We hope you’re all well and out and about in this lovely weather. Between the sun and showers here’s a few things that might interest you:

Bristol Green Doors Solar Saturday
June 11th – This Saturday
Thinking about solar energy? Visit a Montpelier home and meet a householder with solar PV and solar thermal.  Booking essential.
Read more on the TT Montpelier site

The next Urban Greening workday
July 2nd – help the great progress being made in Montpelier Park.
Read more on the TT Montpelier site

No Tesco Tea Party
June 13th 5.00 – 6.00 pm (next Monday)
Bring tea and cake to share to this family friendly event Outside Tesco, Cheltenham Road, to peacefully demonstrate that the majority of the community want Tesco to leave. Bring cake to share, musical instruments, fancy dress or whatever creative flair takes your fancy.
Read more on the No Tesco website

Green Volunteers Bristol launch
11th June, 10 – 5, Create Centre
Join the Live Local team at their  launch event as part of Live Local Day at the Create centre on Saturday 11th June: a celebration of sustainable living in the city with loads of activities and information available.
Read more on the TT Montpelier site

It’s an amazing Spring and doesn’t look to be slowing down any time soon.

Main points this month are the Montpelier Park day this Saturday and Bean Feast open meeting TONIGHT…

More below:

Bean Feast Open Meeting: TONIGHT
The Arts House, Stokes Croft, 7:30 pm
Read more on the TT Montpelier site

Support Montpelier Park: THIS SATURDAY
Montpelier Park, all day
Digging, BBQ-ing, Ping-pong-ing etc.
Read more on the TT Montpelier site

Bristol parties pledge to keep allotments
The government recently announced plans which would put allotments under imminent threat of closure and sale in a breathtakingly mean proposal. The Urban Greening Group swung into action and extracted the following promise from the Bristol Council. Brilliant work, all!
Read more on the TT Montpelier site

Free events in Montpelier Park this summer
Read more on the TT Montpelier site

Park group meeting summary
Read more on the TT Montpelier site

The big news for this newsletter is our Big Open Meeting on Thursday 24th March, 7-9pm. Put it in your diary now and come along; there are speakers, discussion groups, action groups, moving things along for the summer. As well as that, the Beanfeast team are holding their first meeting of the year on Wednesday 23rd March, so go to that if you want to help out with Montpelier’s Brilliant Free Neighbourhood Party… More below:

Big Open Meeting: Thursday 24th March: 7-9pm
Speakers, groups, tea, mates, planning

Beanfeast: Can you make it happen?
Meeting 23/03/10, work to be done before that

Urban Greening Group meeting dates and minutes
Tree planting, seed swapping, Montpelier Park launch event
Next meeting: Thursday 17th March

Albany Green: £48K to spend, needs locals to help
Join Jon Rogers in helping with local improvements

Training for Transition
Learn more about Transition, Permaculture and more

Neighbourhood Partnership walkabout dates announced
Walk through Montpelier with the counsellors to have your voice heard

Dear Resident

This eFOCUS is sent to those who have expressed an interest in what is happening in and around Ashley ward. If you want additional information on any topic, then please let my colleague Waliur Rahman or I know or follow the web link where available. For daily updates and events see the wall at Ashley Ward Information Facebook page http://bit.ly/fbashley

Waliur and I have been carrying out residents surveys on streets in St Andrews, St Werburghs, Montpelier and St Pauls to check on current issues, and ensure that we are delivering the best possible support to our community and direction for our city. We will feed back the results and the actions that have arisen.

(1) Highways plans for 2011/12 and beyond

A meeting was held on 17th January 2011 to explore some of the 70 or so road and pavement improvements suggested by residents and businesses in Ashley, Easton and Lawrence Hill Neighbourhood Partnership area. There are Ashley Ward schemes progressing (subject to TRO consultation) in Drummond Road, St Pauls area, and Hurlingham Road, St Andrews area.

