Current News and Updates
Upcoming Events
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The St Christopher’s Site
The developers presented for the first time sketch plans of the proposed development at stakeholder workshops on Tuesday, 21st September. The plans showed new buildings of up to six storeys high at the centre of the site and buildings of up to four storeys high close to adjoining roads. This was greeted with dismay by those present, not only residents living close to the site and most adversely affected but by almost everyone present including the Community Association. The Association immediately drafted a statement condemning the plans and proposing what we should do next. A copy of the statement was sent to the three development partners so that they were made fully aware of the unanimous community opposition to what was being proposed.
Residents living in streets adjacent to the St. Christopher's site have formed a new group, St. Christopher's Action Network (SCAN), to campaign for a scheme that is acceptable. The Community Association and SCAN have agreed a statement of planning principles with the objective of achieving a sensitive and appropriate development of the site: the statement has been sent to City Council planners.
SCAN have set up a website to promote their campaign for an acceptable development https://www.scanbristol.org/
The developers held two open sessions in early December to present revised plans for the site - the plans are an improvement on those presented in September but still comprise building that are too high relative to nearby houses. The open sessions were attended by over 200 people but there was frustration that there were no plans or images on display that showed the impact of the proposed development on existing houses and that detailed information on key issues including parking and traffic generation was not available.
Update, 17th January 2022
The St Christopher's Square Project Team are now proposing to hold two webinar sessions on Thursday, 20th January for people to find out more about the proposed St Christopher's Square development and ask any questions. The sessions form part of the same consultation period that began at the beginning of December.
The webinar sessions on the 20th January will be from 9.30 - 11.00 am and from 6.00 – 7.30 pm.
You can register for the webinar sessions via the links below: the links can also be found on the St. Christopher’s website at www.stchristophersbristol.com
Webinar #1 9:30 – 11am, Thursday 20 January 2022
Webinar #2 6 – 7:30pm, Thursday 20 January 2022
The webinar sessions will include a presentation of the proposals including images requested by Westbury Park Community Association and SCAN that were not shown at the consultation events in early December – a layout plan showing building heights and distances from nearby houses, more cross sections and visual images of the proposed development from adjacent roads. The Community Association pressed for the presentation images to be posted on the St. Christopher’s website and that should now have been done.
The St. Christopher’s Project Team are welcoming questions in advance. That can be when people book for either of the webinar sessions (in the 'Questions & Comments' box on the booking form), by email to feedback@stchristophersbristol.com or by phone on 0800 148 8911 (freephone). There will also be opportunities to ask questions during the webinar.
The overall consultation closing date has been moved back to 26 January. This will provide just under a week for people to respond following the webinar.
Further details about the project can be found at www.stchristophersbristol.com, by emailing feedback@stchristophersbristol.com or by phoning 0800 148 8911 (freephone).
The developer's St. Christopher's website can be found at www.stchristophersbristol.com/
More information about St. Christophers can be found on the Planning Issues page.
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99 Devonshire Road
For an update on the 99 Devonshire Road site go to the Planning issues page
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Proposed Improvements to the Number 2 Bus Route
The West of England Combined Authority has announced proposals for the improvement of the bus route including a number of improvements in the vicinity of White Tree Roundabout and North View. The proposals are out to consultation until 28th January 2022.
For more details go to the Transport and Parking issues page.
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North View Refugee House
Abigail writes from the Church Office: Thanks to the generous grants from five major trust funds and the heartening response from the people of Westbury Park, the funding target for the refugee project on North View has been met. This has enabled some of the essential building work and modifications on the property to proceed. Many volunteer hours have also been dedicated to the ongoing refurbishment of the house.
Painting and decorating of the interior will form the next stage of the project and a team of volunteers to tackle this task is currently being assembled. We are more than ever conscious of the urgent need for housing for families in need.
Would you like to offer to help? Please contact Abigail at: office@westburyparkchurch.org and she will forward your offer to the team
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Website updated on Saturday, 17th January 2022
