to celebrate the good things about the area as well as support our young people and make it a safer, more prosperous place to live for everyone.

We‟ll have more on this in your next issue once our surveys of Stapleton Road have taken place. In the meantime if you‟re a parent in Easton and Lawrence Hill that is concerned about the killings of our young people and gang violence, there is a new residents group you can get involved with.

Two parents, Annie from Easton and Lynnette from St Pauls, have been so concerned about young people locally being involved in gang activity that they have set up Mothers Against Violence for this area.

Mothers Against Violence have adopted the approach that we are all responsible for the young people in our city. By including mothers from all backgrounds and communities they hope to work with fathers groups and community safety organisations, identify issues for young people, parents and the community and support parents experiencing the effects of gang violence.

The group have had one initial meeting with a few local residents, Abdi‟s aunt ,the police and Community Resolve who have a street based gang awareness project. A full public meeting is planned for later this year. Annie and Lynnette have also been interviewed on Ujima and BCfm. Annie and Lynnette have an email address you can contact them on at mothersagainstviolencebristol@hotmail.co.uk or leave a message with Sorrel Parsons on 3773638.

The group is very new and need more support and resources to be able to successfully support mothers worried about their young people but hope to have a contact telephone number soon.

Police promise presence on Stapleton Road At the Neighbourhood Forum in September residents were told that nine police officers will now be patrolling regularly on Stapleton Road and in St Paul‟s.

Officers will be talking to the community and local businesses and want to know your thoughts on how Operation Bowler is working.

Contact Inspector Julie Bowle or Sergeant Andy Whelpton at Trinity Road Station on 0845 4567000 if you have any comments.

News Work has started on new Junction 3 development Works have now started on the Junction 3 development. Leadbitter are constructing the project on behalf of Knightstone Housing Association and Bristol City Council assisted with funding from the Big Lottery Community Libraries programme.

The scheme will consist of 53 apartments,6 town houses,7 commercial units, a library, meeting rooms and a crèche facility. It is anticipated that the development will be completed in the summer of 2012.

As part of the art programme for the library and learning centre, artists Eleanor Davis and Deborah Aguirre-Jones are progressing the Library Of Ideas public art concept, which will be displayed on the walls of the main lobby of the Junction 3 centre. The artwork will consist of appropriate objects donated by local people. For more information contact junction3@bristol.gov.uk What do you think the new building should be called? Potential names will be based on the history of the site. You can find more information about the site’s history by visiting the Living Easton Web Site and letting Up Our Sreet know your ideas. http://www.cems.uwe.ac.uk/~rstephen/livingeaston/local_history/index.html

If you are a local resident that would like to get more involved with the development of the building there is a Junction 3 Group open to all on Fridays at SPAN on Baptist Street. Ring SPAN on 9522712 for details.

More than a mosque In the last issue we revealed plans for a new mosque in Barton Hill which are being considered by the council‘s planning department. At the September Neighbourhood Forum, Khalif Abdirahman explained what the mosque would be doing to alleviate residents fears about potential parking problems and noise pollution by mosque users in the surrounding streets.

Proposals included five mosque community wardens that would ensure attendees parked in the Ducie Road car park or away from the immediate surroundings of the building. The wardens will wear high visibility jackets and will encourage the local Muslim community to walk to prayer and leave their cars at home.

An information point inside the entrance to the building will support local residents to talk about any concerns they have or to find out more about Islam. A new computer room will be open for all local residents to use, and will specifically provide courses for young people.

Some residents at the forum felt they had not been fully consulted on the proposals. The council‘s planning department suggested that consultation had taken place, including writing to residents, posting notices around the site, and placing an advert in the local press.

If you have any questions about the proposals you can contact the Tawfiq Mosque on 07851 303391 or info@tawfiqmasjid.com or if you have any questions about the planning application contact the council‘s planning department on 9223000.

News Council housing allocations

Having a suitable place to live that is large enough for your family is important to everyone.