In addition officers have been asked to produce some options to be considered for priority in 2011/12 – there are limited funds available, but Waliur and I are also looking to explore S106 funds and other funding streams.

Schemes discussed on 17th January included, Picton Lane, (Montpelier), Ashley Hill/Chesterfield Road, (St Andrews) junction, Cobourg Road/Ashley Hill (Montpelier) junction, Magdalene Place (Montpelier) and possible schemes around Mina Road and Sevier Street (St Werburghs). We also discussed possible additional “dropped kerbs” to make walking, pushing buggies and wheelchair access easier.

These are at an early stage, so there will be lots of opportunity for community involvement should any schemes be progressed this coming year. Decisions on priority will be made at the Neighbourhood Partnership meeting on 16th March. Please let Waliur and I have your comments and suggestions.

(2) Westmoreland House.

The Council have secured funds to progress a CPO scheme again. The Lib Dem Cabinet was progressing this between 2005 and 2007, but lost control of the city in May 2007, when the Conservatives backed a return to Labour administration. The CPO scheme on Westmoreland House was not progressed. Those thinking that it would be good to get Labour back in this May might care to reflect! Waliur and I are seeking a community meeting in the next few weeks to re-open discussions on next steps. Watch this space.

(3) Ashley Neighbourhood Forum NF

Next forum meeting is Monday 7th February 2011 6:30-8:30pm at St Pauls Learning & Family Centre. Waliur and I will be there, as will Police, other Neighbourhood Partnership NP members, street scene, parks, housing officers, etc will also be attending. This is an opportunity to discuss local issues.

(4) Ashley Easton and Lawrence Hill Neighbourhood Partnership NP

Next meeting is Wednesday 16th March 2011 at the Unitarian Chapel on Brunswick Square, St Pauls. Agenda and details should be up soon at http://bit.ly/i3IjM7 for more details. This is the local partnership decision making body and will be responsible for developing and investing a widening range of local services.

(5) Pallisade fence along the sky line above Church Field

Concern has been expressed about Network Rail plans for a Pallisade fence along the sky line above Church Field. Network Rail have said that they will “not start any work until further discussions” with Narroways Millennium Green Trust NMGT. More details at http://bit.ly/ekacT6

(6) Narroways Millennium Green Trust NMGT AGM

AGM will be held at the Wildgoose Space in The Yard, St Werburghs on Monday February 7th at 8.00pm

(7) Friends of St Andrews Park FoSAP

The new signs and finger posts are being installed in the park. More details and photos on the web site http://friendsofstandrewspark.ning.com/ The Friends are also working with Council Officers to achieve Green Flag Status, bidding for a climbing frame and returning the gates to the bottom entrances to the Park. We have had some mixed views about gritting the park paths during the recent cold spell.

(8) Polling district boundary change proposed for Ashley ward

The Boundary Commission is insisting that the Council change some of the polling districts in Ashley (and other wards in the city). This means that some people will have a different polling station next May. More details in due course.

(9) Bristol Inter Faith Dialogue have notified me of two events in next few weeks: They are open to all. “How People of Faith Help the World’s Poor” Thursday 10 February 2011, 7-9.30pm at Progressive Synagogue, 43-45 Bannerman Road, Easton, Bristol, BS5 0RR and Civic Inter Faith Celebration: “Working together” Wednesday 2 March 2011, 7 for 7.15pm start The Council House, College Green, Bristol, BS1 5TR http://www.bristolcelebrates.org.uk

(10) Dove Lane community meeting to discuss the new plans for regeneration – Thursday, 10th February 6:30 – 8:30pm at Unitarian Chapel Meeting Hall, Surrey Lodge, Brunswick Square, St Paul’s, Bristol, BS2 8PE

(11) Disappointment over appeal decision on planning application at 19 St Nicholas Road, St Pauls (old St Nicholas pub site). Letter sent to interested residents. If you would like a copy please let us know.

