No. 58 - Summer 2004 edition
In this Issue:
ANOTHER Newsletter full of news of past events and future possibilities - and this time, with contributions from some new people. More, please!
We mentioned in the last Newsletter that some work could be starting on the pathway through the woodland in Manor Woods. That hasn't happened, though the relevant City Council officers are still trying to bring it about before long. What will be happening soon is some overdue work to thin parts of the woodland near Brookview Walk. This is relatively new growth and not part of the ancient woodland closer to the Library end and it hasn't been maintained for many years. Thinning will allow more light in to encourage growth on the woodland floor. Don't be worried if you see some trees being cut down in the autumn - it's part of an agreed plan to maintain the long-term health of the woodland.
Another, totally different, sort of long-term plan concerns roads. Remember the Ring Road? The proposal - supported by some, opposed by others - to build from the Cater Road roundabout westwards over Highridge Common to the A38 and on to the A370 is now bound up in a larger study of possible road schemes throughout the former Avon area. Called the Greater Bristol Strategic Transport Study (www.gbsts.com), this has now reached the point of an initial public consultation, and forms should be available in libraries and elsewhere.
It sometimes seems as though the process of appointing consultants - doing studies - public consultation - reporting back - referring to other authorities is an end in itself, with no real outcome expected or desired. But one day it will actually lead to something, and we had better be prepared!
ANDRÉ COUTANCHE
ON the afternoon of Monday 12 July, Mavis (Palmer) and I, armed with two bags of books, made a pre-arranged visit to Headley Park Primary School. The aim was to interest the children and their mums and dads in our My Manor Woods Book and Walks on Dundry Hill in time for the school holidays to help them discover the outdoor areas on their doorstep.
We set up our picnic table in the playground just before the children were due to go home so that everyone collecting could see what we were about. A few gusts of wind blew everything everywhere, but we managed to sell nine My Manor Woods Books and four Walks on Dundry Hill in about an hour, and hopefully sowed some seeds! Quite a worthwhile afternoon really.
By way of a 'thank you' to the School, we shall be contributing a book to the new library which they are building.
ANGELA JAMES
The Manor Woods Working Group (which includes Angela and Mavis) are trying other ways to get 'My Manor Woods Book' better known and appreciated. This is a poster which has been produced (in colour) and which is being put up around the area. If you know somewhere where a poster could be displayed, please contact Marie Jo (964 3106)
WE REPORTED in the last Newsletter that the planning application at THE OLD VICARAGE, Bishopsworth, for two bungalows in the grounds had been revised and that we would probably go along with it provided there were no further attempts to build in the grounds. In fact, it went to the South & East Development Control Committee of Bristol City Council on 30 June and I made a statement emphasising the need to ensure that the landscaping works were done promptly and correctly. Cllr Peter Crispin kindly referred to M.V.C.G. as 'an august body whose views should be taken notice of', and, although our specific suggestion for tightening up conditions on the developer wasn't accepted, the message came through loud and clear, from us and from everyone else, that we all wanted to see work here done properly and then development cease. Permission was granted.
Last time, I said that a smaller development at PENTIRE AVENUE from those previously submitted, with all the parking off-street, would probably now be acceptable. I was wrong; the application has been refused and we will have to wait and see what happens next.
But the big news this time is the planning application for the new WITHYWOOD CENTRE on the site of the Youth Centre at Queens Road, Withywood. This application is from the South Bristol Church & Community Trust and is designed to replace Withywood Church in Four Acres and provide a centre which combines a church, meeting rooms, a café, a youth café and a replacement for the Amelia Nutt Health Centre, as well as lettable space which would generate an income to support the centre.
We have reported progress on this scheme in past newsletters. The late Geoff Cargill spoke to our 2003 A.G.M. about it, and Rachel Schofield updated us at the last A.G.M. At that stage, work on a detailed design was proceeding, and one of the points Rachel wanted our feedback on was whether the 'barn' (actually former stables, and the old Scout HQ) should be kept. We felt that it should - as did the Malago Society - so we are sad to find that the plans which have now appeared show it demolished and the stone used to face a mock 'bell tower' for the new church. But our main disappointment is that the general architectural quality is so poor. We are being offered a very large three-storey building that resembles a 1960s factory. We regret having to oppose this application, since we agree with its aims, but it is simply not good enough and we shall oppose it vigorously.
ANDRÉ COUTANCHE
THIS ANNUAL EVENT
took place earlier this year (12 June) to coincide with Rivers
Awareness Fortnight. We had a good turnout and what was pleasing
was that most decades up to seventy were represented! Everyone
set to work with a will and we soon removed the usual interesting
collection of artefacts from the Malago. This year's haul
included two broken bicycles, a trolley from B&Q, four
baker's trays and a large piece of carpet as well as assorted
builders' rubbish. Considering the oldest anti-pollution law in
the country passed about five hundred years ago prohibited the
dumping of solid waste in watercourses we don't seem to have
progressed a great deal since.
Matt has a good haul >>
<< Tony and André emerge from the Malago Matto Grosso
We also collected litter from the paths and bankside areas but they were very clear and the contractors who must have been there a day or two earlier should be praised. Sadly, when I walked along the cycle path on the following Thursday a lot more litter had been dropped particularly near the Library entrance.
