BCS Newsletter Autumn 2010

13

NewsletterNewsletterAn independent force

for a better Bristol

Autumn 2010

insi

de r e g u l a r s36

New members13Diary Dates15Who’s who16

Environmental Awards 2010The Awards will be announced on 16 November.

The Visit to Hanham Court GardensSociety members had a great day out.

e are delighted to welcome Sarah Masters as the winner of the Civic

Society’s Student Award for 2010. We offer her our congratulations and our very

best wishes for her future career. The award is given for an outstanding piece of work by a final

year degree student at the University of the West of England. We have forged close links with their

innovative Architecture and Planning Course and each year it is a pleasure to see the excellent

work produced by the students. This year their brief was based on Gloucester, with the students

expressing many and varied ideas as to how to enhance the experience of the city and to provide

links between the various quarters from the Cathedral to the Docks. Of the work on display Sarah

had a very credible combination of Plans, Artefact (i.e., a full building model which included

context) and Design and Access Statement, together with a subject – Gloucester Docks – which we

thought would read well in Bristol. We were delighted to find that after committing our vote

without having met her, Sarah was then able to do a very credible “Viva”, walking us through her

model as she disassembled it down to ground level. Her design statement explains the thinking

behind her project.

Stephen Wickham, Chairman

W

14John Hirst: Bristol HarboursideMaking a world-class destination.

Student Award 2010: Sarah Masters

Sarah Masters (right) with WendyPollard of BCS.

Sarah describes her project on page 8 and 9.

The 2010 AGMMinutes form the 2010 AGM.

Bristol Civic Society

A new group, the Public Spaces Group, is now successfully upand running. It fills a gap – because the spaces betweenbuildings are just as important as the buildings themselves.

Its remit is broad, but it will aim to focus on one or two things only at atime. It will aim to be proactive and do tangible things – to make a realdifference. It is more likely to look at central areas, because they are ofgeneral interest and less likely to be covered by local groups. But otherareas are not ruled out. New members are always welcome.

A first initiative is for the ‘bear-pit’ at St James Barton roundabout.Henry Shaftoe, who presented at a society event last March on publicspaces, is leading on this. He has convened a group of interested parties,and has obtained a first funding grant, with the aim for something quickand temporary initially, to get more activity without too much cost ofphysical installation.

The launch of the group has coincided with a flood of councildocuments to respond to: a ‘table and chairs’ licensing scheme, AreaGreen Space Plans, development management policies, pedestrianstrategy.

Alan Morris (initial chair)

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Bristol Civic SocietyAutumn 2010

Public Spaces Group

…public spaces encompass not only ‘green’ places

but also our pavements…

PUBLIC SPACES GROUPTables andchairsIn July, the council invitedcomments on a proposedscheme for licensing theplacing of tables andchairs on the streets ofBristol.The Council proposal wouldinvolve businesses submittingdetailed drawings to obtainplanning and licensingpermission – regardless of thenumber of tables and chairsor how often they are placedon the pavement. The CivicSociety expressed its concernthat a prescriptive regime likethis would be costly for bothsmall businesses and thecouncil, without materiallyimproving our Public Spaces.To ensure the needs of allgroups are addressed, wesuggested a framework ofguidelines, which could bemonitored by the localcommunity and enforced byCouncil Officers.

Welcome back after the summerholidays! It’s been a long gap since our

last Newsletter, and many readers have

been wondering: has the Newsletter

disappeared? Not by any means! But

Newsletters cost money, which was why

we have dropped to three a year. If we

could revert to four annually I would do so

at the drop of a hat. We are very much

keeping this under review.

I am however delighted to say that this

year’s subscription increase does appear to

have turned the Society’s finances in the

right direction, and I am no longer fearing

to preside over the economic demise of an

active Society which has for over a century

now been seeking to promote a better

Bristol. We greatly regret theperhaps

inevitable loss of a small minority of our

old friends. But if each of you still aboard

could introduce just one new member

each it would make a fantastic difference

to our future activities and prospects.

Although construction seems to be

suffering a recession in the city, some

developers are trying to renew extant

permissions or come up with new projects,

not all of them improvements on previous

ideas! We really need to take all large

proposals as seriously as we have always

done. Poor existing-permissions have been

known to plague Bristol in the past.

The amount of work in which our

working groups are involved is truly

daunting, which is why our teams of

volunteers are so important. They are

actually up in number, and now include a

fledgling Open Spaces Group in full swing.

The Society is in good heart.

I hope you enjoy the Newsletter.

FROM THE CHAIR…by Stephen Wickham

3

www.bristolcivicsociety.org.uk

nother exciting yearwith more candidates

put forward than we expected.Since 2008 the world of buildingand development has been hit bythe recession and general lack ofconfidence of course. However‘the public’, members and somearchitects have looked all overBristol, searching out greatexamples of recent buildings withan eye to the built environmentand our team have picked 5exciting and varied buildings andtwo ‘specials’, Arnos ValeCemetery and an exciting socialexperiment in Gloucester Road,Hamilton House. The rest are allnew builds and highlycommended. One of our winnershas kindly agreed to host thewinning owners and their‘partners’ at our Annual Awards

3


A

ceremony on November 16 at11.00am and this will be in theFoyer of the Colston Hall on thetop floor. Keith Warmington, ourdynamic and knowledgeableRadio Bristol interviewer, willinvite comments on theirbuildings from the winners.Keith’s perceptive questionsalways make the winners and the

BCS Environmental Awards 2010Ceremony: 11am, 16 November 2010

Location: Colston Hall Foyer

audience think hard about whatmakes good urban design in ourcity, encouraging us to lookaround with a more critical eye.We will project lots of pictures ofall the winning sites up on ascreen, and the Evening Post willas usual cover the story. Amongthe guests of course will be ourtreasured sponsor Bristol Water,without whom we could noteasily afford the well-knownelegant blue oval plaques andcertificates awarded to thewinners! Bristol Civic SocietyMembers are very welcome tocome to the ceremony, but pleasemake sure you ask me first asnumbers are limited.

