UPDATE: 14th of December 2006 To see some of the statements that we presented to the council on December the 5thand our summary of the loss of parking as a result of the proposed changes to our existing bus route please read the comments section below this story.
UPDATE: 28th of November 2006 We love Bristol, we love Star 107.2. A big thank you to Bristol’s ‘STAR FM’ for their excellent report on our local issue.
Fair is fair, the Evening Post has also listened and reported on the issue. We have been in touch and I shall pay them a personal visit.
Did we miss anyone? Let us know.
Watch this blog for our new u-tube 'TAKE FIVE'.
PUT UP OUR POSTERS AND JOIN US ON TUESDAY THE 5th OF DECEMBER IN THE ENTRANCE TO THE COUNCIL HOUSE ON COLLEGE GREEN TO FIGHT FOR YOUR PARKING AND HIGH STREET!
SIGN THE PETITION (in the following shops) At Church Road: STUFF At Summerhill Road JONES THE BREAD bakery and The Pied Horse Pub.
Previously, 18th of November 2006:WE STILL HAVE A CHANCE TO STOP THE RED DEDICATED BUS LANE STRIPS, EXTENDED, ENHANCED PARKING RESTRICTIONS AND NO TURNING RESTRICTIONS. The Evening Post and its local supplement the Observer have finally caught up with our news even though we posted on the 11th of October. What saddens us the most is that we only have one newspaper and the news we report always seems to end up as a watered down hybrid following the council line.
Steve of ‘STUFF’ centre in the recent EP and Observer photo above has complained bitterly of his objections, praised our support and spoke of over 1000 signatures collected in only a couple of weeks many at his own store.
St George Library is closing for refurbishment from November the 15th to February the 19th 2007 (provided that the work goes according to schedule).
During this period the library service will be operating from ‘Summerhill Senior Citizens Club’ (opposite St George Baptist Church, Summerhill Road).
Opening Hours for Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday are 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 4 pm and on Fridays 10am to 1pm only. Please support the library while it’s at the SSCC.
Known as ‘The Black Farmer’ a title he himself espouses, google it and see, Wilfred had many interesting things to say about his humble origins and the courage and tenacity needed to succeed.
Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones came with his family from Jamaica when he was 4 years old. In his early teens, as the oldest child, whilst working on his father’s allotment in Birmingham, he dreamed of becoming a farmer to escape the concrete jungle and the two up two down in which he lived with his rather large family. After a lucky chance due to some tenacity resulting in a career in television working on programs such as ‘Food and Drink’ he finally achieved his early goal.
I empathise with the perspectives that make this man an excellent conservative ‘A’ list choice, a man that like myself was a young rebel and can therefore understand many of the issues confronting some of our disaffected youth but also a successful business man from scratch. We may be looking at the future party chairman and I for one wish him good luck.
Talk of the importance of the family and the extended family young and old was a hot topic and in this regard I reiterate the message that we need generally champion the whole family, grandparents, parents and children in equal measure and reverse the trend and the parameters that exist and are causing its current disintegration.
Regarding the family I declare a personal interest. The abolition of slavery and votes for women were both great Conservative achievements. The present human rights movement concerns the disenfranchisement of men from the family. (Click on Sir Bob Geldof FNF Insight for more.) I hope that equality for fathers, an issue that our conservative party has recognized and put on our agenda for change is realized if not in the next parliament, sooner, to stop the tragedy facing over 150,000 children and their fathers every year!
Furthermore, people, men and women should not be made to feel inadequate because they want to raise their children and not hand them over to our nation of underpaid nannies and find this untenable whilst simultaneously working. Money is not everything, it should be about choice and quality of life! ‘The traditional family’ is statistically by far the best environment for children, it should not be considered a dirty phrase and above all there should be equality between mothers and fathers, the foundation stone for a new golden era.
(Alderman Gwyneth Hebblethwaite between Wilfred and myself in the lead caption reminded us not to forget the needs of her peers. I explained that culturally, to me at least, this notion was anathema.)
The proposed alterations to our bus route were the trigger.
We did not realize the severity to the traders of the effects until we began to enquire and found out how many were planning to close down with the resulting losses in both jobs and local services.