There are a lot of misunderstandings about how Council homes are allocated, so we asked Paul Sylvester from the Council re-housing team to come and talk at the July Forums and clear up some of the myths and answer any questions. Here are some of the key points:  There are no Council housing tenants who are asylum seekers – they’re not eligible.  Refugees are eligible for Council housing. They are assessed in exactly the same way as any other eligible applicant.  From 2007 to 2009, there were 432 new tenants who are refugees – around just 5% of all new tenants.  Applications for housing are judged only on how urgent someone’s needs are and how long they have been waiting – and not everyone is eligible.  People new to the UK who are eligible for housing are treated in exactly the same way as those who have lived here for some time.  Less than 2% of all people in Council housing in the UK have moved here in the last five years. 9/10 people who live in council housing were born in the UK. Source: Our City June 2010 and Equality and Human Rights Commission research

Sit on a Codsteak cotton reel Sovereign Housing Association is working with Phoenix 52 and the in bristol studios on a public art commission for the former Winstanley House on Queen Anne Road.

Local artists Codsteaks have made some benches in the shape of cotton reels to commemorate those that worked in the old cotton factory in Barton Hill. The benches will be located at Crypt Square outside St Lukes Church.

Football not right for Bloy Square Residents of Bloy Street came to the neighbourhood forum earlier this summer asking for help to deal with problems caused by football being played in the square which was damaging houses and cars as well as making a lot of noise late into the evening.

32 residents shared their views and possible solutions at a meeting with Safer Bristol, the Police, council officers, Councillor Faruk Choudhury and Easton and Lawrence Hill Neighbourhood Management in August.

Safer Bristol‟s Lloyd Allen and Easton and Lawrence Hill Neighbourhood Facilitator François Jensen will be heading up a long term solution plan for Bloy Square, working with the council and residents who will be at the centre of decision making. We will update you on the plans in the next issue.

If you have any problems, concerns or issues on your street, please call François on 903 3640 or pop in to The Neighbourhood Management Shop, The Old Bank, 108 Church Road, BS5 9LJ

Your shop, your issues In August alone the Neighbourhood Management Shop spoke with 549 local people about problems they needed help with.

A key issue for residents in the last three months has been non-payment of tax credits, which were up for renewal in July. If you are having a problem understanding your tax credits make an appointment to see a benefits adviser as soon as you can.

Phone bills and internet charges have also caused you trouble during the last quarter. New migrants are the worse affected, often not fully understanding how much services may cost when first installing them.

If you are struggling to pay your phone bill, come and see the Neighbourhood Management Shop on Church Road.

Me and my neighbours Happy 50th Birthday Barton House Residents of Barton House got together in August to celebrate 50 years since the block was built. In fact, it was actually its 52nd birthday but they hadn’t been able to celebrate on the 50th year due to scaffolding up as part of the Council’s refurbishment works!

Soon to be called The Greenbank Festival

By Sandra Barefoot

Camerton, Camelford and Turley joined forces for a 4th year to create what is becoming an infamous street party event where music and laughter travel through the streets of Greenbank and Easton, drawing crowds from all quarters.

It's a party that begins with the carpeting of the street, the arrival of sofas, cushions, a stage, lines drawn and the Greenbank Games banner strung, all carefully supported by a core team of residents. Talented local musicians arrive and the youngest of children to the oldest of residents filter in, exploring friendships old and new.

Do you have a story about what your street has been up to lately?

We’d really love to hear from local people with good news and stories to share to remind everyone what a great place Easton and Lawrence Hill are to live in......... Send your stories to sorrel@eastonandlawrencehill.org.uk or call 377 3638

This year we reclaimed the bins with spray painting, held games including races, water bomb shotput, and the fastest cracker eater', had painting, crown making, freecycle, bike fixing and fantastic live music performances from 5pm until midnight not forgetting a feast of foods cooked by residents for all to eat! Over 90 people attended the day.

Easton residents get their hands dirty

By Hilary Howard “A sunny summer evening provided the perfect setting for the first of two community gardens trails around Easton. Transition Easton Gardening Group led the tours, introducing local residents to community food growing projects and other community gardens in the area. Easton offers plenty of places where people can enjoy learning new skills and working together to grow their own food and improve the urban environment.