Charles Fox

The ceremony will be held at

11am on 16 November in the

Foyer of the Colston Hall.

Limited Numbers: contact

Charles Fox for details.

Another seven winners

4

September 2009 Bristol Civic Society

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‘…Building 4: the last residential site on the harbourside, facing SSGreat Britain, next to the old Purifier House.…’

� The Ashton Gate proposal.

Image from Bristol City Council Planning portal (image © Stride Treglown).

Progress reports on these

and other key developments will

appear in future Newsletters.

5


� Harbourside and Building 4It was an excellent plan to

redevelop Canon’s Marsh. But the

masterplan lost out in the planning

process. The architectural quality

deteriorates the further you walk

from @Bristol. The message for the

Society is that ‘It requires continuous

attention from start and finish to

influence development’. Apartments,

Cathedral and Offices?; What do you

think?

This year a developer applied for

detailed planning permission to

create Building 4, the last residential

site on the Harbourside. Its

prominent position fronts the

harbour, facing the SS Great Britain,

and is next to the old Purifier House.

The Society told the planners that

the plan was unimpressive and

inadequate for its context, failing to

translate the masterplan’s vision of

landscape quality: an opinion shared

by the Bristol Urban Design Forum

and the Conservation Advisory Panel.

The designers have submitted a

revised plan, which the MSG has yet

to see.

� Bristol City Football Groundat Ashton Gate (three Sites:New stadium; Newsuperstore; Old supermarket)

Tesco applied to build a superstore

on the existing Stadium. The Society

responded that another large retail

shed surrounded by a sea of car

parks was unimaginative. Following

Tesco’s withdrawal, Sainsbury’s

applied for planning permission.

Their proposal offered a store on

pillars, to allow underneath car

parking and, in a separate

application approved to demolish

their existing store site on

Winterstoke Road, some residential

development, plus a mixed-use

development. The Society supported

local residents and traders whose

arguments included the harm that

another superstore would do to

Bedminster’s ‘at risks’ retail areas.

Sainsbury’s responded that their

scheme would be ‘enabling

development’ for the new Stadium

application, a fact that Bristol

Planning Committee had to take into

account. The City Planning Officers

recommended acceptance to the

Committee, but by a majority, it

decided as follows: ‘The proposed

development would be an

unsustainable form of development

by virtue of the scale of additional

retail floorspace proposed in an out-

of-centre location. Due to its scale

and location, the development

would result in an unacceptable

increase in traffic on the highway

network, would increase the need to

travel and would reinforce car

dependency’. Sainsbury’s have not

yet said whether they will appeal this

decision. In a new development at

the moment of going to press (20

September), an independent

Planning Inspector has upheld an

appeal from local residents to

consider the Proposed Stadium site a

Town Green, which would invalidate

any planning at all.

� Bristol City Centre RapidTransport Scheme Line 2(BRT2): Ashton Vale to TempleMeads

The Society supports rapid

transport to improve Bristol’s public

transport. However, the present rules

of the Department for Transport

make a bus scheme the only financial

choice. The Society warned the

Transport and Works Act

consultation about the scheme’s

high cost and potential

environmental damage to the Docks

Conservation area. The construction

of a light rail scheme, proposed by

the Bristol Local Transport Plan in July

2000, would cause fewer difficulties.

The Society’s concerns include the

adaptation of Ashton Avenue River

Bridge and the Vauxhall Bridge to

allow the passage of double-deck

buses, and structural alterations to

the Prince Street Bridge. There would

also be substantial alterations to

retaining walls and railings over a

long distance beside Cumberland

Road and on Harbourside. The future

of the scheme depends on the

Government’s capital spending

review in October.

� Potential integrated publictransport interchange atTemple Meads

Unlike Bath and Cardiff, where bus

and train stations are side by side, a

mile separates Temple Meads from

Marlborough Street country buses,

while the Centre for local traffic is

also distant. But there is space for an

integrated hub on ‘Plot 6’, next to

Temple Meads. Both the Council and

the Society support this hub; the

land owners are keen to talk, as are

the bus and rail operators. A traffic

survey has shown that traffic lights

could control the Temple Way road

junctions, and also the Redcliffe Way

and Redcliffe Hill junction. The

roundabout’s removal would release

land for development. The setting for

St Mary Redcliffe would approve

dramatically. There is no immediate

prospect of change, but the Society

will continue to take a strong

interest.

John Frenkel

The Major Sites Group: an update

ground and a labour of love’, an

apt summary. The excellent tea

shop gave us a chance to mingle

also with our linked societies, the

Bishopston Society and the Bath

Preservation Trust, whom we

hope to see again at future

events.

Danae O’Regan

took us through the ‘Inigo Jones

door’, to the woodland area with

its natural pool, past the

stumpery with its fountain and

tree fern collection and on to the

latest venture, an elegant

experimental vegetable garden.

The brochure calls the garden ‘a

design laboratory, a testing

ifteen minutes fromthe centre of Bristol

and down a country lane, you

find yourself in front of the gem

that is Hanham Court. On June

20th, a gloriously sunny morning,

Civic Society members joined

those from the Avon Gardens

Trust to tour the gardens created

by Julian and Isabel Bannerman,

both renowned landscape

gardeners. The house (opened

specially for us) is built on the site

of a monastic settlement,

spanning seven centuries, and a

13th-century church is attached

to its east wall. But when the

Bannermans took it over in1993,

it was in serious disrepair, the

roof caved in and the garden a

wilderness of Leylandii and scrub.

