O.R.A. Latest News, Information, Feedback & Issues

Next meeting

Fri, 9 Mar 2012 21:33:54 +0000

Our next quarterly meeting will be held at 7pm Wednesday 6th June Please try to attend. We look forward to seeing you there.

The venue is Bristol Music Club at the top of St Paul’s Road. They open a bar for us and its a nice large quiet venue which is suiting our needs.

March 2012 meeting

Thu, 8 Mar 2012 10:54:28 +0000

Our meeting was attended by 16 members and we were fortunate that both our Councillors, Simon Cook (deputy leader of the Council) and Christian Martin came along, allowing us to gain insight into several current issues. Many thanks to them for attending.
We discussed options for the development of the TA site in Whiteladies Road which the Territorial Army currently occupy. They are they are currently looking to sell the lease .
Planning permission is currently being sought for a Waitrose supermarket and student accommodation. All our surveys show that a supermarket is one of the possibilities rejected by almost everyone, so it’s important that we keep up to date with the developments so that we can give our feedback and input to the authorities. A new primary school is required in the area and it would seem to be an excellent site for that if the Council could arrange it.
The Garraways site in Whatley Road is now seeking planning permission for housing and the consensus is that the plans are now quite suitable.
Still no firm news about the Picture house but it looks as though the latest plans are for flats at the front (preserving the frontage) and a health club in the auditorium. It doesn’t look hopeful for it to be re-instated as a concert venue and cinema, mainly due to the fact that no Council or Arts Council funding is available under the current financial climate. Watch this space for updates!
It was pointed out that during the construction in Queen’s Court flats, several trees have been removed. Simon and Christian agreed to investigate whether this had planning permission.
The Councillors are also chasing up the long overdue replacement of a tree which was taken down in Leigh Road over two years ago .
I was able to give the good news that our new super notice board has arrived. It will be varnished and erected near the Sainsbury’s car park entrance as soon as possible.
One new member asked whether there was any advantage in contacting the Council through our association over doing it directly and individually.
We were able to point out that Councillors do take notice of communications from our association and that each time we approach them, it is as representatives of many residents rather than just one. The Councillors confirmed that they are very much in favour of our organisation.
Of course there is no reason why individuals can’t contact them too and, when objecting to plans, the more the better. They do however have a huge work load so please feel free to contact us with issues which we can collate and pass on.

Next meeting is the first Wednesday in June but keep in touch in the meantime.

Report on our December meeting

Thu, 8 Dec 2011 12:12:38 +0000

Our winter meeting was held on 7th December and many topics were discussed.

Bristol Water are about to embark on a major job installing a new water main pipe. This will come from the water tower on the Downs, down Pembroke Road, along Alma Road and up Alexandra Road to Oakfield Road pumping station. It will mean much disruption to home owners on these, and other streets, so in conjunction with St John’s Residents Association and CHIS we have requested a meeting with Bristol Water to discus the problems. We hope that this can be very soon and will let you know by email so that you can attend.

We discussed planning permissions including a proposal to build on the TA site on Whiteladies Road.
We feel that it is very important that we are involved in all discussions about the plans so that any development enhances the area. Already suggestions from our members include a primary school, a community centre for Clifton (badly needed) and some green space with a playground. Hopefully, whatever is built there will be a large contribution under section 106 to benefit the community.
Watch our website for any news.

The new rubbish collection schedule has come in this week, not entirely without teething troubles. Some streets have not had black bin collections for three weeks and the collection due today hasn’t happened for some. I’ve reported this to the rubbish department and await a reply.

We are hoping to get more communal bin areas created particularly for the homes at the Whiteladies road end of Alma Road who have no off-pavement bin storage space. Richard Barnes had a walk round the area with Trudy Feeney of the council to look at likely sites.

As a neighbourhood watch co-ordinator, I reported that although crime is at a low overall in Bristol, there is a bit of a spike in opportunist burglaries and break-ins on our patch at the moment. Please take extra care in securing your doors and windows and also be on your guard for bogus officials trying to enter your homes. Don’t leave valuables or Christmas presents on view in your cars or your windows.

We hope to have our new notice board installed near the Sainsbury’s car park entrance. This will be shared between us and St John’s RA.

Our next meeting will be on 7th March but in the meantime, please get in touch if you have any issues that you would like to bring up.

Keith Rodgerson

Security

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 09:50:45 +0000

As neighbourhood watch co-ordinator for Leigh Road, I attended a co-ordinator's meeting at the Council House tonight.

