Report: Tessa Fitzjohn for NP joint working Report Title: Let’s Walk Together LET’s WALK BEDMINSTER: KEY TO MAP (Appendix 1) The accompanying map indicates 18 Green Walkways. This is the beginning of the network and is about 11 miles long. No route has been included that does not have at least one community organization that has agreed to champion it. During 2015 we expect other community groups to come forward and request to be included, thus adding to the network. Groups will need to show community commitment, at least potentially. Dark blue route: Bedminster Business Improvement District. Pink routes: residential streets. Orange dots: schools and annexes. Stars: train stations: Temple Meads, Bedminster and Parson Street. Blue dots: Green Walkways as described below, including community organisations supporting each route. 1.Bedminster Business Improvement District. The Bedminster Town Team was established in 2013 and represents over 400 businesses thus collectively making it the main employer and economic driver for South Bristol. It has a programme of improvements including adding art work and planting to the retail streets which are at the heart of the Greater Bedminster community. The Town Team is also looking at seating, removing unsightly and smelly refuse bins by developing a cheaper but more effective recycling contract and other methods of making the retail area more attractive to visit and to move around on foot. GBCP devolved budgets have identified slowing traffic and easier crossing of lower North Street as its first priority and this work will be undertaken in 2015. Jointly with GBCP, the Town Team has commissioned a professional study of accessibility in the main shopping streets. This is due to report in 2015 and we will be campaigning for improvements during that year. The Business Improvement District has its own income and is thus a contributor to

the Bedminster Age-Friendly Neighbourhood project. 2.GreenWay from West to North Streets. Funding for this (£22,000) has already been secured from the BCC Active Neighbourhood Transport Fund. It is currently at the design stage and is expected to be implemented in 2015. Its community support includes groups such as Way Out West, the Gaywood House GP Surgery, Compass Point School, Friends of South Street Park, the Caraboo Residents, and the West Street Traders' Group. 3.Bartlett’s Bridge GreenWay. This links the communities of Malago Vale with those around West Street. A particular problem on this route is the ‘unfriendly’ pedestrian bridge that crosses the railway line. £3000 is already available from the Active Neighbourhood Transport Fund, but it has been estimated that full improvements to the bridge will be around £15K. Groups involved are Way Out West, Parson Street School, the Marksbury Area Community Association and the Friends of Marksbury Library. We will be encouraging relevant groups to extend the green walkways into Windmill Hill ward. 4.The Daisy Route. Southville Community Development Association secured £2000 from the Active Neighbourhood Transport Fund. Other groups involved are the Dame Emily Park Project and resident groups in Beauley and Stackpool Roads. So far, much of the grant has gone on public engagement and more resources may be needed for signage etc. in 2015. 5.Dean Lane GreenWay. This is over the Avon New Cut at Gaolferry Bridge to North Street via Acramans Road and Dean Lane. The route to the north of the Avon New Cut will be much improved by current developments joining the bridge with MShed and due for completion in 2015. Gaolferry Bridge is the main pedestrian (and cycling) bridge linking Bedminster to the City Centre. Parts of Dean Lane are unattractive and perceived as dangerous by both cyclists and Holy Cross Primary School. We will be working with groups including Alphaville Residents Group, SCDA, Dame Emily Park Project, SouthBank Arts Club, Elephant House and Patchwork. We will also seek to work with Holy Cross School, BCC Housing Department and the Bristol South Swimming Pool. 6.Stackpool-Merrywood Greenway. This is a major route from the City Centre over GaolFerry Bridge to Southville Centre and a route to North Street. Community Groups already involved are SCDA, Southville School and Stackpool