(12) Progress continues on work in Montpelier Park. Launch event planned for Saturday 26 March. “Were aiming to keep it low key and friendly, getting people to use the new facilities and see it as a safe place to hang out in.” More details at http://www.transitionmontpelier.org.uk

(13) Possible progress at St James Barton roundabout “the bear pit”. Lots of good ideas, with creative and unorthodox support from council, residents and “interested parties” – More info at http://www.the-bear-pit.org.uk/

(14) Mythbusters – issues raised on the doorstep…

As the election draws closer, you may hear opponents suggesting we are doing foolish things locally or nationally. Some of the stuff nationally does seem “foolish”, such as rumours of “votes to sell off forests” and threats to reduce access to legal aid. We have fed back our views through our MP, Stephen Williams and direct to Ministers and we will await the government response on these and other issues. There are mixed views on the doorstep on whether entering a Coalition was the right thing for the country given the national financial situation. Stephen can be contacted at stephenwilliamsmp@parliament.uk

Locally we are investing in improved and better maintained parks, and are purchasing additional park land for the city. We are continuing investment in the Severn Beach Line and hope to see further timetable improvements and improved contractural arrangements. Good to see station ticket machines at last! We are seeking to commission door step plastic recycling from later this year – we are already trialling it around the city. We are planning to roll out 20mph to all residential roads in the city. We are offering communal bins in some residential streets – a trial in St Pauls has gone very well. If you have any concerns about our policy direction locally, please do raise it direct with Waliur and I.

There is always lots happening in and around the ward. If you have particular topics of interest, then let us know or post yourself at http://bit.ly/fbashley , as we send out infrequent emails on specific topics to those expressing an interest.

If you would like to help Waliur and I with resident surveys, delivering newsletters, investigating and responding to casework or even putting up a poster at election time, it would be much appreciated. We have a great team and we hope that we are making a positive difference in Ashley ward and in Bristol.

Finally, we would welcome feedback on this eFOCUS. We are happy to help residents, local businesses and voluntary agencies where we can, to pursue issues to make Ashley better. Please let me or Waliur know if you do not want to receive emails from us.

Best wishes

Jon
–
Jon Rogers Waliur Rahman
Liberal Democrat Councillor for Ashley07855 494 860
20 Windsor Road rahman_waliur@hotmail.com
St Andrews, Bristol BS6 5BP
0117 914 2558
Jon.rogers@bristol.gov.uk

http://twitter.com/CllrJonRogers

Facebook group http://bit.ly/fbashley
Past issues : http://www.bristol-libdems.org.uk/ashley
Published, printed and promoted by Jon Rogers,
Ashley Ward Lib Dems, 20 Windsor Road, St Andrews Bristol

Here’s the latest from the site.

There will be a big open meeting in early spring – dates and plans to be sorted and announced next month, and in the meantime…

First up is the tree planting tomorrow – all are welcome, kids, grannies, dogs, cats. Get outdoors for a couple of hours of tree planting, put down a hedge and watch it grow over the years, thinking “I helped put that in”… Nice…

Tree planting and give away: Saturday 22 January
This Saturday – come along and plant some trees

Free climate change talks in Bristol:
Starting with Tony Juniper (set up Greenpeace) Thursday 27th January

Training in Bristol:
Neighbourhood power, groups training, Permaculture and more

Neighbourhood partnership meetings:
Get involved in decision making with the council

Want to share a bulk wood purchase?

Bristol Green Roots workshop invite

a brisk newsletter from a chilly Montpelier – hope you’re all warm enough but getting out enough to see some daylight. Here’s an update on actions, invites, reports and recommendations for December. Welcome to Olivier who has volunteered to help with the neighbourhood energy report – nice one!

See you in January,
Ed and the TT Montpelier admin group.