At the B.E.S.T. (Bristol East Side Traders) meeting in the ‘Old Bank’ on October the 11th (see previous post) we found certain things difficult to stomach, e.g. Redfield traders told us that they have been blackmailed by council officials with the backing of the ruling Liberal Democrat cabinet on the council.
They have been told that they will not get ‘matched funding’ to renovate their shop fronts unless the so-called showcase bus route goes ahead. This was to keep them quiet about the detrimental effects that they could see would obviously result to businesses along Church Road and Summerhill Road.
As we go to press some shops on Church Road have reported to us that they have had intimidation from people claiming to be officials, to take down posters in their windows protesting against the dedicated bus lane. Posters that they have a perfect right to display, after all this is supposed to be a free country. I am outraged by this incident! It was all giving me a headache until I suggested to our traders that we form our own association. Let us not forget that B.E.S.T’s (who refused to comment about the meeting to the Evening Post) remit falls into a geographical area that excludes St George completely and anyway only includes part of the bus route.
I propose ‘R.E.S.T.’ as our title, this stands for Real East Side Traders and the real is for the point of view it will give, It voice will certainly be uncensored and hopefully independent of local bureaucratic sanctions. On a lighter note another suggestion has been B.R.A.T. ‘bus route association of traders, ha, ha, ;-)
Please post your ideas for this new association. If you own a business in St George West or St George East and would like to join, please contact either Nik Jethwa on 07909570919 or myself on 01179736812.
A big thank you to all who attended the meeting. As I entered the hall I was taken aback by the enormous support shown for our Parks. The Beehive Centre was literally packed and as I found, broadly representative.
I found the advice by our council officers very useful and the positive comments made by the majority extremely helpful.
We were told of the many other parks that had organised themselves and found sources of funds ranging up to £100,000 in one year.
My special thanks to Stella, who organised the exhibit featuring the history of our park, Grenville, our esteemed retired local headmaster who I think spoke very eloquently about the park, helping us younger ‘folk’ (as he would say) to get some perspective on its heyday and our aspirations and thanks to our ‘tea ladies and gentleman’. Oh yes, and to the majority who offered their support either to steer or to help practically.
Mr Ben Sullivan our community beat officer sent his apologies as he was away training and filled in our survey on which he ticked every box and stated his full support.
We now have a rather healthy database and with the other identified groups that I shall contact we are on our way.
I do ask that we all spread the word and for all interested parties to get in touch.
Please post your comments. I will keep this blog up to date with our progress. I hope to have compiled the data and organised the interested parties within two weeks.
31st of October 2006 As we go to press we have organised the first meeting of a new "Friends of St Georges Parks" group for November 9th at the Beehive centre. This is in response to the large numbers of people willing to be involved and help look after our parks and green spaces as a result of our on going survey. The council the police and local experts are all supporting this new group which we hope will not just sit around for years begging for money but organise practical things in our parks such as regular litter pick-ups, community events, campaign for improvements, liaise with schools and other community groups as well as take action to see that these services are supported by our council in the future. Already several local people have made suggestions of the kinds of activities and campaigns that the group could organize. Please contact me if you want to become involved, have your own expertise to offer or would like a copy of our survey.
The association was formed two years ago with the aim of supporting and celebrating our community. We have our own mission statement that aims to address any issues that affect our community and the residents who live in the road. The overall aim is to support each other and improve the quality of life and our environment.
We maintain the timeless values of being friendly, polite and being good neighbours. We meet regularly to discuss any issues that arise and aim to work in close partnership with the Police, the Council and any other relevant agencies, in order to represent the needs of all the residents who make up our lively and diverse community. All meetings are informal, but we take minutes and maintain an agenda. I regularly produce news letters which are circulated to all the residents to keep everyone up to date.
Earlier this year in 2006 we were awarded the Neighbourhood Watch Award from Avon & Somerset Constabulary, (Urban category) and I was awarded the coordinators award. When I received the award from the Chief Constable I was proud to do so on behalf of the whole community, as it recognised our team efforts.
We are currently addressing two main issues of concern, our connecting footpath and the replanting of the trees on our road. (Please check the comments attached to this post for more information.)