Road Street Party group. 7.Luckwell Greenway. The Luckwell Improvement Project (LImP) has taken the lead in talking to local people and involving parents and children at Luckwell School. There have also been discussions with local business regarding the enhancement of the local shopping centre. 8.Chessels Greenway. The Chessels is a major walking route. Some discussions have started with local residents. As well as The Chessells itself, there will be spurs along Ashfield Road and Garnet Street to link the two green spaces of Luckwell Park and South Street Park. This will extend via Clifton Street to link with West Street. Local support groups include LImP, South Street School, Patchwork, Way Out West and an emerging residents group on The Chessels itself. 9. 3 short routes from Windmill Hill. The railway line forms the boundary between Greater Bedminster and Windmill Hill ward which is part of another neighbourhood partnership. Exit from Windmill Hill to Southville ward is via two tunnels. One leads to Philips Street and on to East Street. The second tunnel leads from Bedminster Station across a rather scruffy green space to Dalby Avenue and again to East Street. Alternatively, this exit can bear left and go to St John’s Churchyard, thus linking with the Daisy Route GreenWay. We will be working with Windmill Hill City Farm which is on Philips Street, Patchwork Group and with groups in Windmill Hill ward such as Victoria Park Action Group, Love Windmill Hill and the Kingfisher Group. We will be encouraging people in Windmill Hill ward to develop their own green walkways to link up with those in Greater Bedminster. 10. Ashton Green WalkWay. This will link the Luckwell Walkway from the Luckwell Hotel to Greville Smyth Park via green features such as Gores Marsh and streets that already have good quality gardens (in the main). The route will avoid some main roads by improving alleys as appropriate and incorporate proposed improvements along Colliters Brook which will arise from the re-development of Bristol City Football Club’s Ashton Gate stadium. Among the groups already engaged are LImP, The Gores Marshalls, Bristol City FC and the Friends of Greville Smyth Park. 11. Ashton Vale to Greville Smyth Park Walkway. This walk will be largely ‘rural’ leading from the Ashton Vale Youth Club along Colliters Brook to join the Ashton WalkWay at Ashton Gate stadium. Issues here are different from other

walkways and include fly-tipping on the stream-side path, a level crossing at the railway line and crossing a major road (Winterstoke). Support groups, so far, include the Ashton Vale Youth Club and Ashton Vale Primary School. 12. Bower Ashton GreenWay. This will link Ashton Park School and the residential area of Bower Ashton to Greville Smyth Park. The route is currently poorly signed and involves using tunnels to avoid the heavy traffic of Brunel Way. Apart from the intimidating tunnels the area is polluted by fumes, so a noise and fume barrier has been suggested. Groups in support include the Bower Ashton Residents’ Association and Ashton Park School. We will also talk to Bower Ashton Art College (UWE). 13. Duckmoor Road Greenway. GBCP has identified this road within its 3 year plan for using the devolved BCC traffic budget. It will probably also receive CIL funding upon the completion of the Ashton Gate Stadium. The main aims will include slowing traffic and make it easier and safer to cycle and cross this road. However, we will also ensure that issues such as the removal pf pavement obstructions, good front gardens, signage and other issues are addressed with local residents. It is expected that consultation will take place in 2015 with implementation in 2016. Groups that we will work with include Luckwell School and PTA, Duckmoor Road resident group (DRAKES) and tenants’ groups in the Duckmoor Road tower blocks. 14. Routes to support Bower Ashton Art College. Currently the UWE Bower Ashton campus is undergoing an expansion and will run later into the evening to accommodate extra relocated students. However, the car parking allocation is not being increased and in conjunction with the new residents’ parking scheme in the area (from 29 September 2014) we anticipate a significant increase in walking and cycling to campus, particularly in the evening. The route to Ashton links to that from Ashton Park School and involves the same unfriendly tunnels. The route to Hotwells is partly covered by the Festival Way which, although it has some good sections of car traffic free routes, has very poor lighting provision, some very narrow sections and lots of stark concrete and metal fencing. We would like to see Additional lighting, in particular under the unlit flyover; Where possible a widening of the path to reduce conflicts; Attractive planting and art work to make the route more pleasant and attractive to use. It is unclear at the moment if these aspirations can be wholly or partly met from UWE funds.