This trail began at Rosemary‟s Garden, where nursery school children and volunteers grow vegetables to use in the nursery kitchen. A funding application is under way to extend the „Time to Grow‟ project into community spaces among the maisonettes, allowing more residents to get involved in gardening and enjoying the fresh produce. Transition Easton is a grass -roots voluntary group that aims to support the people of Easton in creating a positive, sustainable, „relocalised‟ and fossil fuel independent future.

Following successful container gardening workshops last year, the group has received funding from Quartet Community Foundation to run further gardening workshops with schools and community groups, and to pilot two „Make and Mend‟ skill-sharing sewing workshops.”

For more information or for a free guide to east Bristol allotments, email transitioneaston@yahoo.co.uk or ring 07929091731.

When I moved here twelve years ago with my two sons I felt I had found a place of peace where neighbours opened their doors when you needed a spare onion or a shoulder to cry on.

It is a place blessed from history as I found from my three years involved in the Chocolate Factory Campaign, the roots of our street party. The factory was built as the heart of the community, where life is where you live, houses were built for workers, and every corner had local tailors, butchers, bakers.

Greenbank has thrived for more than 100 years now as a place of community, a place to live and share, not just a place to go home at night and shut your doors.

A resident at the party says to me: 'I arrived here ten months ago and today I have met so many people whom I feel I can have friendships with that I never knew just lived around the corner'. Another resident plans a meal for winter months for local residents...a conversation emerges...suddenly there is a suggestion of “community meals” being shared and a launch of an “outdoor cinema with duvets and sleeping bags and projections on the walls”.

Greenbank is a hubbub of creativity, community and growth within its streets and an inspiration to the many that live, love and walk them. Keep your eyes peeled and ears to the ground for the next instalment!!

Rescued from rain on Roseberry Road

By Sarah Creasy Residents of Roseberry Road in Redfield braved grey skies in July for a street party with colourful balloons and banners decorating the street.

Neighbours of all ages got to know each other better over a barbecue and games.

Roseberry Road was closed to traffic so residents could have to run of the place. Resident Sarah Creasy said: “It was such a success we over ran by an hour and a half and only stopped because it started raining.

Residents from the road brought BBQs, food and games to share including homemade sausages, homebaked cakes, home-brewed beer, penalty shoot-out, diablos, juggling balls, giant jenga and spinning plates. Everyone took part in races egg and spoon race, three legged race, and slow bike race, as well as cup cake decorating and a raffle. The highlight of the afternoon was Bristol band Vamos playing on my garden wall - they joined us after playing gigs at Bristol Zoo and The Canteen on Saturday evening and were brilliant!”

Green man saves grandkids from needles A little birdie told Up Our Street that a green fingered man had led a residents take-over of a disused piece of ground outside their houses, so we took a camera down to take a peak.

Resident Alan Jackson, with a little help from his friends decided to take action when piles of rubbish kept piling up outside his door. “It was a big pile of rubbish, needles, I‟ve seen everything here. Too much rubbish for my grandkids to run around, so I just started on the corner over there. I grow pumpkin, corn, potatoes...carrot grow a lot here. I really don‟t know, I just experiment and learn”.

Alan is keen to extend the vegetable patch and find some fencing to stop people taking his produce. He laughs, “They keep stealing my courgette but the more they steal the more they grow” but adds “I would really like to reap what I sow, you know”. If you know of any land in the local area that could be sown, or have some fencing your could offer Alan, please leave a message with Sorrel on 3773638 or sorrel@eastonandlawrencehill.org.uk

What has your neighbourhood policing team been up to lately?

New Beat Manager for Stapleton Road The Easton neighbourhood police team are delighted to welcome PC Andrew George to the crew. PC George will be working as an additional full time beat manager along the Stapleton Road corridor and will be working closely with PC Terry Preece and PC John Shaddick from early September.

Prior to his appointment as neighbourhood beat manager, Andrew has built up a vast local knowledge of the area having previously served first as a PCSO and later as a response officer in the area.