• Tipping Point play highly recommended
• No Tesco campaign: actions right now
• Nicole Foss talk follow up
• Montpelier Park wins £50K to redevelop Ball Court
• Bristol Green Roots workshop invite
• Neighbourhood Partnership meeting report

Here’s our November newsletter. Please forward this to others who you think would be interested – and come and join us this Wednesday for our ‘Big Open Event’…

hope to see you this week,
Ed (TT Montpelier web guy)

Transition Montpelier’s Big Open Event: Wednesday 10 November:
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The Bristol Pound and DIY Streets, ‘Open Space’ time for locals to get activated, tea, cake and more:
See the page on the site here

Free Trees for Montpelier residents:
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If you would like to apply for a Free Tree, please read this selection guide and this planting guide.  Then fill out the application form below before 19 November. FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED!
See the page on the site here

Montpelier Bean Feast AGM: Tuesday 9 November:
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Montpelier Bean Feast’s AGM will be held in The Arts House cafe on the corner of Stokes Croft/Ashley Road on Tuesday 9 November, 7-9pm. Come along and celebrate the success of this year’s Bean Feast, and help shape its future.
See the page on the site here

Community Tree Planting: Saturday 13 November:
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The first Community Tree Planting day will be Saturday 13 November with trees kindly provided by the Woodland Trust.
See the page on the site here

The Big Shift Event: Sunday 28 November:
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Shift Bristol are holding a big event in the Council House on 28th November. It looks good. We’re going to host a stall there…
See the page on the site here

No Tesco campaign update:
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See the page on the site here

Bike Power Workshop: Sunday 12 December:
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See the page on the site here

Magical Mystery Bike Tour landing in Stokes Croft:
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See the page on the site here

Admin group meeting notes:
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See the page on the site here

Volunteer workdays:
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We are working on supporting a bunch of volunteer workdays around the neighbourhood – please get in touch via the contact form if you are interested and want to get involved

Dear Resident

This eFOCUS is sent to those who have expressed an interest in what is happening in and around Ashley ward. If you want additional information on any topic, then please let me know or follow the web link where available. For daily updates see wall at Ashley Ward Information Facebook page http://bit.ly/fbashley

(1) New 20mph limit now live in residential streets in Ashley Easton and Lawrence Hill. Officers have noted numerous requests to extend to St Andrews, Bishopston and Redland (and indeed the rest of Bristol!) http://bristol.gov.uk/20mph Some concerns raised about including Ashley Hill, Sussex Place, Lower Ashley Road, Ashley Road, City Road in the 20mph limit – we will be monitoring. Views welcome.

(2) Residents are delighted that the “Tea Garden” café in St Andrews Park is to remain. Strong support for Karen and Fay’s excellent service at the public meeting on 4th October convinced officers that alternative plans would not be appreciated! Cafe Annual Halloween event on Sunday 31st October between 3:15pm and 7pm. Details at http://bit.ly/cWFVKr

(3) Ashley Neighbourhood Forum meeting is THIS Monday 1st November 6pm – St Pauls Learning and Family Centre, Grosvenor Road, St Pauls – A chance for all residents to help shape our wonderful ward. JR will be a bit late! Apologies.

(4) Communal bins – the pilot scheme in St Pauls seems to be generally successful. Streets are demonstrably cleaner, less cluttered, even friendlier I’m told, and recycling is soaring. There are still some issues, which officers are working on with individual residents. Comments welcome as always.

(5) Ashley Down Road – officers are considering responses to the consultation in preparation to improve the pavements and roads. This is long overdue. With three primary schools now along that stretch, we need safer walking and crossing arrangements.

(6) Official opening of Brunswick Cemetery Gardens between Wilder Street and Brunswick Square St Pauls – this beautiful, tucked away park has been recently restored complete with stunning artwork by internationally renowned artist Hew Locke . Saturday 13 November 12pm – 4pm and Talk at 5pm. More details at http://bit.ly/fbashley

(7) Work has started on the Montpelier Park improvements. Thanks to all, particularly Shiona and the dynamic Montpelier Park Group http://bit.ly/c0aAft

(8) Other spooky Halloween events in York Road Montpelier Sunday 31st October http://bit.ly/bl5bD2 Pumpkin weigh in TODAY Sat 30th October 3-7pm outside Gallifords, Picton Street

(9) Neighbourhood Partnership event to discuss waste management and grounds maintenance, 11 Nov 6 – 9pm in Barton Hill Settlement Community Hall. Ducie Road, Barton Hill – Our local Neighbourhood Partnership has money to spend and services to direct. All welcome!

