Clifton Down Greenvine
News from your local Green Councillors
Tom Hathway and Carla Denyer
Oct 2021
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Index
Clifton Down updates:
Citywide updates:
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Your existing Green councillor Carla Denyer is joined by new Councillor Tom Hathway following the elections in May. Between us received over 50% of votes cast, so a huge thanks for your support!
Since May, Tom has been working with the community on securing funds to improve the corner of Alma Road and Whiteladies, supporting residents to comment on planning applications, and meeting with officers to monitor and develop the Cotham Hill pedestrianisation. He sits on the Planning and Health Scrutiny Committees in the Council.
Tom can help you with any enquiries you have - his contact details are:
Email: Cllr.Tom.Hathway@bristol.gov.uk
Mobile: 07584 182840
You can also find him on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Over the summer, the Council provided more space for walking and cycling on our streets to support social distancing during COVID-19. This included installing two temporary road closures on Cotham Hill – between Whiteladies Gate and Hampton Lane, and between Hampton Park and Abbotsford Road.
The Council has now opened a consultation asking residents, businesses and anyone who enjoys Cotham Hill to comment on three possible permanent schemes.
These designs are based on suggestions from local residents and businesses about what could be improved about the temporary scheme, to help people get around safely and enjoyably both during the pandemic and in the long-term.
Please submit your views online here. The consultation is open until 30th November.
Carla and Tom have met with the Council to give feedback on the Voi e-scooter trial, raising issues including poor parking on pavements, and rider safety.
Some small improvements have been made, but Greens are pushing for parking to be moved to dedicated parking bays, an idea which also has the support of the Guide Dogs UK charity.
The trial is being co-ordinated through the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) so we are advised to feed back to them directly. You can contact WECA about the scooter trial here.
We are backing the Bristol Cycling Campaign calling for 1000 new on street 'bike hangars' for local residents to store cycles securely. If you have a suggested location for a hangar or any other improvements to walking and cycling in the city, you can help demonstrate demand by plotting them on this interactive travel map from the council.
One of the few bike hangars already in Bristol (credit: Bristol Cycling Campaign)
Got an old bike in the shed, but feeling a bit wobbly? FREE cycle lessons are now open for bookings in Bristol with Life Cycle UK. Delivered outdoors and 1:1 under safe social distancing by friendly Cycle Instructors.
Carla has done this training herself and can confirm it is really helpful for improving your confidence in cycling on busy roads.
Find out more and book here: www.lifecycleuk.org.uk/cycle-training
Bristol Waste Company's garden waste collections (the Green wheelie bins and paper sacks) have been suspended for a few months because of the UK-wide driver shortage. But good news: collections have now begun again.
To check your collection dates, start a new garden waste collection subscription, order new recycling boxes or report a missed collection, visit the Bristol Waste Company website.
Julian Greenbank asks Tom Hathway what Greens' recent success in the local elections could mean for the city's 2030 carbon neutral target. An achievable goal or is not enough is being done to prevent a climate disaster happening? Is Bristol going green fast enough? - West England Bylines
Tom speaks out against huge new student flats development in Bedminster: Bristol student accommodation complex to go ahead despite 'considerable concerns' - Bristol Live
Carla presents the Bristol Airport expansion opposition case to inquiry: Watch: Final fight over Bristol Airport expansion begins - The Bristol Cable
Carla joins Greens Shadow Cabinet set up as party becomes joint largest on city council: Bristol Greens announce formation of Shadow Cabinet - Bristol 24/7
And in case you missed it, Carla has also been elected as co-leader of the Green Party of England and Wales! Green party in England and Wales unveils new leadership duo - The Guardian
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By working collaboratively with other parties before a council meeting on Tuesday September 7th, Greens were able to help secure a sustainable future for the city, by getting the Council to pass two motions setting higher environmental land protections and zero carbon housing standards.
Firstly Greens worked to improve a motion proposed by the Conservatives, which was intended to protect a local farm from development. By suggesting additional wording the Green councillors managed to strengthen and widen the motion’s scope, to also propose protection for Sites of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCIs) and wildlife corridors across the city via the upcoming Local Plan process. This passed with the support of Conservative and Lib Dem councillors, with the Labour group abstaining from the vote.
This was then followed by a Green motion to make it easier to deliver zero carbon homes by setting tougher energy standards for future housing in the city. Higher energy standards means housing will not need costly retrofitting at a later date, and residents should benefit from lower energy bills. This time Greens worked cross party with the Labour group to make the motion stronger, and the resulting motion, seconded by Labour, was passed unanimously.