Contact him at Trinity Road Police Station or email ssneastonandlawrencehill@avonandsomerset.police.uk Kick-about with the police Established in partnership with the Easton neighbourhood police team, Access Sport is delighted to announce the early success of „Easton Street Sportz‟ through the month of August.

Meeting every Friday at 5.30pm on Rawnsley House courts, the group of ten or so boys and girls have enjoyed an hour and a half of court football. Supported by FA qualified coaches, the early focus has been on simply turning up and having an enjoyable kick-about. As the weeks progress, the aim is to introduce some training and organise fixtures against neighbouring teams. Beyond this, there is a plan to turn the „Easton Street Sportz‟ group into a functioning football club.

If you are under 15 and fancy a game then please come along on Friday‟s from 5.30pm! If you live in the community and want to help run „Easton Street Sportz‟ then please contact Kelly on 01179 529726. Your help will be much appreciated!

Walkie Talkie Do you live in Barton Hill? Do you want to make sure your neighbourhood is safe and kept nice? Come and join the police and Housing Solutions Landlords Forum for a walkabout Barton Hill.

The group will walk around your area to identify issues, concerns and hotspots that require action.

During the walkabout all issues will be recorded and then workers will be asked to respond.

The next walkabout is on Thursday 9 December (2pm to 4pm) meeting outside the new shops on the corner of Beam Street at 1.45pm.

Celebrate safely this Diwali Avon Fire & Rescue Service is urging people to have fun, but be safe during Diwali and Bonfire Night. Taking care with candles, bonfires and fireworks could be the difference between a fun night and a tragedy. Here are our top tips: 1.Never leave candles burning unattended and keep them away from curtains and furnishings 2.Candles should be fully extinguished after use 3.Tealights should be used in a suitable container, as they can get very hot and start a fire 4.Only buy British Standard marked fireworks with BS7 114 5.Children using sparklers should wear gloves and be fully supervised 6.Keep a bucket of water nearby to extinguish bonfires if they get out of control 7.When building your bonfire make sure it is well away from trees or fencing For more advice on how to celebrate safely visit www.avonfire.gov.uk

Community safety Lets keep cutting crime Neil Burwell Community Safety officer There has been a dramatic cut by a third in the rates of burglary and robbery in Bristol during the last year. We’d like to thank local residents who have helped the agencies to reduce crime by taking care and by looking out for their neighbours and communities.

Although the number of burglaries is down, there are particular times of year where the numbers rise. In winter it can be more obvious when no one is home, and around Christmas piles of presents in the house, or car, can attract unwelcome visitors.

But there are things that you can do to reduce the temptation and opportunities for burglars. Here are some tips from Safer Bristol:       

Make sure your house looks like it is occupied when you go out. Install timers on lights, radios and TVs. Keep valuable possessions out of sight and draw curtains if you are out for a long time.

Don’t put out packaging from expensive items like computers for recycling until collection day.

Lock garden sheds and keep power tools secure and out of sight.

Don’t leave doors and windows unlocked or open at night or when you are out.

Always keep an eye out for anything suspicious. Working together with neighbours can be a strong defence against crime.

Register valuable items on the national property database www.immobilise.com for free. Immobilise helps police identify the owners of lost and stolen goods.

Pedestrians safe after 10 years of lobbying Pedestrians can finally walk safely across Avonvale Road now that works have been completed to improve pedestrian access to the new shopping area and health centre on Beam Street.

Works to the zebra pedestrian crossing across Avonvale Road and dropped kerbs at the junction follow ten years of lobbying by residents and Community at Heart to make the junction safe.

The road hump which spans the junction has also been reconstructed and the existing worn red surfacing removed.

This is the last project to be funded by New Deal for Communities.

Community news Residents favour Wellspring expansion Local people living in the area surrounding Wellspring Healthy Living Centre are in favour of it expanding to provide more services for the community.

At a the consultation event on 26 August residents were also asked about the options for where Wellspring should expand and what services they might like to see in a bigger space.