(10)Sefton Park new Scout, Guide and Community hut fund raising – collecting Evening Post tokens before 3rd November – a great cause. http://bit.ly/9MP3IZ We are dropping our tokens in to Bobby’s News on Derby Road.

(11) New 210 place Primary School building by the GCC Cricket Ground handed over on time. There is scope to extend the building later and double the number of places, subject to planning permission. http://bit.ly/aJNwlj We still need more primary school places.

(12) Information point restored at Montpelier Station – shows next trains, and offers instant audio link with FGW call centre in Swindon.

(13) New local web site for Saxon Road Green Space, St Werburghs. http://saxon-road-green-space.blogspot.com

(14) North Bristol Art trail – 27th and 28th November www.northbristolartists.org.uk

(15) Tesco on Cheltenham Road – request for sale of alcohol license has been rejected by Council Licensing Committee. Further planning meeting on Wed 8 December at 2pm. More info at http://notesco.wordpress.com/

(16) Lots of other Montpelier info at http://www.transitionmontpelier.org.uk/ including “Free trees available for Montpelier” and “Bean Feast AGM 9th November 7pm-9pm Arts House” and “The Yes Men Fix The World” on Monday 1st November 19:30 for 20:00 showing at The Arts Cafe, Stokes Croft!

(17) I have had a number of complaints about parking on St Andrews Road and Richmond Road, Montpelier. Even cases of people unable to get bikes and buggies out of houses because of antisocial pavement parking. If affected you can report on Police non-urgent 24 hour number 0845 456 7000

(18) Hurlingham Road rat run changes – officers expect work complete “current financial year”. I share frustrations at the pace of this, but I am assured that “these things take time”!

(19) Pub news in St Werburghs – Victoria pub up for sale, Duke of York garden is changing hours of use, and Miners arms used for filming “Casualty”! More details at http://www.stwerburghs.org

(20) Old St Nicholas Pub, St Nicholas Road, St Pauls – owner has submitted an appeal against refusal to allow conversion to a 9 bedroomed HMO House of Multiple Occupancy. You can go to http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/pcs and search for Appeal Ref: A/10/2137016 and make any comments on-line.

(21) Sussex Place surgery – I have had confirmation that Montpelier Health Centre has been awarded a contract to run a new branch surgery in the area, initially from Sussex Place surgery, but they will be looking for new premises.

Phew! There is always lots happening in and around the ward. If you have particular topics of interest, then let me know or post yourself at http://bit.ly/fbashley , as Shirley Brown and I also send out infrequent emails on specific topics to those expressing an interest.

Finally, we would welcome feedback on this eFOCUS. We are happy to help residents, local businesses and voluntary agencies where we can, to pursue issues to make Ashley better. Please let me know if you do not want to receive emails from us.

Best wishes

Jon
—
Jon Rogers
Liberal Democrat Councillor for Ashley
20 Windsor Road
St Andrews, Bristol BS6 5BP
0117 914 2558
Jon.rogers@bristol.gov.uk

http://twitter.com/CllrJonRogers

Facebook group http://bit.ly/fbashley
Past issues : http://www.bristol-libdems.org.uk/ashley
Published, printed and promoted by Jon Rogers,
Ashley Ward Lib Dems, 20 Windsor Road, St Andrews Bristol

The budget announcement is upon us this week, and dark times may be ahead – but do NOT fear.

