Minutes of the TRESA director meeting held on 10 December 2024, 7.30pm at Steven Crescent, Totterdown
Present: Suzanne Audrey (Chair), Anne Silber (Membership Secretary), Robin Millard (Company Secretary), Simon Hobeck (Treasurer)
Apologies: Nick Walters, Charlie Mercer, Carolyn Jones, Miranda Walker
Directors’ reports
Company Secretary
The accounts were signed and will be sent to Companies House. Action: RM
Simon to update the list of directors and put Charlies Mercer on the TRESA website. Action: SH
The company address is still Hillcrest School, and our main contact with them is through their contribution to the Talk of Totterdown.
Membership Secretary.
The annual membership fee is now set at £5 (£3 for friends).
There was discussion of a ‘membership drive’ stall if TRESA joins others for a spring/summer event in Totterdown Square.
Treasurer
£3,844 in the bank. Public liability insurance has been paid. More funds are needed going forward. The application for the Community Festival funds was unsuccessful. Suzanne has circulated a list of possible funders.
Simon to apply to Severn Trent Community and Environmental Project. Action: SH
Anne will approach Triodos Bank for some funding for the tree grafting sessions of the Totterdown apple. Action: AS
PROJECTS
Totterdown Sprouting
A wassail will take place in the community orchard, and possibly Zone A, on Saturday 11 January 2-4pm. Rag Morris have agreed to attend. Action: AS
Gardening group Christmas lunch was a success.
TACA bulb planting has taken place, with hundreds of bulbs planted throughout Totterdown.
Totterdown Urban Nature Reserve
Simon has been adding new gardens to the map as people have completed forms.
Suzanne sent a letter of acknowledgement to someone who completed a form and put it in the TRESA letter box. It was agreed it would be good to acknowledge everyone who has added their garden. A quarterly update about the Urban Nature Reserve would also be good.
An A5 certificate/poster for windows and green spaces would be helpful for promoting the project.
Zone N – Bushy Park
Sarah from Cambridge Street has been working with Simon on Bushy Park – some more trees may be planted.
People who work in the new offices in the basement of the old YMCA have been fundraising, and are looking for an art idea. A ‘picture frame’ has been suggested, so that people could stand at the frame and have their photo taken with a Totterdown view in the background.
Planning
Broadwalk: A legal agreement has been reached to reduce the size of the development.
Mead Street: No progress on this development since the last application was submitted.
Whitehouse Street: The Regeneration Framework includes a taller building, but the current proposal is for a 21-storey building. TRESA strongly objects in terms of height and density. Simon to draft and circulate an objection. Action: SH
Towerblocks at Totterdown Bridge: Following the public engagement session, Suzanne now has the presentation slide and will distribute them to TRESA members. Action: SA
Liveable neighbourhood
Suzanne is liaising with UWE about a student project looking at road safety, including Bellevue Road junction, and other issues related to the Liveable Neighbourhood. Action: SA
There are concerns about delays in the pedestrian crossing on St Lukes Road. TRESA is objecting to this and pushing for the crossing to be installed.
A.O.B
TACA has requested to store equipment in the TRESA storage shed. After discussion it was agreed that Suzanne would email TACA to say that small items can be stored, but the keys will only to accessible through a TRESA director. Action: SA
Next public meeting
Next public meeting is Tuesday 14 January, 7.30pm at Bruhaha, and will include a presentation about how to conduct a character assessment and design code for Totterdown.