The consultation is at the very initial stages: Wellspring would need to agree a suitable site to expand onto, secure funding to buy the site (if not already owned by Wellspring) and get planning permission before building could start.

Initial ideas and options are now on display in the waiting area of Wellspring. To find out more and give your comments on the idea of expanding, and where and what new services you‟d like to see, visit Wellspring Healthy Living Centre on Beam Street, Barton Hill.

100 years of friendship Barton Hill Settlement has recently launched its new website, at www.bartonhillsettlement.org.uk where you can take a look for all the latest news of what‘s happening at the Settlement, photos of recent events and more.

As you may have heard, the Settlement is also celebrating its first 100 years next year! They are very keen to hear about your memories of the Settlement and the Barton Hill area, and have set up a Facebook group called ―Friends of Barton Hill Settlement‖. To find it, just go to the Settlement website and click on the Facebook link.

If you want to know more about Facebook, or using the internet, the Computer Room at the Settlement is a great place to start. You can be a member for just £7, and this entitles you to use the computers for a whole year, with friendly help from the Computer Room staff. Phone 955 6971 for more details.

Community at Heart Annul Report Activities of Community at Heart in 2009-2010 During the last financial period the charity and company has been downsizing and reordering itself for its new role as Easton and Lawrence Hill Neighbourhood Management, which will continue the legacy of Community at Heart as well as deliver neighbourhood management across a wider geographical area. In April 2009 Community at Heart recruited a Neighbourhood Manager, Neighbourhood Facilitator, Office and Finance Manager and a Communications Officer. Further activities have included:     

     

Celebration events held in August 2009 to mark the end of the New Deal for Communities programme.

Neighbourhood Shop continues to employ 2 shop staff until June 2011 with support from a successful consortium bid to Bristol City Council’s Migration Impact Fund Relocation to The Old Bank, owned by Community at Heart, took place in March 2010.

Netham Park playground has been completed with the help of £161,000 from Community at Heart.

Avonvale Road shops with flats above were completed in 2009 in partnership Sovereign Housing Association. In December 2009 Costcutter leased the largest of the 4 shop units, all of which will generate income to sustain the future neighbourhood management work.

Avonvale Road pedestrian crossings have been installed Endowment Fund small grants re-opened in May 2010 for residents in the former NDC area and Newtown.

Communications tools have been amended to include a quarterly magazine called Up Our Street and a new website.

Race Equality and Community Cohesion (RECCAP) working group continues to take forward actions concerning community cohesion.

Neighbourhood Partnership has been set up to give local people in Ashley, Easton and Lawrence Hill power over decision-making in certain aspects of their neighbourhood, supported by Bristol City Council and the police.

In March 2010 we recruited two people as part of the Government’s Future Jobs Fund scheme aimed at get ting young people into employment. Placements are due to end in September 2010.

For a copy of the annual accounts please contact sorrel@eastonandlawrencehill.org.uk or 3773638

Community news Resident retires after spending her entire career at same school

One of the highlights of my career has been being part of a Ann Attwood, vice principal at The City Academy, group which worked started as a newly qualified history teacher at St towards having as its George School and now looks back on a career goal a school which spanning 35 years. She experienced huge would be the envy of changes when the school became a community many in Bristol. school in 1992 and a community college in 1995.

But the biggest change came when the school We wanted to became Bristol‟s first academy in 2003. achieve this for the Ann took up the post of history teacher in 1975 after completing teacher training in Birmingham.

She decided to look at jobs in Bristol because she thought the city “looked exciting”. She worked her way up through the ranks, becoming head of humanities in 1985 and head of year in 1993. In 1999 she became assistant principal before taking up her current post as vice principle in 2005.

Her retirement will allow Ann to spend more time on her hobbies – watching rugby, gardening, theatre and reading. Her plans also include a visit to New Zealand next year where she hopes to watch her son in the rugby World Cup if he is selected to play for his country.

community so they could have a local school to be proud of.

When the academy was built it was a case of „right, we have the building now we need the results to match it‟. When the first group of students to have gone through a two-year GCSE course at the academy received their exam results, we were ecstatic - our results had gone from 17 per cent five A*-Cs to 52 per cent.