Buckle up, the ride is just beginning; our best hope is to stick together and do it together, by ourselves, for ourselves and others, with eachother, for eachother…

Here’s what Transition Montpelier has to offer to the world in these ‘interesting times’:

Film showing 01/11 – The Yes Men Fix the World – Free!
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More information on the site

Trees for Free: Get a FREE tree or two, give some O2 back to the planet:
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More information on the site

York Road Halloween Street Party: 30 and 31 October: Pumpkin business!
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More information on the site

Beanfeast AGM: 9 November: Keeping the organic spirit live!
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More information on the site

Big Open Autumn Event: 10 November: Find your place to do your thing:
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More information on the site

… So far, so strong, but we need to stick together to learn and grow together.

If you do one thing, forward this to your friends – there’s lots going on in Montpelier; lots to do, lots of support needed: don’t let those scarey cuts get you down; divided we fall. This is not a rehearsal.

Subscribe to Transition Montpelier community news announcements:
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Subscription link to TT Montpelier stuff

Autumn is now officially with us, we’re moving back into gear after summer’s growing, camping, walking, and generally not being indoors-ing.

The Urban Greening group are having their next meeting soon, we’re holding a big open event in November to catch up on the projects’ work and find more things to do, we’re giving hundreds of trees away to Montpelier households, Bristol Green Doors have written up their amazing event, we’re doing a showing of ‘The Yes Men Save the World’ and more… read on…

Urban Greening Meeting: 14/10/10
Get your diaries out for the Urban Greening’s Autumn meeting on October 14th, 20:00 – 22:00
The Autumn meeting will be Thursday October 14, 8-10pm in the old Fairfield School.  Hope you can come!  At the moment, this will be discussing group progress and how to keep momentum going.
Read more about the Urban Greening meeting

Free Tree Giveaway: advance notice
The Urban Greening group are delighted to have joined forces with a local tree planting fund and will shortly be distributing FREE TREES to Montpelier households. A mix of fruit and native trees will be available to chose from.
Read more about the Free Tree Giveaway

Film showing: The Yes Men Fix the World
In order to lighten the load on the day all the government cuts are announced (20th October) and the fascinating Big Society saga takes another twist in its tail, we’re going to show a great film about two keen inspired young activists, who are busy hacking corporations’ tidy varnished facias.Yes that’s right – we’re showing
Read more about The Yes Men Fix The World film showing

Bristol Green Doors event write up
It is now two weeks since the first Bristol Green Doors open homes event and after a lot of very, very hard work Kate and I have both had a chance to relax and reflect. So how was it? Well basically it was great and we want to do another one next year! Here are a few thoughts and an update so you appreciate where we are at.
Read more about the Bristol Green Doors event

Well done you Beanfeast-ers!
On behalf of the organising group I just wanted to say a huge thank you for giving up your time on Saturday to help the Bean Feast run smoothly and keep the happy vibes going.  It was a really lovely day and that is in no small measure down to you.  We certainly couldn’t have done it without your generosity!
Read more about the Beanfeast-ers thank you

Make your home an eco-home course
Following Bristol Green Doors is a timely 6 week course entitled: ‘Make your home an eco home.’ This aims to demystify what it takes to start living more sustainably in your house.
Where Green Doors inspires, we hope to get people on the journey themselves! Book now – it starts on October 5th.
Read more about the Make your home and eco-home course

Wood buying in bulk, anyone?
Do you have a (efficient and clean) wood burning stove? Would you be interested in being part of a group bulk-buying wood in Montpelier? Jo has kindly offered to co-ordinate a bulk wood purchase from a recommended wood provider (approx price £85 per metric cubic tonne), but only if there is significant interest.
Read more about buying wood in bulk

Can you help research Bristol’s Sustainability history?
Our friends over at The Schumacher Institute have got some cash to document Bristol’s history of Sustainability. They are looking for some volunteers to help out. Can you get involved?
Read more about the Sustainability research

Admin meeting minutes
The TT Montpelier admin group meet every month to discuss exciting things like when to hold events, what the website does and doesn’t do, who owes who want money, etc. etc.
Read the admin group’s meeting notes from October 2010