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Current News and Activities
_________________________________________________________________________________________________Westbury Park Community Association AGM
The Community Association AGM which took place on Wednesday, 30th October, included discussion on the future of the Community Association in the light of dwindling active support for the Association, the pending resignation of a number of Committee officers, and the more widespread use of social media groups (eg. Next Door, street based Whats App groups) which provide an alternative and more immediate means of messaging and information sharing. 

The AGM considered a number of options ranging from revitalisation of the Association (dependent on more people joining the Committee) to winding up the Association. 
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The meeting was not in favour of suspending or winding up the Community Association and discussion focussed on how these outcomes might be avoided.  It was agreed that there should be a transition period to October 2020.  During this time a group would be formed to consult with the community (up to 2,000 households) about what they would like and expect from an Association, and whether and how they could support it. 

In the next year Kevin Chidgey and Janet Brewer will continue to keep members informed about social events and key issues affecting our area. The capacity to take on other activities (eg organising social events, lobbying, bidding for funds, upgrading the Association’s website, improving communications through use of social media) will be much reduced.  

More information on the challenges facing the Community Association and on possible options is contained in
“A Review Westbury Park Community Association, October 2019”
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What's On in Westbury Park: December 2019
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Tuesday, 3rd December, 7.00 – 9.00 pm. Henleaze Forum at Henleaze Library
Topics on the draft agenda include Bristol’s Clean Air Zone proposals, parking issues and transport matters including buses, and police updates. 
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Wednesday 4th December.  Westbury Park Womens Institute 
Food and Chat Social with members bringing their favourite winter dish and the recipe to share. Commander Philip Unwin will also be giving a talk from on the history of the SS Great Britain.  
The WI meets from 7.30 pm at Redland Church Halls on Redland Green  
£4 guest fee. Free mulled wine. £2 for wine (non-mulled!), 50p for tea/coffee.
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Saturday, 7th December. 11.00 am  Book Signing at Max Minerva's, 39 North View, 
Lia Leendertz will be signing copies of her book "The Almanac: A Seasonal Guide to 2020"

Tickets: £10 (to guarantee your copy of the book).
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Saturday, 7th December 2.00 – 5.00 pm. Westbury Park School Christmas Fayre
Christmas tree sale, delicious food washed down with mulled wine, and lots of family fun, including Santa in his grotto, carol singing, Christmas crafts, face painting, inflatable fun.
Adults £1.00, Children free
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Saturday, 7th December from 4.00 to 5.15 pm  Westbury Park Christmas Concert and Carols at St. Alban’s Church
L’Enfance Du Christ (The Childhood of Christ)
Oratorio, by Berlioz, sung in English (with cuts) based on the Holy Family’s flights into Egypt . Featuring soloists, including local singer Rebecca Chellapah, and St Alban’s Choir and Orchestra. Then carols followed by mince pies and hot drinks.

Tickets sold at the door, £10 adults, £5 seniors and children, £20 for families (2 adults + 2 Children). Profits for St Alban’s church and One25.
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Monday, 9th December, 6.30 pm, Redland Library, Whiteladies Road
All I want for Christmas is a Good Book to Read
School librarians from across Bristol discuss their favourite young adult fiction.
Admission: Children free, Adults £3.00 (pay at the door). All children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Booking essential – email FriendsOfRedlandLibrary@gmail.com
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Monday 16th December at 2.00 pm. Christmas Celebration at the Senior Film Club, St. Peter’s Hall, The Drive, Henleaze
A sing-a-long of Christmas songs with Henleaze Ladies Choir followed by festive refreshments, and the film Carry on Scrooge starring Sid James as Ebenezer Scrooge, Bernard Bresslaw as Bob Cratchit and Charles Hawtrey as the spirit of Christmas Past  
Carers welcome, easy access, refreshments £4   FFI Home Instead 0117 989 8210
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Rainmaker Gallery “Pattern” Exhibition,  1st November 2019 – 31st January 2020
Located at 123 Coldharbour Road, Rainmaker Gallery specialises in contemporary Native American Art and Jewellery
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Orpheus Silver Screen
10.30 am,  Tuesday, 3rd December   Can You Ever Forgive Me
10.30 am,  Tuesday 10th December  Wild Rose
Tickets £3.90
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Belvedere Road
The Community Association has joined over 50 local residents and ward councillors in opposing a planning application to extend a nursing home at 8 and 9 Belvedere Road to number 7 Belvedere Road. This would be the seventh house in the road to be used as a nursing home, adding to the problems being faced by people living in Belvedere Road and adjoining roads who suffer the adverse traffic impacts and day to day consequences (eg. the blocking of driveways elderly people and families with young children having to park well away from their homes).
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Resident Parking
Little progress is being made on extending resident parking to those parts of Westbury Park in favour of RP. The Council’s guidelines for new resident parking schemes published in November 2017 are very onerous and low priority is being accorded to new resident parking schemes by the Mayor.   Local councillors are lobbying the Mayor to change his stance and there are signs that this might happen.   

Henleaze and Westbury on Trym ward councillors carried out a survey in early 2019 to establish the degree of support for resident parking in that part of Westbury Park within their ward.  There was a 20% response with support varying between different locations - residents generally supporting resident parking in areas close to The Downs, not so much elsewhere.  

Residents in the Blenheim Road area have set up a local group to press for resident parking in their area - an area very much affected by commuter parking.  This area was surprisingly overlooked when the Council agreed an extension to the Redland and Cotham North resident parking zones in 2017.

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Website updated on Monday, 2nd December 2019