I‟ll miss the people, the challenges, the enthusiasm and just the spirit of the place.

There‟s something about this school which feels like a family which brings together lots of young people from different communities who are accepting of each other. It‟s really special. But I Ann said: “I‟m really happy to have been part of feel as though I have been at school since I was lots of exciting developments in the school and to five years old and now it‟s time for me to do have worked with people who are so something different.” inspirational.

We are the champions!

Housing Champions is a new service supporting residents in Barton Hill to access local services.

Six volunteers completed an intensive training course to become the first Housing Champions in the area. A Housing Champion will give residents a tour around Barton Hill showing them where they can access local services, facilities and places of interest. They are the welcoming face of the community and can act as a ‗buddy,‘ especially for new residents who have recently moved into the area. This is a one year pilot project supported by the Housing Solutions Landlords Forum and Barton Hill Settlement If you would like to use this service contact Maggie Reardon, Community Development Worker at Barton Hill Settlement on 955 6971 or maggier@bartonhillsettlement.org.uk

Happy and healthy Helping out our older residents Gentle ballroom and salsa dance classes Fortnightly on Mondays, 10am to 12pm, Trinity Centre, Trinity Road, Easton. Cost per session: ÂŁ3.

Refresher sessions for mature adults, starting 20 September, just turn up. Bus available for 50p each way. Call Jacqui on 304 1725 Assisted gardening scheme for older people Are you struggling to maintain your garden?

LinkAge and CSV will help older people in Easton and Lawrence Hill with garden maintenance for a small charge. They can also help you grow your own vegetables. For more information contact Kathe.jacob@guinness.org.uk or call 3041726.

Free arts and creative activities for Inner City residents Artshine is a new project that brings people together with professional artists & crafts people in GP surgeries across Inner City Bristol.

There are a wide range of free creative activities for people to try in a friendly & supportive group setting.

You do not need to have previous arts experience.

Getting involved in arts & creative activities can help improve people’s wellbeing, and maybe of particular benefit for anyone experiencing anxiety & stress, facing difficult life challenges, or feeling cut off and isolated.

Artshine is available as a wellbeing prescription from your GP with groups running at the following venues: Lawrence Hill Health Centre Wellspring Healthy Living Centre Montpelier Health Centre Ask at your GP practice for a referral to an Artshine group, or speak to your community health trainer.

For more information about Artshine, please contact

Happy and healthy Classic Tea Dance gains popularity across the area On Monday 5th July, fifty people gathered in their best dresses, smart shoes and jewels to take the dance floor at Trinity Centre. This was the third LinkAge tea dance, and our most sophisticated yet.

The live band led by Norma Daykin on sax took a stage lit by pink and red lights, the pillars of the former church were decked in ribbons and posies and coloured fabric hung in the alcoves, homespun chandeliers hung grandly from the ceiling and all was warm colour and light.

Into this space gently came lots of shadowy figures, some with walking aids, with friends, partners and relatives. One person told me it felt like walking into a glamorous hotel. People sat together at tables, ate home made cake (served by our striking Upstairs Downstairs waitress) and chatted over cups of tea from old china cups.

People danced and talked through the afternoon, but left on a real high, asking, “when is the next tea dance?”

The whole idea of this event is to indulge older people with a wonderful social experience, to create new chances to meet friends and be active dancing. Also to just have fun, and so far its working.

The next tea dance is planned for Tuesday 19th October at the Trinity Centre between 2 – 5pm. Tell your friends and family, all ages over 18yrs welcome.

Tickets £4 including transport.

NEWSFLASH! Tea dance classes began at Trinity

Centre on Monday Sept 20th. Gentle ballroom, salsa and rock ‘n’ roll. Sessions run two - weekly.

Get set up for the whole day with gentle dance sessions, aimed at older people who danced in the past but need a little refresher! Transport provided door to door Then join us at the full tea dance in October and show off your moves.

What’s your quality of life like?

Bristol City Council’s annual Quality of Life report is out now The figures for 2009 show how the different wards compare and how people feel about where they live.