The vast challenge it presented

has been met; the house glows in

the sunshine and the gardens,

though less than 20 years old,

draw visitors from far and wide.

The tour began in the formal

garden, established with some

difficulty on a rock bastion,

where the lawns sweep away

from the house towards the Avon

valley. We caught the last of the

peonies, but it was the profusion

of traditional scented roses,

foxgloves and alium that really

took the eye. In the obelisk

garden, also with fine views , we

appreciated Julian’s passion for

green oak, in the wooden

balustrades, benches and arches,

a design feature of which Julian is

very proud. This is a showcase for

landscaping ideas. Next year, they

will build a temple on the hill

overlooking the garden: of green

oak, of course. Another path

Hanham Court Gardens

F

6

Autumn 2010 Bristol Civic Society

The house and garden from the hill (top); the last of the Peonies (left); Waiting at the gate to go in. BCS Members with those from Avon Garden Trust (above); The Inigo Jones Oak door and gateway (opposite page).

‘…The brochure calls the garden ‘a design laboratory, a testing ground and a labour of love’, an apt summary.…’

7


8


On 12 June, a group of BCSmembers was treated to a tourof the Architecture and PlanningDepartment degree show byProfessor Richard Parnaby,(above), who played a major role in

setting up the Dept in 1996. The

setting for most of the show was a

large airy atrium in a purpose-

designed building on Frenchay

campus whose automatic system

ventilates the building naturally and

which also has a high level of eco-

friendly straw bale insulation.

We saw a wide range of student

work, ranging from exquisite tiny

models to drawings several square

metres in size.

First-year work included the

modelling of construction techniques

at half-size before moving on to

designing housing projects for Bristol.

2nd-year students had designed a

cultural or civic building, while 3rd

–years had been allocated an area of

Easton into which they had to create

a small ‘intervention’ based on their

subjective experience of the area.

4th-years had developed projects for

urban Gloucester and the finalists

had explored materials and surfaces

in such projects as highly tactile 3D

resin tiles. In other projects Ashton

Gate Stadium had become a self-

sufficient eco-village (!), and the

Harbourside had acquired a new

bridge.

It was fascinating to see the results

of architecture, planning, engineering

and environmental science combined

in this interdisciplinary way –

something to which Prof Parnaby was

committed at the outset.

The Department is booming with

student demand for courses, and a

new extension will open in August, to

double the size of the present

building. We were most grateful to

Professor Parnaby for showing us

around a part of Bristol that is doing

very well indeed!

Jeff Lucas

Visit to UWE Architecture& Planning Degree Show

Sarah writes: The Market Kitchen was designed to transform the existing docks

environment and express a true character of Gloucester. The area has been recently

redeveloped providing a range of public spaces whilst connecting the City and the new

Merchants Quay shopping centre. A key aim for the project was to provide a relevant

attraction into the area that encouraged local residents and visitors to use the dock’s

space, re-creating the hustle and bustle the working dock would have had, with a 21st

century solution.

The double height space on the ground floor facing out onto the main docks basin

aims to welcome visitors, traders and produce in with vertical timber shuttering system

folding up and merging the threshold with the docks edge and boat trade. The formal

entrance on the main street which is currently a main through route for the docks area

has been designed to encourage an active ground floor with four retail units and formal

entrance leading to the restaurant overlooking the docks and market activity below.

The Market/Kitchen has two aspects – the

first creates opportunity for local residents by

providing the facility to learn new skills either

in the community market, kitchen, or

greenhouse facilities that aim to teach visitors

how to grow and cook their own food. These

are transferable skills that can be applied at

home, and the market provides a space

where local produce can be traded. The

second aspect implements these skills in a

series of commercially viable business

attractions. The aim will be to attract visitors

to the docks with a range of local produce

shops and a high quality restaurant , this will

ensure the scheme will be financially self-

supporting and therefore sustained within

the local community. �


Sarah Masters Design Statement

STUDENT AWARDS: 2010

A range of illustrations from Sarah Masters’project for Gloucester, including the Site Plan(above) and her model (below and left).

10


Civic Voice: your national voiceCivic Voice is the new national

body for civic societies, which cameinto being in April this year.

To quote the Civic Voice website: “Civic Voice is asmall light-footed organisation. As a national voice with

a strong local presence we make a difference where itmatters. You will find us lobbying in Whitehall andWestminster, campaigning with local volunteers, speakingout in the media, undertaking research, buildingpartnerships and promoting civic pride. We support localgroups and help them work together. We organise anational convention for the civic movement and give localgroups a national voice. We combine community actionwith sense of place for the benefit of everyone. We talkcivic sense.”

Take a recent example of how Civic Voice can givenational expression to the work of civic societies. InAugust, the Government announced a crackdown onstreet clutter, including support for Civic Voice’s StreetPride campaign as the way local communities can take

action. The announcement attracted significant nationalmedia coverage. Street Pride is focused on the four mostwidespread sources of street clutter: bollards, signs, posts(including lampposts and traffic lights), and guard rails.Street Pride builds on the excellent initiatives alreadyundertaken by a number of civic societies.

