ETTER RISTOL B The Bristol Civic Society magazine B Issue 05 Autum 2014 bristolcivicsociety.org.uk An independent force for a better Bristol Bristol Civic Society, Registered Charity No: 244414 Contents 2 19 21 6 20 14 4 19 Making Sunday Special, Park Street, NOVEMBER’S BIG EVENT LEST WE FORGET PLACE-MAKING 100 years from the start of WWI. May 2014. How can we design and Its impact on Bristol manage public space better? This reflects the increasing residential population that will make central Bristol a more crowded place (pages 6 THE CHANGING NATURE OF 20 EMPTY AND DERELICT SITES 6-9), Placemaking and public spaces THE CITY CENTRE Securing new life for vacant sites The change from office and buildings (Big Event page 4), and last issue's Metropolis to Studentopolis Sharing the streets (photo Jeff Lucas) 9 Housing CRISIS. 21 UNLISTED BUILDINGS OF MERIT What CRISIS? What can be done to give these Huge demand for housing. buildings more protection Can the city deliver? 10 BRAIN TEASER : 22 STUDENT AWARD THE KONIGSBERG PROBLEM A philosophical approach The shortest walk across all Bristol’s bridges 12 GEMS AND CURIOSITIES 24 CIVIC SOCIETY & BRISTOL WATER St James Priory: The hidden ENVIRONMENTAL AWARDS gem next to the bus station Commissioning Editor Dave Cave Sub-Editor Christopher Brown Designer Spencer Tilley Photography Jeff Lucas (cover,pg 14) 14 PLANT A TREE - 25 FROM THE SOCIETY'S Roland Harmer (pg 24) SUSTAINABLY WORKING GROUPS: Authors of articles The Tree Forum mean business MAjOR SITES Group Printed by Sebright Printers Thanks to the following contributors: Eugene Byrne, Jeff Lucas, Simon Birch, Clive Stevens Daniel Kimberley, Alan Morris, David Martyn, John 16 DESTINATION BRISTOL 26 Planning Applications Group Frenkel, John Payne, Jon Watson, Charles Fox, Old Market, The BearPit, Marlon Wessel Christmas Steps And thanks to the editorial board and the distribution team led by John Payne. 17 PEDALLING INTO THE FUTURE 27 TRANSPORT MATTERS Articles are the opinions of individual contributors Bold plans for cycling Latest on major schemes and what and do not necessarily represent those of the Society is doing Bristol Civic Society Notes from the Chair “Golden Age” – beware of the hype, what we need is some vision 3 was recently surprised (and rather taken aback) to be told Development must also with all seriousness that Bristol is at the dawn of a ‘golden include consideration of age’ in terms of its growth, planning and future public open space and Bristol development. has some absolutely wonder- I ful open spaces. However, It took me some time to reflect on this statement and to a vision is urgently needed address just what might be the components of this golden age. for the city’s most neglected As a starting point, I identified that the change in the local open space, Castle Park. political landscape with the arrival of an elected mayor is There are many views as to already resulting in much quicker and more decisive what might best be achieved, decision making. my personal preference would be to limit new Obvious examples of this are the roll out of residents development to the existing parking schemes, solid progress with the arena, and even footprint of offices and to put management of the council budget cuts which were decided some significant investment into the remainder of the area in upon in a calm manner. But this hardly heralds a golden age! order to make the most of the remaining open space, Bristol’s very own Central Park. Transport issues are regularly the top concern of residents and businesses, and few can complain that change is not in the air A golden age will surely include making maximum use of with: vacant sites and buildings, a personal interest, and will bring back into use those neglected listed buildings in Portland • The rapid and ongoing implementation of residents Square, Stokes Croft and St Michael’s Hill. parking schemes which are having a very visible impact in many parts of the city; Looking after the heritage of the city is sometimes criticised as being weak, with the recent demolition of Ebenezer Chapel • Approved plans for high-speed bus routes across many sparking a flurry of indignation. areas, their precise future impact much debated and eagerly awaited by commentators; Some of you have said to me that one area for possible work by the Civic Society would be to see if it is possible to limit the • The long-awaited electrification of the main lines to steady spread of road signs and street furniture, most recently London and, less certain, the transformation of Bristol exacerbated by the introduction of residents parking schemes Temple Meads into a first-class transport interchange. with their multitude of signage even in conservation areas and adjacent to listed buildings. Should the Society