This data is really useful for us when looking at what needs to be done in our neighbourhood. We have seen a lot of improvements over the past years but there is still work to do.

Lawrence Hill Ward

Here are some key statistics about our area. % of people who are happy Lawrence Hill 83% Easton 87% % of people with no qualifications Lawrence Hill 36% Easton 27% % of people satisfied with their neighbourhood Lawrence Hill 58% (lowest of all wards) Easton 72% % people who feel they belong to their neighbourhood Lawrence Hill 49% Easton 57% % people who feel they can influence decisions Lawrence Hill 27% Easton 30% % people satisfied with quality of parks and green spaces Lawrence Hill 61% Easton 74% Easton Ward

% people satisfied with the appearance of streets and public places Lawrence Hill 39% Easton 33% 64% of people in Lawrence Hill feel personal safety is a problem Only 26% of people in Lawrence Hill think people take responsibility for their children 47% of people in both Easton and Lawrence Hill are satisfied with cost and availability of housing (6th highest in city) 39% of people in Lawrence Hill are satisfied with the way the Council runs things (2nd highest in city) 87% in Easton think dog fouling is a problem 68% of people in Lawrence Hill think graffiti is a problem (highest in city) 17% people in Lawrence Hill feel they have been racially discriminated against (significantly higher than any other ward) For the full report visit www.bristol.gov.uk/qualityoflife or call the Council on 922 3306.

Our parks and green spaces Happy days for Dr Days Gullybrook Action Group has got the go ahead from the council to adopt the name Dr Days Park for the green space currently named Burton Hill Road Amenity Area.

With a friendly name in place the group want to make a friendly space for residents, including a new planter and sign above it that welcomes people to Barton Hill.

Before seeking funding they must draw up a plan to submit to the planning department.

Are you a draughtsman or designer that could lend a little of your time?

Bristol City Council has stated they are unable to fund the changes, but have agreed to re-paint the barriers and oil the benches. If you can help the group please contact Ann Seaman by email on ann_seaman@blueyonder.co.uk or call Sorrel on 3773638 to pass on a message.

Are you a winner or loser?

The recently published Area Green Space Plan and Site Allocations Consultation could change the face of your park forever. These are the key plans about how Bristol will develop in the future and how green space will be used.

If you want more money spent on your local park, or have a special patch of green space that you want to save or improve then complete an online survey or attend one of two central events.

Area Green Space Plans: www.bristol.gov.uk/agsp Site Allocations: www.bristol.gov.uk/ siteallocations Events: 6 and 7 October, 12pm to 8pm, Brunel House, St Georges Road.

Our local consultation event happened on 22 September as we go to press. We’ll get you the full update in the next issue of Up Our Street.

Flying the flag for the Netham Congratulations are in order to all the local residents and community supporters who have helped Netham Park achieve a Green Flag Award, the bench mark standard for good quality green spaces. Nearly ten years and an investment of over £2.5m has created a leisure and recreational facility for east Bristol which is second to none. The transformation of the Netham from kick about sport pitches to a park and sports hub with a Green Flag is a demonstration of the dedication, confidence and enormous effort by all who have worked and supported this project over the years. At Netham Park, Community at Heart New Deal for Communities contributed £161,000 towards the cost of the playground. Well done all and may the park long be enjoyed and cared for by the community.

A new Multi Use Games Area is planned for George Jones Park to provide a fully fenced surfaced court marked out for basketball and football just like the one at the Netham. The new area is included in the Area Green Space Plan (see opposite). It is hoped to be completed for Spring 2011. Contact Oliver Roberts, Project Officer on oliver.roberts@bristol.gov.uk or call 9222794.

Sit and play in Cotton Mill Lane Residents of Cotton Mill lane are now able to use a small gated area of green space at the top of their road to play or sit in following their signing of an agreement with Bristol City Council.

Residents cannot make long term improvements or changes to the council owned site, which can be taken back at anytime with notice, as stated in their agreement.