On a personal level, (and the following views are not intended to reflect those of our residents group,) what is now evident to me is that the councillors are refusing to work cooperatively and collaboratively for the sake of our city and its residents. There seems to be a total lack of vision for Bristol and our area. Bristol council in my view needs a good shake up, and the councillors and officers need to realise that they are working for the city and its citizens, and that they are charged with considerable responsibilities, but are privileged to represent such a lovely city. Sadly, it is declining rapidly and they need a wake up call.
I was born 57 years ago and raised in St. George, and have lived in the area and worked in Bristol all my life. Until my retirement two years ago I was a Primary Head teacher. I have seen our city and St George decline over many years. It has fantastic potential, but needs the support of a Councillor with vision and a dynamic approach to tackling the issues of concern that affect us as residents in this area of St. George.
For me, it is so refreshing to hear from Angelo, and his vision for the area. As an addition, he lives in St. George and really knows the area and has clearly demonstrated that he wants real changes and positive improvements but also he takes a "hands-on" approach.
We rarely see or hear from our elected Councillors (except when elections are on the agenda or when we contact them with concerns) and they are certainly not high profile in my view.
Come on Bristol we can do it!
The motto for the city used to be "Ship - shape and Bristol fashion " Its time to clear the decks of Bristol City Councils clutter and sail with real pride and vision.
Other cities are leaving us in the docks!!
Grenville Johnson. Secretary Kensington Road Residents Association & Neighbourhood Watch.
A disabled resident of Ventnor Road told us that because of trees overhanging the lane that links Ventnor with Holmes Hill Road she had to walk the long way around. It was impossible to pass as we found it.
Having reported it to the council and seen no response after three weeks we took positive action and trimmed it back ourselves.
We find it to be unacceptable that a public footpath was allowed to become impassable for months on end for the sake of 15 minuses of work with a hedge trimmer.
The tenants news letter ‘Inside Housing’ recently explained that until now, the council have not had a co-ordinated way of maintaining all the trees on land managed by neigbourhood and housing services. They have now teamed up with Culture and Leisure Services to look after the 15,000 trees on public lands in Bristol.
If you have concerns about trees around you, either contact me or call council officer Jonathon Pattison on 0117 9664605.
Fly-tipping that we have reported: Naseby Walk, Albert Grove South and Plummers Hill (Pre-fab estate) as well as the lane between Kensington Road and Battenburg Road see upcoming post about ‘The Kensington Road Residents Association’ that is campaigning to improve the street and clear up this lane. There is an appalling amount of fly-tipping around the ward, is it my imagination or has the tipping increased since the two weekly rubbish collection?
Street Lighting issues we have reported: The lack of street lighting and an uneven path at Sycamore Close which is a hazard especially for the elderly and disabled people living along it and a streetlight on Beaufort Road which was reportedly obscured by overhanging trees from the cemetery.
The issues with this large open public space were drawn to our attention by local people horrified at the amount of fly-tipping, vandalism and antisocial behaviour associated with the field in recent months. The effect of this and the lack of imaginative use has been to put local people off enjoying its benefits.
In September we contacted the council on behalf of the residents. In particular to clear up a disgusting unhygienic ‘den’ including an abandoned boat which was attracting crowds of youngsters indulging in under age drinking and minor arson. See the picture.
Assistant Community Park Manager (East) Bristol Parks, Claire Adams gave us this reply on the 4th of October 2006. “On 27 September I asked our contractors to clear the den and any flytip from Plummers Hill O/s. I have also arranged for the BMX ramps, which have been dug in the park to be levelled and made safe. Youths digging holes in the park for bike ramps has become a new problem for us across the East of Bristol and is being reported to the ASB team. Currently we are filling in the holes and making the area safe as soon as the holes are seen or reported. It is very disappointing that the police are observing but taking no action.”
The council acted promptly to our report and have also put additional gates at the entrance to Plummers Hill to stop motorbikes from being driven in. (Picture, Angelo talking to local youngsters who have ideas for a five aside pitch.)
(Update 26/10/06) Sadly there have been recurring problems with the availability of the key to the gate. A couple of months ago hooligans started a fire and emergency services were unable to access the field and only the other day a council contractor drove in to cut the grass and left the gate locked in the wide open position. Residents from the nearby estate have suggested that a ‘responsible tenant’ should hold a key to avoid these sorts of issues in the future.
