stgeorgeAugust, & 2018 redfield Issue 17 www.stgeorgeandredfieldvoice.co.ukvoice FREE EVERY MONTH IN ST GEORGE AND REDFIELD In your free local Construction halted on monthly newspaper: Temporary toilets for Lyppiatt Road site St George Park Temporary toilets have been WORK has stopped on a building installed in St George Park Turn to page 4 site on Lyppiatt Road on the instructions of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). In April St George man jailed the HSE served a Prohibition for murder Notice on the site after the A St George resident has front wall of the remaining been convicted of the building on the site collapsed. murder of Jamel Powell. The Prohibition Notice was Turn to page 6 issued because the HSE considered that the developers New School for Fire of the site, Wright Investments Station site? Developments Limited, had “not Will a new school be built taken all measures practicable on the site of the former to ensure the stability of the Speedwell Fire Station? structure, leading to a risk of Turn to page 8 structural collapse and injury”. The site is owned by Why BBQs are Queensbridge Homes Limited. banned on Troopers The current planning permission for the site, granted October Hill Read about why the Council 2016, is for: eight apartments, has banner barbecues on four town houses and two Troopers Hill. commercial units. Turn to page 14 The HSE Prohibition Notice was served on Wright India Brasserie to be Investments Developments Limited. Lyppiatt Road is not and two Improvement Notices include Harrison Canvas and a converted to housing the first of Wright’s sites where on Wrights; only one of which slipper factory, with the factory 13 apartments set to replace the HSE has used their statutory relates to Lyppiatt Road. building on the site dating back restaurant on Speedwell Road. powers. Since 2016 the HSE has Previous occupants of the now to around 1880. Turn to page 17 served seven Prohibition Notices derelict site in Lyppiatt Road More on page 3 2 stgeorge&redfieldvoice August, 2018 Scorchio! As this year's scorching summer continues, many of you by now will have enjoyed a number of our city's fine festivals – including Redfest. By the time this issue hits doorsteps the event will already have been and gone, so if you are keen to see the latest coverage of the day then head on over to our website. Elsewhere, it seems to have been a successful month for fundraising for environmental causes, with both Troopers Hill and Friends of St George Park being awarded significant funding to support projects in the respective parks. We announced on Facebook that St George Park now has temporary toilets installed. We, like many others, welcome this for the summer school holidays. But, this is only a short term solution. St George Park needs, and deserves, permanent toilet facilities. We will continue to report on this important issue. Follow us on Twitter Find us on Facebook @SGRVoice SGRVoice stgeorge&redfieldvoice Advertising Editorial Philip Bird www.stgeorgeandredfieldvoice.co.uk Richard Foote 0117 422 7200 07716 569447 ADVERTISING LOCAL INFORMATION PUBLISHER’S NOTE [email protected] Bristol City Council St George and Redfield Voice is published by East Bristol News Tel 0117 422 7200 www.bristol.gov.uk Limited of Easton Business Centre, Felix Road, Bristol BS5 0HE. Tel 0117 922 2000 St George and Redfield Voice is an independent publication. We cannot take responsibility for content or accuracy of adverts, and EDITORIAL Police it is advertisers’ responsibility to confirm all relevant legislation. [email protected] www.avonandsomerset.police.uk We strive to conform to the NUJ Code of Conduct for journalists: Tel 07716 569447 or 0117 422 7200 nuj.org.uk/about/nuj-code Feedback is welcomed: call editor General Enquiries Tel 101 Richard Foote on 07716 569 447 or email Letters to the publication can be sent to Emergency Tel 999 [email protected] [email protected] or by St George and Redfield Voice is distributed monthly within our post to Letters, St George & Redfield Voice, Fire distribution area, and is also available from local pick up points. Easton Business Centre, Felix Road, Bristol www.avonfire.gov.uk BS5 0HE. General Enquiries Tel 0117 926 2061 Feedback on content and distribution is welcome – please call We reserve the right to edit letters. Emergency Tel 999 0117 422 7200 or email [email protected] NHS SEPTEMBER DEADLINE www.nhs.uk A member of the Part of the September edition deadline is August Non emergency Tel 111 20. We encourage early submission. Emergency Tel 999 To advertise, contact Philip on 0117 422 7200 Email: [email protected] August, 2018 stgeorge&redfieldvoice 3 n NEWS From page 1 “Mickey Mouse operation with no professionalism”. THE site now comprises the Colin Wright, Director