An initiative to watch out for next year is a national CivicDay. Civic Day is when civic societies across England willinvite people to celebrate their area and discover moreabout where they live. A diverse program of events andactivities showcasing civic society activity is being planned,focused on Saturday 25 June 2011 as the first Civic Day. �

University and Literary Club,

20 Berkeley SquareThis is an application to alter a Grade II* listedbuilding to provide space for members to smoke.It involves an extension to the rear, over a flatroof, with a window being altered to obtainaccess. We do not believe a listed buildingshould be changed in this way for this purpose.

University of Bristol Union, Queens RoadThe University wishes to make changes to theUnion without any demolition. They have aproblem with access to the swimming pool(which is to be retained) from the ladies changingrooms, which are one floor up. They thereforepropose to build an extension on the QueensRoad aspect, on what is now green space, toalleviate this problem. Otherwise the building willremain essentially the same as it is now but willbe given a facelift. The Society has been involvedwith discussions as the scheme has evolved andis happy with the application now put forward.

Former Pro-Cathedral, Park PlaceThis building, which has been redundant as acathedral for many years, has permission forresidential use. This has proved difficult tofinance so there are now proposals to changethis permission to one providing 239 studentbed-spaces and one house, with office space inthe narthex. The university is very supportive ofthis, as you might expect bearing in mind thelocation. The Society has again been involved

with the planning process and we have noobjections to what is proposed.

Bristol Marina, Hanover PlaceThese changes at the marina include an extensionto the office; the demolition of the toilet blockand its replacement with a cafe; and theconstruction of a single-storey steel boatshed.These proposals seem to us to be entirelyappropriate.

The Bell Hotel, Bell Hill, StapletonThis is a fairly large public house oppositeColstons School and it has been struggling forsome time. While we are always reluctant to seethe demise of a pub, if it does not pay its way itis likely that another use will be found for it, inthis case a change to residential

The Friendship Inn, KnowleThis is another public house for which a new useis being found, this time by Tesco. The Societylooked at this pub and found it very attractivewith a large, neglected garden. We applied tohave it listed but were unsuccessful. Tesco havenow applied for permission to alter the groundfloor to enable them to change the use to asupermarket.

The Alphabet Zoo, Winterstoke Road

(former ABC cinema)This is another building with an existingpermission for conversion to 24 flats. This is notnow, apparently, viable and there is an outline

application to demolish it and rebuild as a 120-room travel hotel. The Society has no objection tothe proposed use but has commented that it istoo high as presented. We have no furtherinformation as yet.

2-16 Clifton Down RoadThis is another site with a longish history. It is theblock of buildings off Boyces Avenue with its rearfacing on to Kings Road and with WH Smith’s onthe corner. Several public consultations wereheld, including with the Civic Society. Wecommented that we did not see the need for afeature clock tower, although this seems to havefound favour with others, and that we found thedesign acceptable if rather bland. The applicationwas approved by the planners in July.

A feature of the planning register recently hasbeen the number of applications for renewal ofpermissions granted several years back, anotable case being MacArthurs Warehouse.Where circumstances have changed there maybe a case to review these but generally thepermission will stand. There also seems to beno end to the number of communication mastswe need – everyone has a moblie phone thesedays!!These are some of the more significant or interestingapplications considered by the Planning ApplicationsGroup since the last edition of the Newsletter, andinclude applications not written on and those aboutwhich we have commented.

PLANNING APPLICATIONSGordon Tucker highlights some of the more important or interesting recent applications

Civic Voice National Convention and AGMDate: 8/9 October 2010

Location: Great Northern Hotel, Peterborough.

Registration: Fee £20. Limited places.

In addition to the business sessions, a series of guided talks andtours around Peterborough are being planned, as well as a visit toStanford. Anyone interested should contact Alan Morris.

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Wessex Muster – June 5th 2010Bristol Civic Society hosted a ‘Wessex Muster’ on Saturday June 5th.

This was the second meeting of the ‘Wessex’, ie inner south-west, cluster of civic

societies – an area ranging from Tewkesbury in the north to Bournemouth in the

south. Members from civic societies such as Stroud, Bath, Cheltenham, Swindon

mingled and shared experiences. The meeting was held in St Thomas’s church in

Redcliffe, courtesy of the Churches Conservation Trust, which looks after this and

300+ other churches across the country – see http://www.visitchurches.org.uk.

Alan Morris, Vice Chair, gave a presentation on Bristol Civic Society – past and

present – and our chair Stephen Wickham led a guided walk round Welsh Back

and Redcliffe at the end of the session. We learned about the Churches

Conservation Trust from Peter Lankester, its south-west director. We debated how

to attract younger people.

Amongst those present were Ian Harvey of Civic Voice, the new national

association of civic societies – see http://www.civicvoice.org.uk – and Paul Myers

of Midsomer Norton Society and a trustee of Civic Voice. Paul Myers spoke of

Civic Voice plans for an annual Civic Day, an opportunity for civic societies to

celebrate their own local area and to publicise their own role.Alan Morris

Festival of NatureBristol Civic Society took a stand at the Bristol Festival of Nature over

the weekend of June 12/13th. The sun shone and brought out the crowds to the

public spaces around Millennium Square in Harbourside where the festival is

held. We took our place in the Green Forum tent alongside other Bristol

environmental organisations, ranging from the Schumacher Institute to the

Bristol Parks Forum. We chatted to passers-by, and spread the word about what

we do. The annual festival is a joint venture between a number of bodies,

including the BBC, Bristol City Council, the Environment Agency, Natural England,

the University of Bristol, and the University of the West of England, all of whom

were present at the festival. �

We are most grateful to all of you who

replied to our questionnaire. This is the

only way we can get some idea of

what you really want the Society to be.