We are hopeful that the new ‘Friends of St Georges Park Group’ will adopt this open space and that local residents will campaign for improvements. A little ‘under age thinking’ gave us the idea that a simple 5 a side football pitch marked out in the small field would encourage local children and their parents to make more use of the space. Perhaps this could be linked by the city parks review into some sort of little league like the ones on the Downs. Other ideas are more community events in the field to encourage community participation and discourage yobbish behaviour.
(Update 20/11/2006) There are continuing problems with motorbikes etc. getting in to the fields. There are currently five entrances including the unofficial one through the hedge at Naseby Walk.
We have been told by the police beat manager PC Ben Sullivan that funding has been secured for a permanent gate to block the Cecil Avenue entrance. The council also agreed back in February this year to fence off the Naseby Walk entrance.
PC Sullivan shares our frustration that these pending improvements to our security are taking so long for the council to implement, especially bearing in mind the extra costs resulting from the on going vandalism, fly-tipping and wasting of police time.
I have to report a great discussion with Professor Tariq Modood, MBE, from the University of Bristol’s department of Sociology, on the issues around racial equality.
He helped to flesh out the subject for me with which I have some breadth of understanding. I have broadly come away with two main articulations.
Firstly the notion of equality not uniformity that is the laudable English tradition as opposed to say the French or American greater tendency to equality by conformity. Based around the foundation of equal citizenship (Oh, you didn’t know it was unequal? Post a comment if you want more.)
And secondly and this is a personal comment that the above being so and its implied rights to the individual, a main secondary issue is of security and appropriateness. I am a biker. It was not always so, but now if I go to a petrol station I am usually required to take of my helmet and there are often detailed signs pointing this out. At first I resented this, but I understood it and I respect it.
Some people from all quarters and for different reasons fear the veil. My esteemed friend reports that a cross section of wearers reveals a majority of teenagers rebelling who’s own mothers do not wear the veil and furthermore are embarrassed by their children’s behaviour.
I welcome all views; I do not believe in sweeping difficult issues under the carpet, please send me your views.
I feel that a combination of straight talk, at the petrol station or in front of an official, if asked to remove your helmet or veil, either do it or don’t shop there and on the other hand talking about it takes it out of the realm of the decent Muslim families embarrassment and into a perhaps more realistic perspective of teenagers will protest and dress up as mods, punks, with hoodies and veils.
Bearing in mind the issues that we all face, we need to save ourselves from future misunderstandings. Lets talk about this.
When I encounter tensions in my local community, I wonder why our officials have not been more vocal and communicative with the respective community leaders. Keep me informed and I shall keep you posted, let us not be beaten by ignorance.
I do not apologise for summarising here, this is by no means a finished statement, it is an invitation to discussion.
Residents of the Whitehall Avenue/Plummers Hill Pre-Fab estate braved the rain to celebrate after receiving assurances from Bovis Homes that their vital footpath link through to St Georges Park and the Church Road shops will be saved in Bovis’s new development.
Earlier this year residents petitioned the council to keep the footpath between Whitehall Avenue and Howard Avenue open. For the elderly and disabled people living on the estate it is their only direct route to the shops, the library and the park. However the council’s original correspondence did nothing to allay their fears that the residents might lose their path.
St George West Conservatives contacted Bovis and received this assurance from their manager Alan Cook. “We are very concerned to reassure residents that we will maintain free access through our new development for pedestrians and cyclists. The footpath will close TEMPORARILY when work starts, but I will make sure that the builders understand the importance of the access and reopen it as soon as possible.”
Angelo says, “ I have seen the plans (see picture) and the new pedestrian access closely follows the route of the existing footpath. I am very grateful to ‘Bovis Homes’ for being so helpful in reassuring the residents and keeping in touch with them while the new houses are being built.”
This project is an estate of 106 houses some of which are ‘affordable social housing’ on land sold to Bovis by the city council after the rebuilding of the old pre-fab estates. Anyone interested can look at the planed at the planning office behind the council house application number 06/02890/F.
We had a fairly satisfactory meeting with Mr Steven Bird of the highways department. Mr Bird was kind enough to help put things into perspective. I have to spend some times with my Dictaphone but I promise to post a more thorough update soon.