remnants of the demolished of Wright Investments buildings and the remains of Developments Limited, took a a partially collapsed central lot of flak at the meeting from building apparently being local residents concerned about propped up by scaffolding. the progress, or rather lack of It now seems that the partially progress, in developing the site. collapsed building in the centre Richard of the site will now need to be Wright of Wright Investments demolished entirely, although Developments, has subsequently Bristol City Council has not yet told the Voice that Wright's “will received a formal application for not be involved with the site this. in mutual agreement with the Queenbridge Homes Limited developer Queensbridge Homes”. and Wright Investments In response to comments Developments Limited were both about the reported lack of represented at a public meeting professionalism on site, Richard called by Cllr Asher Craig held on Wright of Wright’s told the 4 July at St George Library. The Voice “We have not received any Voice were at the meeting, and complaints to our office about it was clear that many residents the ‘professionalism’ of our staff After new hoardings were erected of Lyppiatt Road were not happy to date.” with the work undertaken on “We have been involved the site to date, or the poor in over £18million worth of communication with neighbours this type of work in the past 15 With regard to the HSE collapse of the front elevation regarding the site. years and we have never had a Prohibition Notice, Richard of the existing building at the One local resident at the structural failure of any kind in Wright told us the notice “was a beginning of March 2018. The meeting referred to the fencing our time in construction.” sensible action by the attending contractor has added further around the site as “about as With regard to the partial [HSE] officer to make clear temporary supports to the useful as a paper bag”, with collapse of the remaining that the building should not building to prevent any further other residents citing an building on site, Richard be entered by anyone until the damage and the site has been apparent lack of health and Wright told the Voice “The building was made safe.” closed under a HSE prohibition safety considerations including operation which resulted in Fencing around the site notice since then” the letter also workers on the site not wearing the partial collapse of one has recently been significantly explained to local residents that hard hats. Others at the meeting elevation of the building was an improved to help keep the site Queensbridge “would like to commented on a previous fire unforeseeable event due to the safe. state that they are sorry for any on the site and the difficulty the poor construction of the building, Queensbridge recently inconveniences caused by this fire brigade had accessing the specifically having a cavity wall circulated a letter to local project and they are committed site. One of the local residents with no ties between either skin. residents in which they explained to completing this development at the lively public meeting This was not something that “Works on the site commenced as quickly and efficiently described the work on a site as a was picked up on the structural again at the end of 2017 and as possible with minimum survey of the building.” continued on site until the disturbance to the surrounding residents.” We asked Queensbridge Part collapsed building when works were expected to recommence. Daniel Baker told us "This is currently subject to agreeing a planning amendment. We are currently in talks with Bristol City Council to get an application through as soon as possible. We anticipate a twelve month build period from starting back on site." Cllr Asher Craig (Deputy Mayor, and Ward Councillor covering the development site), told the Voice that “Following the meeting the plans for the site appear to be moving in the right direction and a series of steps and key actions have been agreed with Queensbridge which includes improved communications with the neighbours..” Anyone with concerns regarding the site can contact Queensbridge via info@ queensbridgehomes.co.uk Got News? Call 0117 422 7200 or 07716 569447 Email: [email protected] 4 stgeorge&redfieldvoice August, 2018 n NEWS Temporary toilets for St George Park TEMPORARY toilets have opened in St George Park for the school holidays. Months after the public toilets on Church Road were closed, the Council has found some funding to provide some temporary toilets for the duration of the school summer holidays. The temporary toilets have been located between the tennis courts and the Kiosk, making it a convenient location for the users of the kiosk, the John Deasy Children’s Play Area and the wheels park.