The meeting included reports from local police officers and most of the news was good.

Burglary rates in our area are down substantially over the past year and continue to fall.
Car theft and bike theft is also down partly due to covert policing and partly to several repeat offenders being locked up at present.
Most thefts from homes and cars have been due to opportunism.
The risk of cars being broken into increases dramatically if any valuables, phones, sat-navs etc have been left on view in the car.

Take valuables with you or lock them in the boot.

Similarly, if valuables are visible through house or flat windows there is a greater chance of them being targeted.
Student and multiple occupation houses are often seen as easy targets.

With Christmas coming up it's important not to leave presents visible through your windows or in your cars.
Don't make it easy for opportunist thieves.

It's really only common sense.

Worryingly there has been an increase in bogus official thefts where someone poses as an official from a utility company to gain access to a property.
Then his accomplice enters the house looking for valuables whilst the owner is distracted.

With the imminent start of the excavation for a new water main from the Downs to Oakfield Road, these robbers may see this as an opportunity to impersonate someone from Bristol Water. It's best not to allow access to someone at your door. You can always tell them to come back after you have phoned the company they say that they represent.

Trading Standards have published a really good guide to scams called "Scam Wise".

I have asked for a PDF version of this and will put it on our website as soon as I get it.

On a slightly lighter note, one of the officers said that he had been speaking to a known burglar who said that he had given up burglary and had retrained and was now shoplifting instead, because it was easier!!

Bristol Water Excavations on our patch.

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 16:21:02 +0000

You may have had a leaflet from Bristol Water about imminent works to install a trunk water main from the Downs Water Tower to Victoria Reservoir in Oakfield Road. The whole scheme will take around 18 months.

I have called Bristol Water to ask about the works and have been told that the route of the excavations which will close roads will be Pembroke Road, Alma Road, Alexandra Road and Oakfield Road. If you have any questions, their contact number is 0845 702 3797

Whiteladies Bus Lane

Mon, 7 Nov 2011 15:41:16 +0000

I’m sure that you’ve all noticed to building of the bus lane from the Triangle up to Whitetree Roundabout and like me, have probably questioned what exactly is going on.

I was involved, along with Councillors Martin and Cook, at seeing , what we took to be the final plans for the scheme, at the City Museum earlier in the year. At the recent Neighbourhood Partnership meeting several of us , including Christian Martin, said that we were very taken aback by the built-out bus stops by the BBC and the “gardens” up the middle of Whiteladies Road which none of us could recall as having been on those final plans.

Since that meeting we have made representation to the Council officers and asked for explanations as to why different plans seem to have been followed. These built out bus stops seem to have the effect of stopping all traffic whilst buses are boarding and I’m sure that the “gardens” will have a detrimental effect on traffic and particularly emergency vehicle flow in the street.

Today I spoke to a Council man who was attaching notices to lamposts in Alma Road and have been told by him that the BUS LANE SHOP up by the old Woolworths (now Sainsbury’s) on Blackboy hill will again be open for plan inspection and comments.
Opening will be from 10am on Tuesday’s Thursdays and Saturdays for the next few weeks.
I urge you to attend and make your views known.
Comments can be sent to tro.comments@bristol.gov.uk

Keith Rodgerson (secretary)

Report on meeting and AGM on 1st June 2011

Sat, 4 Jun 2011 10:16:59 +0100

Our AGM was held in Bristol Music Club which was a trial of the new venue. I proved to be quite successful. The room is large enough for our members (17 on this occasion) and the club opens a bar for us. It is also quiet and so we can easily be heard.
From this year Malcolm Baker is taking on the title of treasurer and Keith Rodgerson will be secretary. We had no volunteers for the post of chairman and are still hoping that someone will come forward. The duties are very light, consisting of getting together at the Lido for a coffee and chat in the week before each meeting, and then chairing the meeting.
I’m sure that one of you would be happy to do that!!! Volunteers or nominations please ASAP as we are required to have one!! Our finances are currently quite sound but we do now need to pay for our meeting venue so I would encourage those of you who have not yet sent your 2011 subscription to do so now . Only 40% of our members have renewed so far. Only £5 per household. Payment by cheque, cash or BACS please to ORA c/o Keith Rodgerson, 10 Leigh Road BS8 2DA