Broadly Mr Bird conveyed the good news that there would be no speed sofas on Church Road and that we would be getting satellite controlled bus time information at our stops and via SMS on our phones!
Are these the sweeteners?
So far Mr Bird has been very kind and we applaud him. He has promised to communicate with me and I hope to receive a schedule of works and procedures soon.
So for the moment, it seems that our voices are being heard if we bother and we should stop whinging. All we need to do is enter the debate with our Mr Bird who says that his agenda is only the laudable one of encouraging environmentally friendly transport.
Makes me glad I didn't show him plan B, 'NO 24 Hour Bus Lane!'
Feel free to print our poster and display it if you live or work along the bus route or will be affected by the proposed alterations.
Let us talk of upgraded parking behind our high street and what this could mean for the improvement of our derelict lanes along this route and so on. Suggestions anyone?
Lets ask him for a tram! ;-)
UPDATE: 31st of October 2006 Have you got the hump? Residents of St. George West have, over the councils (increasingly sneaky looking) plans to impose unnecessary speed humps as part of the so called "showcase bus route", speed humps which mysteriously do not appear on their original plans but which are being advertised on your nearest lamppost!
Now, as we go to press, residents of QUEENS ROAD and THE AVENUE are worried that they will have a speed hump or humps imposed on them as part of speed restrictions resulting from the proposed alterations.
We say, "NO BUS LANE THROUGH ST.GEORGE!" Go into the advice shop on Church Rd opposite Tescos, tell the council what you think. Put up a "No 24 hr" or "No Peak Hr bus lane" poster in your window. Sign our petition in local shops or by sending your name and address to my e-mail (top right of this site). Come to the council house on Tuesday December 5th at 2pm to tell the councillors imposing this on us exactly how you feel.(Contact me and I will advise you how to do this.)
Update 14th of November 2006 Feel free to print out our petition and canvass for signatures. Please return any signatures before December the 5th
On the 29th of August 2006, Cllr. Gary Hopkins stated in a letter to the EP that kitchen waste collected from Bristol Streets in June was “already being used on Somerset fields” as fertilizer. In other words, he said that the process of composting took less than ten weeks.
However on 12th of September the EP talked to the company in Dorset that is dealing with Bristol’s composting. They reported that it is currently only being used in Dorset and that the total time from start to finish of their composting process is over 4 months!
As a keen gardener I have never been able to create home compost in less than a year. If Cllr. Hopkins has some secret knowledge or method by which we could all produce compost in about two months, would he please share this knowledge at least with the gardeners and allotment holders of Bristol if not the company he chose to do our recycling?
Surely this will encourage many more people to try home composting, which is one of his stated aims?
Angelo
Question: What has been your experience of the new recycling regime?
UPDATE: 31st of October 2006 The outcry across the city about the green bins with their covert surveillance device (the spy-chip) has made the Lib Dem lead council back down and offer paper green bags instead. At least with the bags you only need to use it as often as you have garden waste, but they are still charging you for collecting them, unlike other neighbouring councils.
Angelo says: “Please go back to weekly collections for black bins!” I have personally seen around St George West the public health hazard that has been the result of the two-weekly collection. The only happy creatures are the maggots, rats seagulls and foxes that are feasting on it.
UPDATE: 11th of November 2006
It was pointed out to me (as I do not tend to read that news paper) that in the Daily Mail today:
“The scrapping of weekly collections has caused alarm and fears over hygiene and health.
This autumn Defra has belatedly, ordered an inquiry into the health implications of fortnightly collections.”
In my household we have a phrase for this “Good morning Athens!” Of course the winter will suppress this situation somewhat but I ask you who is looking forward to our next summer of bi-weekly collections?
Additional
How to Stop Junk Mail! Save trees and help our postmen and women. You may not know that the majority of Royal Mail deliveries are now junk mail. Our postal workers have signed contracts, that if they refuse to deliver anything they will be sacked, but you can help them and yourself from being deluged by this junk: send an A4 sae to: Door_To_Door Opt-Outs, Royal Mail Kingsmead House, Oxpens Road, Oxford OX1 1RX or contact me and I will give you one of their forms and you will have less to put in your bins!