take a closer We can add to this list the incremental introduction of look at all this street clutter and see if it is all really needed? improved cycle routes, with dedicated crossings of the New Cut in the planning stage, and the longer-term plans Does all this add up to an emerging golden age? I do like to for suburban rail improvements, including the line travel hopefully and positively but so far I am not convinced to Portishead. by the facts. What do you think and do you agree that Bristol is entering a golden age? The follow-up question must surely be Of course it will be largely reliant on personal choices - to where does the Society fit in with this scenario, and how can it move away from reliance on the car – to really make all these get involved and contribute? initiatives succeed in practice. I enjoyed the challenge provided by this, possibly throwaway, I can’t help thinking that transport is such a complex subject remark but I still think the jury is out on the golden age idea. that there can never be a single magic wand to revolutionise I do hope to be proved wrong! transportat, more a series of interventions which will gradually effect significant change. Simon Birch But what of new development in this golden age? The most Chair, Bristol Civic Society significant changes now seem to be in the city centre with a proliferation of student accommodation-led schemes, together with the ongoing growth of Temple Quarter. There is scarcely a glimmer of top-class design – or is that unfair? I do hope the forthcoming plans for the arena will change all this and will yield exciting architecture, possibly even giving the city a future Stirling Prize winner. The Big Event FEATURE 4 Bristol place-making How can we make Bristol’s streetscape special? Tuesday, November 25th 7.30pm at Arnolfini Free and open to all: doors open 7pm The quality and vitality of its city centre is crucial to a big city like Bristol, but are its streetscape and public spaces as good as they could be, and how could we make them better? Public space is shared by many different users: have we got the balance right? Is there another way? How could we design and manage public space better? How can we make the city more walkable? How can we make it happen, building on what has already been done? A panel of experts will try to answer these questions, and there will be an opportunity to air your views. Programme Speakers: • Allison Dutoit, Jan Gehl Architects • Paul Appleby, Chair of Creative Sector Group West of England LEP and director of VID Communications • Ian Barrett, Regional Director South West for Sustrans and chair of Bristol Green Capital’s Transport Action Group • Barra MacRuairi, Strategic Director for Place, Bristol City Council The event begins at 7.30pm at the Arnolfini (doors open 7pm). After an hour of individual presentations, the speakers will then form a panel on stage for questions and debate. Event closes 9-9.30pm. The event is free and no booking is needed. VACANCIES NEW WEBSITE EVENTS ORGANISER Who’s who in the society The current events organiser, Jeff The Bristol Civic Society's website has a FEATURE Lucas, is relinquishing his post next April. new look. While the old website worked GENERAL ENQUIRIES We therefore have a vacancy arising satisfactorily, it was generally agreed that MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY Alex Dunn 5 [email protected] 0117 962 2475 for anyone who would be interested in it could be simpler, more professional, taking on this role. and with a better balance between PRESS OFFICER Vacant pictures and text. GENERAL ENQUIRIES Alan Morris You would be organising a wide-rang- [email protected] 07766 442495 It has been designed to appeal to both ing programme, mainly talks, with non-members and members. For ORGANISATIONAL occasional visits, which is a key part of CHAIR Simon Birch non-members, the website may be the [email protected] 07917 403473 what the Bristol Civic Society does for its first thing that people see of the Society members. The subject matter is broadly VICE CHAIR Heather Leeson and it is important that it gives a [email protected] 07917 403473 anything related to the urban environment, good impression. to include history, architecture and urban SECRETARY John Payne [email protected] 0117 924 0634 design. It is an important information resource. TREASURER John Jones Non-members can browse to see what [email protected] 0117 962 0477 You will have a high degree of autono- we are about. Anyone accessing the site my to be creative in putting together a can find out the views on current issues COMMUNICATIONS AND EVENTS MARKETING GROUP and EVENTS Jeff Lucas programme of events every six months expressed by the Society, and post [email protected] 0117 962 1801 and ensuring the programme takes place.