Why did members join? Three

different reasons: Interest in Bristol’s

heritage: 68%; Interest in improving

Bristol’s built environment and transport:

63%; Care for Bristol and desire to

support BCS’s work: 53% (several replies

ticked more than one category.) What

seems particularly significant here is that

there appears to be a close-to-equal vote

for the two broad categories of Heritage

and Planning (with a slight majority in

favour of the former). Conclusion: the

Society (and the Newsletter) need to

respond actively to both of these areas.

Members’ Survey:how you responded

interest in Bristol’s heritage: 68%

improving Bristol’s environment: 63%

care for Bristol and support BCS: 53%

SOME STATISTICS: why did members join

Readership: Both the Newsletter and e-

bulletin: 48 %; Newsletter only: 37%; e-

bulletin only: 15 %. Conclusion: Both are

needed at present. (Use of the website

did not figure in the list of choices; that

will certainly grow in importance.)

Participation in informal talks/

training sessions: Current

developments in Bristol: 80%;

Architectural topics: 53%; Planning

process: 50%; Heritage: 50%.

A clear winner for current developments;

but that overlaps with other categories.

We note an equal concern for

Architecture, Planning and Heritage. Our

programme of events for the next six

months has already been informed by

this, and will continue to be so.

A sizable number of members have

offered to help in various ways: thank

you. We believe we have followed up on

all offers; but do contact Alan Morris if

you haven’t heard back. �

12


Peak Oil. What is ‘Peak Oil’?

This is a valuable introduction to the

complexities of environmental planning

and will doubtless be understood by

well-informed officers and Councillors.

But it may well be difficult for local

communities to visualise what high-

density, mixed-use planning might

actually look like. Illustrations of

particular examples are a neglected

necessity.

In 2002 Bristol’s LA21 Land Use Group

and the Civic Society produced 14 fully-

illustrated reports of effective sustainable

developments in England and Scotland.

With financial support from the City and

the Regional Development Agency, about

4000 copies were supplied. The diversity

of the sustainable solutions was and

remains impressive. Since then, the St

Peter’s Court development in Bedminster

is an outstanding example of preparation

for Peak Oil, with flats and diverse

facilities around internal courts..

Executive Summary (p.5) touches on

fundamental land-use principles which

Bristol Civic Society and the Land 21

Land Use Group have been promoting

since 2000. Peak Oil confirms that

‘options lie in the number and distances

of journeys made. This means

employment and services being closer to

where people live’. But it is important to

understand that Government has sought

to extend the distance of commuter

journeys by requiring house building

beyond the City boundaries. This would

create ‘urban sprawl’, which has been

successfully resisted since World War II.

‘Investments in bus and rail services

and other forms of mass travel are

needed as well…. Abundant fuel has led

to making economic sense to have

people travel to jobs, schools and health

care, rather than have these within

walking distance of homes… A

prolonged fuel emergency could lead to

shortages and result in instances of civil

disobedience’ .There are many of these

simplistic conclusions, but very little on

where and how ‘mixed use’ is needed.

Fortunately, much research has been

carried out at the Create Centre clarifying

the distinctive characteristics of Bristol’s

wards. Many, for instance, have low-

density peripheral estates which cannot

support local employment, health care,

shopping, education, outdoor and

indoor recreation. Wards with the worst

deprivation generate as much as 80% of

their daily commuting by car, whilst

some of the wards around the Centre

have reduced car commuting, and

therefore fuel consumption, to c.40%.

Over the last year or two the Planning

Department has organised much

purposeful public consultation; and the

results that have emerged are a real

challenge to implement policy

suggestions in line with Peak Oil.

There is much valuable research in Peak

Oil, but complex interaction of mixed-use

facilities, strategic public transport and

distinctive local quality must be vital

components of sustainability. Yet this has

been constantly rejected by private

interests.

“The joint Local Authorities of Bristol

and the surrounding counties have

agreed that brown-field sites should be

brought into development before green

belt sites. However, as green-belt sites

are more desirable to developers’

pressure to meet housing targets, this

could lead to this agreement being

waived”. This discreet recognition that all

research, however critical, can be swept

aside in the interests of volume house

builders is a major challenge.

The discredited government case

(before the Election) for building houses

in the Green Belt is not supported by

research:

• The benefits of higher-density

alternatives in deprived wards are

not examined by local residents.

• High density does not mean high-

rise.

• Low density cannot support ‘mixed-

use’. (consider visits to Bedminster,

Clifton, Cabot, Cotham, St

Augustine’s Reach, and St Paul’s

resistance to a tower block proposal)

• The Civic Society is successfully

involved in assisting communities in

our deprived peripheral estates to

support alternatives to car

commuting and much else besides.

Government officers, banks and

developers have often been dominated

by self-interest. This must not continue.

Peak Oil expands our knowledge of what

needs to be done. ‘This is not the

beginning of the end, but the end of the

beginning’ (Winston Churchill).

Jerry Hicks, MBE

The 104-page document commissioned by the City tells us that it

‘describes the point at which the amount of oil produced globally in a single year

reaches its absolute maximum. From this point onwards oil will still be provided –

but at a lesser volume. After “peaking”, oil production will ultimately go into

decline […] Alternative funds to petrol or diesel irrespective of cost, simply do

not exist on the scale currently required for normal functioning of the city’.

The document is a search for long-term solutions to a global problem.