We hope this is the beginning of an annual event to promote the interests of our park. Send your pictures of the party for posting here. Thanks to Body English and all contributors. UPDATE All the preparation doesn't stop us having fun. Weather permitting. We have to say it was a good day... Thanks to the many more people to who did our survey on the day, it's getting big and we are now getting a far clearer picture. I think we should soon be able to post feedback on the main issues and most wanted changes. Remember, we have sparked of a citywide action by the council and so our survey will be handed to the parks manager as part of this so please continue to send your suggestions or post them right here. Update: 14th of January 2007
Look what they did to our blog art. We like the colour though. If they were only as judicious at keeping our park in order and up to date.
(Consultation deadline August 31st) We are all in favour of improving public transport BUT, how many speed humps, parking restrictions and no turning orders do we actually need if any? The proposed alterations to the bus route that goes right through our ward from Easton to South Glos will directly affect many of our local streets. Customers of our local businesses will not be able to park casually for short periods, neither will delivery vans. Please continue to send your views to the director of planning, Bristol City Council or you can also send them to me and I shall make sure that the council receives them.
We say, speed humps on Church Road? NO! What about ambulances, infirm bus passengers and damage to our cars? What is your opinion? I shall post the letter that I handed in at the bus route office opposite Tesco on Church Road (where you can go to view a large scale map of the proposal) for the July deadline in comments for anyone who is interested. I have spoken to many on this issue and it is clear that most residents and shopkeepers are against many aspects of the proposal.
'I support the local businesses and residents who believe most of the proposed changes will be detrimental to their business and our area.'
It is also clear that although we rant and rave privately, many of us do not actually put pen to paper and state our views. There are effectively millions earmarked for improvements to our highroad. Please, let the council know what you think and help to make sure that money is spent in a way that will truly benefit the area!
As you are here, why not comment on the way you would like our park improved. Just click on the comments tab below. From the original survey we asked, which of the following improvements would you like to see made to the park?
Basket ball court improvements, a bandstand, Extended young kids section, first aid post, more bins and signs indicating fines for littering, better maintenance and extension of the existing skate park, a designated picnic area, a park warden, a club building, repair wooden benches, refreshment facility?
Please indicate which of the above improvements you would like to see. Do you have any other comments or suggestions on how the park could be improved?
I can report that replies to the paper survey have been coming in thick and fast. There is clearly great pride and interest in the park. We have received some good suggestions including many requests to reinstate the punting that used to go on at our lake. The most popular suggestion is a full time warden. I will keep you posted.
UPDATE 21st October 2006: We have organised the first meeting for the ‘Friends of St Georges Parks’ at the ‘Beehive Centre’ Stretford Road, by St Ambrose Church on Thursday November 9th 7.30pm.
Guests invited include, PC Ben Sullivan, Council community development officer Richard Fletcher, local experts, business people and residents with ambitions for the Park.
We hope this new group will develop to include the other parks and open spaces around the ward, which have deteriorated over the years.
All are welcome; please bring your ideas, expertise and suggestions for future speakers etc.
"St.George skatepark body english street style ghetto fun jam hippy festival", are you ready?
The event is a celebration of Bristol's subcultures and in short is aimed to inspire local children and give back something free to the local community.
The planned list of events are as follows, BMX and skateboard comp running all day open to everyone of all ages, with special guest riders and skaters, 2 stages of live bands and Dj's which represent some of the best musicians in the west. Martial arts demos from junior and senior world champions the Black Dragons, Capoeira demos from Bristol's "Filhos de Angola" group, Dance workshops, Healing area, Stalls, Wacky races from Biggles Recycles bike workshop and free bike repairs, Live cabaret from some of Bristol's wildest, performers, Circus workshops, Dancing girls and much much more ........
So if you could help in any of the following ways it would be much appreciated, donating prizes, providing some of your time stewarding or helping with the planning of the event contributing a workshop or bringing your own skills to make the event even better please get in touch.
Check out the St George youth culture link to see the Body English video of the excellent 2005 event and the erection of some new ramps in our park, thanks to Craig (monkey boy) and co..