After our brief AGM we had a talk by David who is currently manager of the Redgrave theatre.
He is part of a group who are pursuing the plan to open the Whiteladies Picture House which has now been closed and becoming derelict for 11 years. The plan is for an auditorium seating 500 people (something which fills a gap in Bristol’s facilities) Redgrave holds under 300 and the Colston Hall and Hippodrome over 2000 people so a venue of this size would be a real asset to the city and enable touring theatre companies etc to come to Bristol. The plan also has a 200 seater cinema on the balcony area and a large ballroom/ function room upstairs. David impressed us with his enthusiasm and we felt that it would be an excellent plan if funding can be obtained.
They are currently creating a new website but their current one is http://www.whiteladies-picturehouse.com/The_Whiteladies_Picture_House/The_Whiteladies_Picture_House.html

Please e mail him to give him comments, support or money as you feel fit. MAIL@WHITELADIES-PICTUREHOUSE.COM is his e mail address.

Christian Martin our new councillor attended and was able to help us with information about several planning applications including the new Sainsbury’s on Blackboy Hill and the proposed Tesco Express at the old Texaco Petrol Station site at the end of Oakfield Road.

Mary & Fergus Lyons brought up the subject of the need for double yellow lines on the corners of roads, particularly those adjoining Alma Road. I will bring this up at the next neighbourhood forum.

We are still putting pressure on the Council to tidy up and landscape the communal bin store in Oakfield Road.

Paul Brown has kindly agreed to print some new ORA flyers for us and I would ask any of you who are prepared to deliver a few in your street to get in touch with Keith on 973 3848. We need to remind people that we exist and recruit more new member. We’re already ok for Alexandra Road, Leigh Road, Queen’s Court and Southleigh Road but need several more deliverers please.

Our meetings will be quarterly from now on with our next one on Wednesday 7th September. Put it in your diary now.

I’d like to express my thanks and the thanks of all our members to Keith Borissow who has acted as chairman for the past two years (a task which he volunteered for for a year initially). I do hope that you will remain involved with ORA Keith, and may even be prepared to stand in as holiday relief Chairman if called upon!!

Report on the meeting on 6th April

Wed, 6 Apr 2011 21:08:59 +0100

We had a very good turnout tonight which included 16 members and was also attended by Councillor Simon Cook and council candidate Christian Martin.
Keith Borrissow chaired the meeting and topics discussed were the Whiteladies Road bus lane proposals (which will be going ahead after modifications due to feedback have been implemented), planning permission for the Whiteladies Picture house the possibility of landscaping the communal bin site in Oakfield Road or defining it by installing bike racks at either end to contain the area and stop them being moved to make parking spaces. The Council’s new A board proposals (see separate item) and blocked gullys were also discussed.
Malcolm Baker told us about the discussions at several Neighbourhood Forum and Neighbourhood Partnership meetings which he attends on our behalf. He suggests that more of our members attend these meetings so I’ll be letting you know the dates as they come up.
Diana Berry asked if there was any interest in more art, drama and music events in our area.

Our next meeting on 1st June will also be our AGM so a good attendance is requested.
Keith Borrissow is standing down as chairman after holding the post for two years. (twice as long as he intended) We would like to express our thanks to him for all the work he has undertaken on our behalf and hope that he continues to be involved in ORA as a member.
This means that we are looking for a new chairman or chairwoman and so would be grateful for any volunteers, nominees or suggestions as to likely contenders. Suggestions please!!

New A Board proposed guidelines.

Sun, 3 Apr 2011 10:34:32 +0100

The City Council have published a leaflet wioth proposed guidlines regarding A boards on pavements.

The link to the item ishttp://www.bristol.gov.uk/ccm/content/Transport-Streets/Roads-highways-and-pavements/a-board-guidelines.en

Please open it and then click on the link to Public leaflet. Let us know yopur feelings on the subject,

Planning for Caraways Garden Centre Site

Tue, 8 Mar 2011 09:09:06 +0000

There will be a meeting in the Picture House East (Opposite Whiteladies Picture House) on Wednesday 16th March from 14.30 to 18.30. Plans for development of the site will be shown and open for discussion.

Latest Planning application for the Picture House

Sun, 30 Jan 2011 12:02:18 +0000

A planning application has gone in again for the building of 9 flats within the rear part of the cinema auditorium. The idea is to sell these flats to raise funds which will go towards the renovation and upkeep of the building.

The link on the council website has been faulty so it is best to comment by emailing customerservices.ptsd@bristol.gov.uk until it is repaired!