BY CAR: 30%in Clifton East & Cabot

70%in Lockleaze & Kingsweston

WALKING:>10%

in Kingsweston, Eastville and Stockwood

‘Our future as a countrydepends much more on

our ability to plan aheadfor the next oil shock and

the post-oil world’ Vince Cable, MP

SOME STATISTICS: how we go to work

13


HOTWELLS &CLIFTONWOOD CA

The society warmly welcomes the following new members:

NEW MEMBERS

‘TOP TEN’ COMPETITIONThe Redcliffe Press will shortly be publishing abook entitled ‘Bristol’s 100 Best Buildings’,edited by Mike Jenner with photographs byStephen Morris. A review flyer can be found inthis issue of the magazine.

We are proposing to hold a competition aroundthis subject, details as yet undecided, but alongthe lines of ’What are your Top Ten Buildings?’Watch this space!

Softback; Full colour; £16.95ISBN: 978-1-906593-61-1FURTHER INFO: John Sansom, 0117 973 7207,E-MAIL: [email protected]

Minutes of the Annual General Meetingheld at the Friends’ Meeting House,Hampton Road, Bristol BS6, on Thursday22 April 2010 at 7.30pm.1. Apologies for absenceThese were received from Jenny Beckingsale, Jill

Brown, Dave Cave, Charles Fox, Stephen

Macfarlane and Annette Walker.

2. Minutes of the AGM held on 22 April2009These were approved as a correct record

(provisionally approved by the Executive

Committee on 9 September 2009).

3. Matters arisingThere were none.

4. Annual Report and AccountThe Chairman introduced the Report. He said

that two new Working Groups had been set up

during the year and that the Development Event

on Bristol’s progress had been very successfully

held at The Pavilion, Harbourside. He mentioned

Civic Voice, the successor organisation to the

Civic Trust. A quarter of a million members of

amenity organisations were represented. Derek

Warwick commented on the use of initials

instead of proper titles in places in the Annual

Report; the Chairman accepted that more

attention should be paid to this.

A member queried the limited number of

Patrons. The Chairman said that the Executive

Committee had wrestled with this but had come

to the conclusion that no change should be

made.

The Hon Treasurer spoke to the Accounts to

December 2009. He noted that there were some

one-off items of income, e.g., bequests. The

reserves were healthy but we needed to exercise

care. He also noted that, on the expenditure

side, we had provisionally reduced the number

of Newsletters from four to three.

5. Election of Patrons, for a one-year termThe Chairman said that the Executive Committee

had nominated, as in the previous year: the Lord

Mayor of Bristol; the Bishop of Bristol; the Bishop

of Clifton; the Master of the Society of Merchant

Venturers; the Vice-Chancellor of the University

of Bristol; the Vice-Chancellor of the University of

the West of England; and the Dean of Bristol

Cathedral. Pat Roberts felt that there should be a

lady amongst the Patrons. André Coutanche also

expressed some concern.

The Chairman put the names to the vote. There

were 24 in favour, 7 against and 7 abstentions.

Haydn Mason felt that we should revisit the

matter during the year.

6. Election of Officers, for a one-year termThe Executive Committee had nominated the

following:

Chairman Stephen WickhamVice-Chairman Alan MorrisHon Secretary [Vacant]Hon Treasurer John JonesHon Membership & Subscriptions Secretary

Maureen PitmanHon Legal Adviser Christian Silk

John Frenkel seconded these names.

The meeting approved.

Jerry Hicks wished to express thanks for the work

that the Officers had put in during the year.

A gift of appreciation was made for the services

of the retiring Hon Secretary, Gordon Tucker.

7. Appointment of Hon AuditorThe Executive Committee had nominated Richard

Pendlebury, MBE. This was seconded by Audrey

Lennox. The meeting approved.

8. Election of Members of the ExecutiveCommittee (for a three-year term)John Frenkel, Edwin Hill, Audrey Lennox and

Wendy Pollard retired at this meeting but were

eligible for re-election. Wendy Pollard did not

wish to continue. Colin Jefferson wished to

retire. There were six vacancies.

Anne Dyke, John Frenkel, Edwin Hill, Audrey

Lennox, Jeff Lucas and Gordon Tucker had been

duly nominated and seconded by the

membership. The meeting approved their

election.

9. Any other businessThe Chairman said that he wished to express his

thanks to Charles Fox, who was standing down

as Events Organiser. He wished also to thank

Danae O’Regan, who had played a significant

part in organising Events and Meetings. Janine

Derry had also been very helpful as our Press

Officer during the last year.

10. The Chairman then introduced the speaker

for the evening, Mr Bob Mizon, Co-ordinator for

the British Astronomical Association’s Campaign

for Dark Skies.

These Minutes were provisionally approved bythe Executive Committee on 12 May 2010.

2010 AGM minutesAGM

It is a pleasure to pay tribute to yetanother of Bristol’s Newsletters. This onehas been going since at least the mid-70s,probably from the time when the campaign tosave Hope Chapel was fought. Sue Stopsproduced a black and white A5 paper for manyyears which went out three times a year with theHope Centre programme. She was succeeded byRay Smith in 2002. He expanded the format toA4 and then upgraded it to colour in 2005,which won him two prizes for Best Column andBest Photo in the Bristol Community NewsletterAwards in 2006. Ray Smith writes: “Now I’mretired and have a bit more time, I’m trying tomaintain four editions a year. We are actuallymore or less self-funding from the advertisingrevenue but of course I get tremendous helpfrom Rosemary Stibbon, who chases all theadvertising, and from various other people whosend in material. The current edition, forexample, has a centre-page feature on plasticrecycling, which was entirely produced byanother group without any input from me. Wealso have an invaluable network of fifty or sovolunteer deliverers, so that costs us nothing. Ifyou go to www.hotwellscliftonwood.org.uk/newsletters you can download some earlyback numbers”.

Great work, Ray! Always a joy to read, and veryuseful personally for the kind of topics you comeup with.