There was a welcome break for coffee supplied by Mavis Palmer which gave time for a little socialising. We also set up a stall to promote My Manor Woods Book manned by Marian Green, although no sales were made unfortunately.
Mavis (catering department) and Marian >>
This year we were supported by the City's Clean and Green initiative who supplied litter pickers and bags and collected the accumulated rubbish on the following Monday. We finished with a photo shoot beside the pile and dispersed well satisfied with our morning's efforts. Thanks to Steve, Sarah, Marie Jo, André, Tony, Don, Mavis, Mavis, Marian, Matt, Mary, Anton, Lee, Lis and Jamie not forgetting Molly and Lily the dogs. See you all next year!
MARY SYKES
<< Lis, Tony, Mary, André, Mavis, Marie Jo and Matt contemplate a good morning's work
BOOKS INTO TREES? OUR CLAIM to turn cans into daffodils - because we sell aluminium cans for recycling and spend the money on bulbs - could be joined by a claim to turn books back into trees. That's because there is now a way of recycling your unwanted books which will benefit M.V.C.G.'s funds and thus help us plant more trees in our area. The BookBarn in the Brislington trading estate (Bath Road) will take your second-hand books and sell them on, with a portion of the takings going to whichever organisation has set up an account with them. M.V.C.G. now have account number 9845, so if you quote that number then we will benefit. Alternatively, let any Committee member have your books or bring them to a meeting. |
CHECKING UP(STREAM) ON THE NEIGHBOURS
ON SATURDAY 12 JUNE, four intrepid explorers from the Southville Wildlife Group waded up the Manor Woods section of the Malago. We went to check on the stream's condition, and we were pleasantly surprised. The water was clear and it contained plenty of aquatic life indicating the water to be of good quality. In one short stretch of water we found freshwater shrimps, water lice, freshwater crustacea, stonefly and mayfly nymphs, and caddisfly larvae. And then in a pool we found scores of stickleback fish darting in all directions! It's good to know the Malago is alive and well, at least along one stretch of its journey to the River Avon.
JOHN PURKISS
We reported last time the phone number for the new City Council 'Rapid Clean Up Team' (922 2241). One member's experience hasn't been so good ...
WHILST OUT on my early Sunday morning walk with my dog, I came upon a terrible sight. The Millennium Green in Hartcliffe is littered with needles! Terrified at the thought of a child picking them up on their way to school, I rushed home to call the Council's RAPID CLEAN UP TEAM. However, I was disgusted to find that the so-called rapid team took the weekends off, and all I got was a recorded message. Our children are at risk as long as needles are left where they can get them, and I feel this is not good enough! What is the use of a rapid response team that are not available when they are needed? Maybe the members of M.V.C.G. could get together and work towards getting the Council to make their rapid clean up team a 24-hour operation, and save our beautiful land from the dangers of drug paraphernalia.
ALEX RIO
PROGRAMME OF MEETINGS AND EVENTS
DESPITE the heat as this is written, the Programme Group is planning ahead to autumn. Our 'winter' series of meetings starts in October on the usual third Tuesday of the month (except November), meeting at St Peter's Rooms (by the side of St Peter's Church, Bishopsworth).
Monday 23 August: Garbage
Raid in Manor Woods at 3.45pm. Meet at the entrance
to Manor Woods behind Bishopsworth Library.
Monday 27 September: Garbage
Raid in Kings Head Park at 3.45pm. Meet at the
Sandburrows Road entrance to the Park.
Tuesday 19 October: Spacemakers,
a talk by MARK ROONEY about this innovative scheme to
involve young people in improving our environment. 7.30pm
at St Peter's Rooms.
Tuesday 16 November: The silly and super Bishopsworth Quiz: more information next time.
THURSDAY 18 November (note the
change of day to avoid clashing with the Quiz): LES
DAVIES, Warden of the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding
Natural Beauty will talk about his work. 7.30pm at St
Peter's Rooms.
The joint visit with HHEAG to Arnos Vale Cemetery on 15 June was a great success and enjoyed by all who came. We hope to have a talk about Arnos Vale in due course.
CAN-SORTING CAN HAVE ITS SURPRISES
We found this slow worm in a bag of cans after our garbage raid in Withywood Park. Did it develop a taste for beer? (They usually eat slugs and insects). After its photo was taken, it was released in the long grass in our garden.
MARIE JO COUTANCHE
Malago Valley Conservation Group
Committee Members Anton Bantock, Don Bartlett, Brenda Docherty, Mavis Palmer Co-opted Members Tania Case, Valerie Gay, Paul Mizen, Sue Walker, CSV Environment, Cllrs Mark Brain, Peter Crispin, Richard Eddy, Ron Hodges, Helen Holland, Colin Smith, Mary Sykes (All the City councillors for Bishopsworth, Hartcliffe and Whitchurch Park wards are invited to become co-opted Committee members). Newsletter edited by André Coutanche, 14 Queens Road, Bishopsworth, Bristol, BS13 8LB; telephone 964 3106; e-mail andrec@mvcg.cjb.net; web address www.mvcg.cjb.net. Letters, articles and suggestions from readers are welcome. The opinions expressed in this Newsletter do not necessarily represent those of M.V.C.G. |
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