15. Route between Southville School and their new Annex at the Myrtle Triangle. The designated route starts at the Milford Street Home Zone (linking to Merrywood Road), enters Greville Road turning into Mount Pleasant and Fairfield Road and reaches North Street via King William Street. BCC is proposing buildouts, dropped curbs and tactile paving as improvements. The route continues along North Street to turn into Myrtle Street. Several improvements are proposed for this last stretch including a zebra crossing on North Street. We will need to supplement these developments with community engagement around planting (some streets have no front gardens); art work and signage. Apart from residents along the route we will be working with the school itself and its PTA. We will also link to the Business Improvement District. 16. Route between Ashton Gate School and their new Annex on Upton Road. BCC proposes to close part of Upton Road to cars, but keep it open for cyclists and pedestrians (subject to planning approval). Traffic slowing table tops and textured paving crossing points will be introduced at the Upton Road junctions with Raleigh Road and Greenway Bush Lane. The route continues along Greenway Bush Lane, a straight and fast road for cars, to reach the main school at Ashton Gate Road, where some planting has already been installed. Efforts to reduce speeds will be needed on what is already a generally attractive route. Add in additional short sections to link Greenway Bush Lane to North Street and Vauxhall Bridge. We will be working closely with the school administration and PTA as well as residents along the route. 17.West Street, Parson Street, Bedminster Road GreenWay Loop The group which is developing the Bartletts Bridge Greenway (see (3) above) have surveyed the area around Parson Street Station and realised there is no signage for anyone getting off a train. It's also pretty bleak, and traffic drenched - although the rail line itself is bordered by dense greenery which is home to many birds and presumably other wildlife. The group is putting together plans for signs, at least one tree on the street itself, and other planting around the station entrance/exit. In addition, Parson Street School will take the lead on planting wildflowers and bulbs on green but scruffy patches of land at the entrances to West Street and Bedminster Road. 18.Walkway from proposed Camden Road Bridge. See below.

Pedestrian links between Greater Bedminster and Bristol across the Avon New Cut. At the moment, there are seven bridges across the New Cut into Greater Bedminster and two additional ones are proposed. From east to west they are: 1.Bath Road Bridge: this is dominated by motor vehicles and is close to Temple Meads Station. 2.Langton Street Bridge (Banana Bridge): a pedestrian and cycling bridge, but with poor accessibility. 3.‘New Bridge’: An accessible cycle and pedestrian bridge close to the Banana Bridge. Due to open in 2015, but still at the planning stage. 4.Bedminster Bridge: dominated by motor vehicles, but changes are possible through cycling improvements and as part of the Metrobus network. Bedminster Town Team regards this as an improveable ‘gateway’ to the Business Improvement District. 5.Gaolferry Bridge: Currently the main walking and cycling link between Greater Bedminster and the City Centre. 6.‘Camden Road Bridge’: Currently at the planning stage, but due to open in 2015 as a cycling and walking bridge. This will take some of the pressure off Gaolferry Bridge and be part of Route 18. 7.Vauxhall Bridge: Recent improvements have made this slightly more accessible, but not completely so. 8.Ashton Avenue Bridge: This former road and rail bridge will be rebuilt in 2015 to take the proposed Metrobus, but will include walking and cycling options. 9.Brunel Way: This is a nightmare for pedestrians involving very heavy traffic and tunnels. It will be necessary to ensure that these bridges are linked to the emerging network of walkways. We have started to look at the issues raised, but have not yet included all these opportunities in our proposals. Discussions with other Neighbourhood Partnerships We have written, via BCC Neighbourhoods, to all 13 other Neighbourhood Partnerships in early September and have now had discussions with the other four NPs in South Bristol about extending an improved walking network. We are also in touch with some NPs north of the river. These discussions will continue.