• Ms J A Bloor• Mr Chris Bloor• Ms J Hasse• Mr K F L Jones• Ms J A Stables• Ms Laura Sutherland

Bristol Civic Society

14


John Hirst: Making BristolHarbourside a world-classdestinationOn 7 September, the Society hosted a meeting at the Pavilion tohear John Hirst, Operations Director for Destination Bristol(ODDB), speak on this ambitious programme.

John, Broadmead Manager (1995-2008) began with a reminder of

Broadmead’s unhappy situation in 1995. John Lewis had moved to Cribbs

Causeway, the shopping centre was dull, with rising crime and litter everywhere,

while the building of Cabot Circus was a constant noise in the background. His

answer was to create a BID (Business Improvement District) with local businesses

in partnership. This raised over £7m, which paid for new seating and paving,

plus street cleaning, so that streets are now ‘deep cleaned’ each night with

water jets, removal of chewing gum from the paving and graffiti. This citizen-

friendly environment will provide an opportunity for public events to rival Covent

Garden.

A second BID is underway, with partners he hopes to have signed up by May

2011. In 2008 John took on as ODDB, heading a public-private partnership for

Bristol and South Gloucestershire comprising over 600 major businesses and

many local organisations, its aim to make the region a world-class place to work

and live. The money raised has transformed Broadmead, with Cabot Circus now

providing a top-class shopping area. In addition, work is going forward on the

Harbourside to produce a new BID for that area. There is a need for ambiance-

enhancing architecture, decent restaurants and quality light, to create the delight

that is found in such canals as Amsterdam, Brugges and Ghent, for example.

John has a huge challenge: for instance, there is poor access to the jewel that is

the SS Great Britain, and the problems of McArthur’s warehouse and the area

behind the M-Shed remain to be resolved. But John gave us much cause for

hope from the impressive plans he has already achieved, and we wish him every

success.

John Gillett

DEAR EDITORThe Editor warmly welcomes letters

from readers on any subject of

interest to the Civic Society.

Dear Ed,

I much enjoyed reading your article

on Bridge House in the Newsletter

(April 2009). It brought back some

happy memories.

The Civil Service Commission used

to have its Regional Headquarters

on the top floor, and from there it

gave careers advice to students

throughout the West Country. I

suspect aspiring job applicants were

overawed by the majestic entrance

lobby and by the chance to park

outside without any restriction.

Security worries were at a

minimum. My splendid office on the

corner of the top floor had a tall

ceiling with beautiful plasterwork

and lovely wooden sash windows. I

looked down on the Suspension

Bridge, beyond to the bonded

warehouse on the Avon, and up to

the Downs and way out towards

North Somerset. But the uncertain

floor-loading capacity of the

building meant great care in storing

literature, especially in the library,

another impressive room with

picture windows, reminiscent of an

ancient Oxbridge college but where

the floor creaked alarmingly. You

generally kept to the outside of the

room!

I should be interested to hear from

anyone who worked for one of the

many other organisations that were

housed there in the ‘old days’.

Yours faithfully,

Barry Teideman

[email protected]

WANTED: HON SECRETARYThe Society is still short of its Hon Secretary. The main business involves attending the meetings of the Executive Committee every six weeks and writing up the Minutes.

Anyone interested is asked to contact the Newsletter Editor.

Feedback and suggestions for future meetings and trips are always welcome. Contact Jeff Lucas by e-mail [email protected] or telephone: 0117 962 1801.

15


DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Unless otherwise stated meetings are held in the Friends’ Meeting House, 126 Hampton Road, Redland, beginning at 7.30pm.

THE CIVIC SOCIETY’SWORKING GROUPSEVENINGThe Working Groups of the Society are

the most important part of our activities. Theymonitor all of Bristol’s planning applications forthose that might affect the quality of our city and ifnecessary they make submissions to the city’splanning committee and initiate lobbying, or evensuggest alternative schemes. They cover all buildingdevelopment, transport and public spaces. Thisevening is your opportunity to hear about whatthey have been dealing with over the last year or soand the important issues for the next 12 months.Each of the four groups will give a shortpresentation followed by questions and opendiscussion.

7.30PM Members free Non-members £2

A HARBOUR RUNSTHROUGH IT GUIDEDWALKA walk from Cumberland basin to the

town centre and beyond following the water asmuch as possible, looking at architecture andhistory. Led by Jeff Lucas, the Society’s eventsorganiser (who professes enthusiasm but nospecialist knowledge). About 2.5 hrs. Start 10am.

Members free Non-members £5

BOOKING ESSENTIAL. Contact Jeff on 0117 9621801.

QUICK-HALF NIGHT AT THECOTTAGE INN First of a regular series of drop-innights to be held first Monday of each

month. A chance to meet Society members andinterested others for a chat, catch up with what’shappening, swap ideas and generally have apleasant evening at this superbly sited harboursidepub.

8.00PM Cottage Inn, Cumberland Basin BS1 6XG

Free to all, non-members welcome. Just turnup and look for the blue lapel badges.

PROFESSOR KATIEWILLIAMS: ADAPTING THESUBURBS TO CLIMATECHANGE – THE IMPACT ONYOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD

Professor Williams is Joint Director of the Centre forSustainable Planning and Environments at theUniversity of the West of England where she leadsthe SNACC project (Suburban NeighbourhoodAdaptation for a Changing Climate). She willexplain how her team are trying to find out howexisting suburban neighbourhoods can best beadapted, protected and improved to reduce theimpacts of climate change such as heatwaves,flooding and storms. The research is in its earlystages and uses Bristol as one of its case studies.Computer modelling is used to test the performanceof and to visualise houses, streets and public spacesbefore and after adaptation. The project alsoassesses the costs of making the changes and theimpact on house prices.