The motion was proposed by Green Councillor Lisa Stone, who said
“I’m delighted the motion has passed – this sends a strong signal from Full Council, and I expect to see it reflected in the Council’s Local Plan. Councillors from all parties voted for the Climate Emergency motion back in 2018 – it’s now time for us to put that into practice. As the recent IPCC report makes clear, the cost for all of us of failing to prepare for the future is too great to bear.”
Read more here and here.
Delays to Clean Air Zone
In July the Council announced that the Clean Air Zone that would charge the most polluting vehicles from entering the city centre has been delayed again, even though air pollution is estimated to cause 300 premature deaths in the city every year.
The Government had ordered the zone be brought in this October, but Bristol City Council confirmed it would not start until next summer instead. The council insists that the date by which the city will reach legal levels of air quality will be unaffected, only the start date will change.
Carla, in her role as Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board at the Council, asked if the council had estimated whether there was any “substantial harm to health” from the delay to the start date.
She said: “I understand that the compliance date won’t be affected but one would assume, I think, that if the start date is later, that there will still be people who are affected by that nine months less of having a clean air zone in place and I wondered if the council had made any assessment of that.”
The council’s strategic city transport service manager replied: “No, we haven’t assessed that in any detail.”
Green Party councillors are worried that this delay creates uncertainty for residents and businesses and makes it harder for people to plan. The council has promised that it will share more information about support and exemptions for low income workers and residents inside the zone in Autumn 2021. To date this has not been published.
Read more here and here.
Following the Greens’ excellent results in May’s local councillor elections, where we received more votes overall than any other party, there are now 24 Green Councillors, equal to the Labour group in Bristol.
So in order to better hold the Labour administration to account the Greens have set up a shadow cabinet with roles representing nine different policy areas.
The new Green Shadow Cabinet in Bristol
Clifton Councillor Paula O’Rourke, leader of the Green Group, said:
“The Green Shadow Cabinet will be a voice for social and environmental justice across Bristol. We will press the council for the bold action the city needs, whether on housing, transport or the climate emergency.”
She added that the Greens would work with Labour where possible but “we also won’t shy away from using our strength in the Council to call out the administration, or hold the Labour Mayor and Cabinet to account where needed.”
Read more here.
Bristol Greens have long been part of the campaign opposing Bristol Airport’s plans to more than double in size, which would lead to an extra million tonnes of carbon emissions each year and jeopardise Bristol’s target to go carbon neutral by 2030.
After being rejected by North Somerset Council in February last year, the final decision now rests with a government appointed inspectorate after the Airport appealed the Council’s decision. At a Bristol Council meeting in July this year, Green Councillor and Youth Climate Strike organiser Lily Fitzgibbon pressed Bristol’s Labour Mayor on his continued support for the airport’s plans. For now Marvin Rees still refuses to oppose the Airport’s expansion at this critical moment. Lily’s co-councillor Emma Edwards has written an opinion piece about the decision here.
Green Cllr Lily Fitzgibbon asking her question at Bristol City Council member forum in City Hall (Credit: Bristol City Council)
Greens called on local leaders, including Marvin Rees and the new Labour WECA Mayor Dan Norris, to formally oppose the Airport’s expansion plans before the government inquiry ends and a decision is made.
Bristol Council is considering plans for estate regeneration which could include the demolition of some council housing blocks. More information on the proposals being developed by the Labour administration is expected in the Autumn, but the Cabinet lead for housing has promised council tenants will be consulted fully over proposals, including having a veto over whether any homes are demolished.
Tony Dyer, the Green Group’s shadow cabinet member for housing, said that as an absolute minimum, any social housing demolished must be replaced on a one-for-one basis. He added that it was crucial “to get tenants on board by being as open and transparent as possible, for that to be done as soon as possible to reduce any concerns, and to not bypass local councillors who will often be the first point of contact for local residents.”
You can find out more in the Bristol Cable’s article here:
High-rises under scrutiny as council considers rebuilding social housing - The Bristol Cable
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Do you follow us on social media?
In case you don't already follow us, you can find us on social media on the following platforms:
Facebook: @CllrCarlaDenyer, @Tom.Hathway1, @BristolGreenParty
Twitter: @carla_denyer, @Tom_jam, @bristolgreen
Instagram: @carladenyer, @tomblr93, @bristolgreenparty
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Contact us
Councillor Tom Hathway
Cllr.Tom.Hathway@bristol.gov.uk*
07584 182840
*(note spelling: Hathway, not Hathaway!)
Councillor Carla Denyer
Cllr.Carla.Denyer@bristol.gov.uk
07469 413306
Green Group Office
greencllrgroup@bristol.gov.uk
Tel: 0117 353 26155
Contact the Green Party
National party website:
https://www.greenparty.org.uk
Become a member:
https://www.greenparty.org.uk/join
Bristol Green Party:
http://www.bristolgreenparty.org.uk
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