The long term plan being sought by Councillor Sue O‟Donnell, Sovereign Housing, Housing Solutions TMO and Easton and Lawrence Hill Neighbourhood Management is to work with residents to make this into a green space for the whole community.

To bring a little oasis for everyone who lives around Cotton Mill Lane.

Recruitment and services

Recruitment and services Working on the 2011 Census: a chance to make a difference In 2001 only 71% of people living in Easton/ Lawrence Hill area returned their census information which may have resulted in less resources for local communities. We would like to encourage local people to get involved in helping people in the Easton and Lawrence Hill area to have confidence in the importance of the census and to complete their forms in 2011 so the local area can receive the resources it needs for the next 10 years.

Census day is on the 27th March 2011 and to ensure its smooth running, the Office for national Statistics has employed Capita to fill some 35 000 temporary jobs across England and Wales. The Director of Census Recruitment comments; "Census jobs offer people a unique chance to get involved in a national project that has the potential to deliver real benefits to them and their local community. Roles will be full and part time, for a few weeks or several months, so there really is something for everyone".

Co-ordinators recruitment starts on 20th September 2010 Special enumerators from 4 October 2010 Census collectors from 1 November 2010 For more information about census roles visit www.censusjobs.co.uk National Office for Statistics

Adopt your cycle path Are you tired of graffiti and vandalism on your stretch of the cycle path?

Would you like to make the cycle path a safe and clean place for everyone to enjoy?

Could you adopt a small section of the path to take care of?

Groups are being invited to adopt a small section of the Bristol to Bath cycle path to keep an eye on by Avon and Somerset Police and Bristol City Council.

Your group will report graffiti and vandalism, encourage usage of the path, and organise events such as vegetation clearances, nature surveys and litter picks. Ongoing assistance and guidance will be given.

Each group’s representative is invited to attend a training day at Easton Community Centre on Thursday 4 November. Lunch is provided.

Contact Nick Hughes on 9529745 or email nick.hughes@avonandsomerset.police.uk

Fridge favourites

Cut out and keep useful numbers Bristol City Council Customer Service Centre 0117 9222000 Open Monday to Friday 8.30am to 8pm Use the above number to report any issue you may have apart from issues listed below.

Council complaints 9222000 Drug and sex litter/graffiti 9222100 Noise pollution 9222500 Pest control 9222500 Parking services 9222198 Roadwork safety issues 9224383 Out of ours emergencies only 9222050

Other useful numbers: Abandoned / burnt out vehicles 9455419 Bus shelters maintenance 0800 7313699 Dog warden 9776004 Emmaus (free furniture collections) 9540886 Police Community Support Officers 0845 4567000 Sofa Project (furniture collection) 9543567 SPACE Trust (furniture collections) 9075355 Traffic light faults 0800 854229 Untaxed vehicles DVLA 0800 0325202

Thanks to those of you who responded to our letters about receiving the newsletter despite having no junk mail stickers. We had a really positive response and are pleased so many of you enjoy reading the newsletter.

Your new team members at Easton and Lawrence Hill Neighbourhood Management

Contact us WANT US TO TEXT YOU? SEND US A TEXT ON 07903089002 Easton and Lawrence Hill Neighbourhood Management Team Neighbourhood Management Shop Mandy and Mubarig - 0117 353 2020 mandy@eastonandlawrencehill.org.uk mubarig@eastonandlawrencehill.org.uk

Tracy Parsons Office and Finance Manager 0117 903 9975 officemanager@eastonandlawrencehill.org.uk

François Jensen

Sorrel Parsons

If for any reason you have trouble reading this newsletter come and see us at The Old Bank or call 0117 377 3638.

Disclaimer: The opinions and information contained in this publication are those of the contributors and not necessarily those of Easton and Lawrence Hill Neighbourhood Management.

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Francois Jensen Neighbourhood Facilitator 0117 377 3640 francois@eastonandlawrencehill.org.uk Sorrel Parsons Communications Officer 0117 377 3638 sorrel@eastonandlawrencehill.org.uk Penny Germon Neighbourhood Manager 0117 903 9879 penny@eastonandlawrencehill.org.uk

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