If you’d like to go straight to the plans and look at them, here is the link
http://e2edocs.bristol.gov.uk/WAM/findCaseFile.do?appType=planning&appNumber=11/00126/LA

Application ref: 11/00125/F

You can see plans and drawings and find out more about the applications
. online at www.bristol.gov.uk/planning or by visiting Brunel House, St George’s Road BS1 5UY (NBehind the Council House)
Comments should be sent to development.management@bristol.gov.uk, through the website www.bristol.gov.uk/planningcomments or by mail to the above address.

Link to previous planning application:
http://e2eweb.bristol.gov.uk/PublicAccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_detailview.aspx?caseno=L9GIC1DN00J00

The website is a mess to navigate around so John Rippon has provided this step-by-step guide to navigate to any planning application that you’d like to view. See the next entry!

How to navigate around the Council Planning Application Site

Sat, 29 Jan 2011 12:50:09 +0000

FINDING PLANNING APPICATION DOCUMENT AND PLANS

This can be a really fruitless "Snakes and ladders" exercise so this easy guide was kindly provided by John Rippon

Start at Bristol City Council HOME Page
Look For blue heading "Environment and planning"
Left-click on "Planning" : this takes you to a new page "Environment and
planning"
Look in the central area of the page for: "Planning applications online –
view current and past applications with PublicAccess."
IGNORE EVERYTHING ELSE ON THIS PAGE! left-click on "Planning
applications online"
A new page appears with a heading "PublicAccess for Planning"
IGNORE EVERYTHING ELSE ON THIS PAGE! left-click on "See the PublicAccess
site"
A new page appears with a heading "Welcome to PublicAccess for PLANNING"
Look at the LEFT HAND COLUMN
left-click on "Property search"
A new page appears with a dialogue box called "Property Search"
In "Property Name/Number" type in the STREET NUMBER
In "Street Name" type in the street name
Scroll down "Street group" to the group which includes the street you
want
Scroll down to the exact street you want , left-click to highlight it in
blue, and then left-click on the SEARCH blue button
A new page appears with a dialogue box called "Address"
Look for the exact address you want and on the extreme right hand side
left-click the "Click to view Map" blue button
A new page appears with a dialogue box and a map with a yellow dot, just
to confirm this is the property.
IGNORE EVERYTHING ELSE ON THIS PAGE! just look for the box "Related info"
and left-click on it.
A new page appears with a dialogue box called "Selected Property".
left-click on the blue "DISPLAY" button
A new page appears with ALL the planning applications ever made for the
site address
Look at the first "Reference" column and scroll down until you find the
planning application reference number you want.
Now left-click on the far right "Click to View" blue arrow
A new page appears with dialogue box

THIS IS THE VITAL STEP WHERE MOST PEOPLE FALL INTO A TRAP: IGNORE
EVERYTHING ELSE ON THIS PAGE!

Just look for the box labelled "Associated Documents" and left-click on it.
A new page appears with dialogue box with BLUE BUTTON "View associated
documents..." left-click on it

ALL IS REVEALED! IGNORE the warning "Drawings can be large files.
We recommend that you click on the "thumbnail" links".
This is the complete PDF file list of ALL the drawings, plans and
submissions relevant to this Planning Application for you to examine at
your leisure
Look at the right-hand "Description" column for the drawing, etc. you
want and then in the "View" central column left-click on the .pdf file
which corresponds.

Twitter account

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 13:38:07 +0000

Yes we have a Twitter account. It’s @oakfieldra

Make us a friend and you’ll get a posting whenever something important happens. We won’t use it for rubbish tweets!!

Pavement cleaning

Wed, 15 Dec 2010 16:21:04 +0000

We’ve been successful in getting a large squad of Council workers round to clear up the mess made by falling leaves. By contacting Trudy Feeney at the Council we managed to arrange this.
We have requested that grit bins be installed at the top of Leigh Road, Hanbury Road, Alexander Road anfd Southleigh Road and live in hope!
We successfully had a 3 piece suite removed from the pavement of Southleigh Road.

December meeting

Wed, 1 Dec 2010 17:42:08 +0000

We had a good turnout despite having to squeeze into a smaller space than usual. We welcomed six new residents who will hopefully become members.
Our discussions included neighbourhood partnerships, pavement parking and A boards,planning applications and the fact that, although the University has car parks in the area, many of the staff park on the streets rather than pay for permits.
We were also asked by Peter Scott of Bristol music club if we would publicise his venue and have asked for details which will be going on this website.

Burglaries. Take more care!

Mon, 1 Nov 2010 17:38:08 +0000

This message is being sent by Elaine Collingwood, NHW Administrator for South Bristol on Monday 1st November 2010 at 1.15pm.