Update 2014: Just found out an old hero Emmeline
Pankhurst was a self centred misandrist.It turns out she was involved
in the white feather campaign guilt tripping young men to go off to war
and die in their millions. What I said below, I take it all back. We live and learn, but I will leave my old views as a record. And
that's not all. Working with the conservatives exposed me to the reality
of UK politics, Red, blue or yellow, I met them all. At this point you will not be surprised to know that all the funding for the cons came from one bankster, Milburn. There were bank manager councillors an Army reservist MP and a gay office overseer. Nothing against homosexuals, but knowing the layout helps you understand the outcomes.
How bright eyed and hopeful I was that I could help to facilitate change from within and equal treatment for fathers and men and boys in general. In short, the whole
thing is a sham that in no way reflects the needs of the majority, unless you are a bankster, an arms dealer, etc.. My advice today is DON'T VOTE for any lame stream primary colour party as it is, unbeknown to the majority, quite literally a vote against yourself.
I have lived here since 2000 and although there have been many improvements, I believe there is still so much that could be done to put our vibrant Bristol village on the map. Some of you may already know me through my work, running my own local small business and as I am often in our park with my two young sons. Many of you have already spoken to me about issues that concern you and the way the city council is being run. I can assure you that I am here to campaign for all St. George West residents regardless of your politics, so please do not hesitate to contact me. As well as being a father of two young children who go to Greek school in Easton, I have campaigned at a national level for human rights and the opening up of the family courts. I have a personal knowledge of the conflict in the middle east at the moment as although I was born in England I still do have family in Cyprus. I am dismayed by the hostilities and the massive loss of and disruption of life regarding the current conflict in that region and would welcome your opinions. YOUR CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE. I am very pleased to have been chosen by the local conservatives to stand for St. George West in next years local election. The history of this party which I personally connect with does, given that it has been the most prolific, necessarily include some of the greatest achievements of our country including interestingly the abolition of slavery. I see the conservative party as, less bureaucracy, lower council tax, greater faith in the judgement of the individual and the pushing back of the nanny state and I think these are aspects of the party legacy that we can all live with. David Cameron clinched it for me basically because I feel that he has the potential to represent me. I feel connected with what I perceive to be, finally, the correct personality to go with the legacy. I need to mention my strong support for the party's stance regarding the rights of children and their fathers. It is a stark reality for fathers that no other party is even contemplating validating the equality of fatherhood to motherhood using, in essence, the same sexist arguments used against women in the past. The deceptively widespread misery caused is a gaping wound at the heart of our nation. Emmeline Pankhurst is a hero of mine and I am proud to be a modern conservative. Interestingly, so was she! THE ST GEORGE PARK SURVEY: After our seemingly pioneering park survey, your replies will now be presented to the parks manager as part of a city wide consultation on parks and open spaces taking place later in the year. I am planning to deliver your replies personally and any of you that would like to come along with me are welcome. Thank you to all who have returned the survey. It was designed by myself along with some local children who use the play facilities, parents and others. Our park has had its share of bad publicity lately and some of you have told me you are afraid to use it. I believe that with the improvements that are being suggested, many more of us would feel safer and have more pride in this great local resource. NEW RUBBISH REGIME! You are being forced by the Lib Dem council to pay a new local tax which none of us have ever voted for and will hit us all regardless of income. You are asked to pay for a green bin for recycling garden waste. This will especially hit elderly and elderly and disabled people and anyone who cannot do their own composting due to a lack of space. I say, only up the road in South Gloucestershire the council is run by all three parties including the conservatives and they managed to introduced these bins without charging residents a penny, so why can’t Bristol? We are all in favour of recycling so instead of threatening people with court action, why not give a REDUCTION in council tax for those of us who do more recycling? DO YOU RUN A SMALL BUSINESS? You could be missing out on saving £1,000s! From April 2005 the government started levying large companies to fund rate relief for small business. If your business premises has a rateable value (RV) of under £15,000 you could qualify for 50% relief or even more. To apply or get more information contact:BUSINESS RATES, PO Box 968 Amelia Court, Pipe Lane, Bristol, BS99 1ZG, telephone 01179250981, e-mail business_rates@bristol-city.gov.uk or even easier just get in touch and I will put an application form through your door.
Previously, 18th of November 2006:WE STILL HAVE A CHANCE TO STOP THE RED DEDICATED BUS LANE STRIPS, EXTENDED, ENHANCED PARKING RESTRICTIONS AND NO TURNING RESTRICTIONS.