7.30PM Members free Non-members £2

GLYN DUGGAN’SCHRISTMAS CABINET OFCURIOSITIES, WITH MULLED WINEAND MINCE PIES. Glyn joined the Society in the 1960s and was forsome years active in the Amenity Group, theExecutive Committee and particularly in theSociety’s Tree Appeal. He has long been fascinatedby curiosities. Glyn will show slides of curiositiesboth in Bristol and within day-trip distance for thosewho’d like to go to see them for themselves. Mostof his collection is fresh, so even if you were atGlyn’s previous talks you should still find plenty tointerest and entertain you.

After the talk hot mince pies and mulled wine(alcoholic and non-alcoholic) will be served.

7.30PM United Reformed Church, Corner ofWhiteladies Road/Redland Park.


21THU

24SUN

OCTOBER

OCTOBER

1MON

NOVEMBER

THU

NOVEMBER

TUE

DECEMBER

25

14

A joint event with Bristol and Bath

Branch of the Royal Institute of British

Architects

PROFESSOR RICHARDPARNABY: THE STATE OFARCHITECTURE TODAY – CAN WEMAKE ANY SENSE OF IT?Everybody is in favour of good design but how dowe know what is “good”? Contemporaryarchitecture offers a bewildering variety of styles --minimalism, neo-modernism, revivalism,contextualism, deconstruction, hi-tech,parametricism.... How do we tell good from bad,the beautiful from the ugly? Professor Parnaby isJoint Director of the Centre for Sustainable Planningand Environments at the University of the West ofEngland, a member of the Design Commission forWales and the Bristol Urban Design Forum.

6.30PM Unitarian Meeting Hall BrunswickSquare, (N Side) BS2 8PE

Members free Non-members £2 Local street parking free after 6pm (singleyellow line).

PETER WEEKS: ASHTONCOURT MANSION –BRISTOL’S LARGESTUNKNOWN PALACE.

Peter Weeks joined the Civic Society when hemoved to Bristol 20 years ago. In 2005 he becameinterested in Ashton Court Mansion. Since then hehas worked with the Civic Society and the Counciltowards restoration and reopening of perhapsBristol’s greatest hidden treasure. The challenge isthe size and history of the Mansion: anarchitectural mongrel whose lack of coherent styleor period perversely makes it so unusual andinteresting. Somewhere between a predicament anda treasure house! Planning work has begun for thefull-scale restoration of the interior of the housestarting with the two floors of the north-west wingwith the Civic Society well represented on theWorking Group team steering the project. Peter willtell us the fascinating story of the house and therestoration project.

7.30PM St Michaels Church, Vivian Street,Windmill Hill BS3 4LW. Cars may be parked onthe grass in front of the church – drive inthrough the gates.


MON

JANUARY17

16WEB

FEBRUARY

PLEASE BOOK EARLY FOR ‘BOOKABLE’ EVENTS TO GUARANTEE YOUR PLACE


Bristol Civic Society, Registered Charity No: 244414. Website: www.bristolcivicsociety.org.ukThe newsletter is edited by Haydn Mason,11 Goldney Avenue, Clifton, BS8 4RA; tel 0117 973 5767; e-mail: [email protected]

The opinions expressed in this newsletter do not necessarily represent those of Bristol Civic Society.Designed and produced by Cole Design Associates; e-mail: [email protected]

General enquiries

Communications and events

Campaigning

Organisational

CHAIR Stephen Wickham [email protected] 0117 966 3848

VICE-CHAIR Alan Morris [email protected] 0117 968 1197

SECRETARY ’Vacant’

TREASURER John Jones [email protected] 0117 962 0477

MARKETING GROUP Alan Morris [email protected] 0117 968 1197

NEWSLETTER EDITOR Haydn Mason [email protected] 0117 973 5767

E-MAIL BULLETIN EDITOR Dave Cave [email protected] 0117 300 9392

WEBMASTER John Gillett [email protected] 0777 9798 328

EVENTS & VISITS Jeff Lucas [email protected] 0117 962 1801

AWARDS SCHEME Charles Fox [email protected] 0117 927 9578

Links with other Bristol groups

PLANNING NETWORK David Farnsworth [email protected] 0785 610 7373

TRANSPORT ALLIANCE James Smith [email protected] 0117 914 1010

CONSERVATION ADVISORY PANEL Stephen Wickham [email protected] 0117 966 3848

ENGLISH HERITAGE John Frenkel [email protected] 0117 924 0853

Who’s who in the society

PLANNING POLICY GROUP John Frenkel [email protected] 0117 924 0853

TRANSPORT GROUP Colin Jefferson [email protected] 0117 955 9534

MAJOR SITES GROUP John Frenkel [email protected] 0117 924 0853

PLANNING APPLICATIONS GROUP Gordon Tucker [email protected] 0117 973 2040

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT David Farnsworth [email protected] 0785 610 7373

URBAN DEVELOPMENT Jerry Hicks [email protected] 0117 926 0209

MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY Maureen Pitman [email protected] 0117 974 3637

PRESS OFFICER Anne Dyke [email protected] 01454 632265/0794 647 1861

The Society ‘s e-bulletin is available to download on the websiteat www.bristolcivicsociety.org.uk/en/e-bulletin or bysigning-up to the subscription service.

THE DEADLINE FOR THE NEXT NEWSLETTER IS 15 DECEMBER 2010.

BCS Newsletter Autumn 2010

Documents

Transcript of BCS Newsletter Autumn 2010