There have been 4 burglaries over the weekend in your area.
1. Cornwallis Crescent on Friday 29th between 10am and 4pm. Entry has been gained via the french doors and a laptop stolen.
2. Pembroke Road on Saturday around 11.30pm. Entry has been gained by jumping side gate and property stolen includes laptops and mobile phones. A white male, 20's and tall with short medium brown hair, wearing a black puffa jacket with red collar was seen.
3. Sion Hill around 2am on Saturday 30th. Entry was gained by forcing conservatory doors, unknown what was stolen.
4, Caledonia Mews between 4.30pm and 8am today 1st. Entry was gained via the front door and a bike valued at £1050 was stolen along with tools.

If anyone has any information or saw anything suspicious please contact the police on 0845 4567000 and ask for your call to be tagged NHW.

If you have information about any crime, phone the police on 0845 456 7000 or you can call anonymously to the independent charity CRIMESTOPPERS 0800 555 111. For general information about Neighbourhood Watch nationally see the www.mynhw.co.uk website.

Proposed Bus Lane. Template letter if you’d like to object.

Wed, 20 Oct 2010 20:15:20 +0100

GBBN Project team,
Bristol City Council,
Brunel House,
St George’s Road
Bristol BS1 5UY

Dear Councillor Hopkins and team,

I am writing, as a resident of the area and a member of Oakfield Residents’ Association, to comment on the planned ‘improvements’ to Whiteladies Road and Westbury Road.

I have to say that this project seems to me to be an unbelievable and unnecessary waste of money (£8,000,000) at a time when public resources are going to be extremely scarce. There is no point in arguing that it is ring-fenced. It is still £8,000,000 of taxpayers money.! I am far from being convinced that the project as described in your leaflet will have any significant effect on the reliability of the bus services on Whiteladies Road, and the supposed benefits to pedestrians are far from obvious.

The beneficial effect, if any, of an intermittent bus lane going north on Whiteladies Road is likely to be eliminated by the introduction of light controlled pedestrian crossings at the top of Blackboy Hill and at the St Pauls Road/Tyndalls Park Road crossing, slowing down the busy traffic even further.

If you want to improve the speed and reliability of the bus service, I would suggest that the introduction of an electronic ticketing system like the London Oyster card would help. Buses would no longer need to spend up to five minutes at each stop collecting fares.

If the buses were fitted with separate exit doors, this too would speed up the loading and unloading time, as in London At the moment passengers have to wait for others to disembark before boarding, doubling the time spent at each stop.

The timetabling of bus routes on Whiteladies Road could be improved: all too often different routes are timed to pass at around the same time, producing a ‘bunching’effect and un-necessarily long waiting times for passengers.

Users of buses going up Whiteladies Road have commented that buses move reasonably well up the hill and that the bus lane would have the effect of causing much longer queues of cars clogging in the road.

As regards the proposed ‘No left turn’ provision at the junction of Tyndall’s Park Road, this is frankly impractical. You must realise that the majority of staff and students of the University of Bristol live in North-West Bristol. Are you seriously proposing that this considerable traffic be obliged to use the already congested Queens Road/Triangle one-way system in order to access the University?

As regards the ‘No right turn’ provision at the junction of Cotham Hill and Whiteladies Road, you cannot have consulted the businesses on the lower part of Cotham Hill, notably the Travis Perkins builders’ merchant, for whom it would be a serious inconvenience.. I fail to see that a pedestrian crossing , in two parts via a traffic island, is any improvement for pedestrians at this junction, particularly the old and the disabled who use it constantly.

I think that the scheme is very ill thought out and should be abandoned forthwith.
I hope that you will consider these points and rethink the plan with “saving money” being the prime objective. £8,000,000 is over £20 for each resident of Bristol.

Yours sincerely,

Lost Property Information

Fri, 17 Sep 2010 13:03:15 +0100

It may be of help for you to know that lost property should now be reported to the police on-line using www.reportmyloss.com and not at a police station

Notice Board

Fri, 3 Sep 2010 19:50:27 +0100

The first of our ORA notice boards has been installed at the side of the Lido courtesy of Arne Rigner. Keep an eye on it for news and details of our meetings. Two more to go!

Picture House Interior

Wed, 1 Sep 2010 08:19:25 +0100

Quentin Alder, the architect acting for the owners of the Picture House, invited me inside to take panoramas. If anything, these shots make it look much plusher than it actually is.
To see and explore them, go to the Picture House Panoramas link at the top of this page.