MINUTES OF TRESA DIRECTORS MEETING – 20 October 2021
Present: Councillor Lisa Stone, Councillor Ed Plowden, Anne Silber Julian Noble, Geoff Allan, Suzanne Audrey, Simon Hobeck
Apologies: Jenny Ford, Carolyn Jones, Caitlin Jones
Directors’ Reports
- Treasurer – Current bank balance £11,380. SH suggested the funds reserved for the multicultural book project could be reallocated, e.g. to instal another mosaic. We could also reallocate other balances not used, e.g. bee project, to suitable ends
- Secretary – Accounts to be filed with Cos House by February 2022. SH to pass a copy to GA so that this can be done now in good time. SH
- Membership Secretary – 92 members, 12 associates currently
- Web editor – nothing to report
- ToT – CJ had reported that next issue is on schedule. She is awaiting confirmation of numbers required.
Projects
- Sprouting – The apple pressing event went well. The community space WhatsApp group is working well. AS has planted bulbs. Agreed to do a work party to tidy Zone A on Saturday 30 October at 11.00 a.m. All welcome.
- Stanley Hill – Councillors Lisa Stone and Ed Plowden had leafletted houses in and around Goulden St inviting people to give their views on the options of applying for a Traffic Regulation Order, or marking street corners with double yellow lines, and which they preferred as a way of improving the existing situation.
TRESA’s view was that a Traffic Regulation Order is needed, together with a one-way restriction and double yellow lines. TRESA would provide a formal response to the Councillors’ proposals by 4 November 2021. SA to draft SA
TRESA were working with Rob Bryher of Possible on the proposed traffic monitoring project around Angers Rd / Stanley Hill and the streets were to be leafleted on 23 October to find volunteers to host cameras and to announce a Meeting to take place on 10 November at the Thunderbolt pub at which Rob Bryher will give a presentation for local residents on the proposal.
- Zone A – The meeting organized by Jez Welsh on 14 October had been well attended, including Mark Bailey who still holds some £137 in TACA funds. AS and Vera of Floriography had expressed interest in standing as TACA trustees. There had been discussion of the history of TACA, one of whose present three trustees William Cockayne had been present. A second trustee had died and the third wass untraced. The options for reviving TACA as a going concern had been discussed. At the end of the meeting Jez Welsh had invited people to leave their email addresses and he would gather those and call another meeting if there .was enough interest.
SA pointed out that TACA were the owners of Zone A, it having been transferred to TACA by Bristol City Council and registered in their name. The overriding concern was to preserve the land use for the benefit of the community, as was the purpose of the transfer, which would be best achieved by TACA again becoming a functioning entity.
- Zone N. – Nothing to report
Planning
As regards 122 Bath Rd (proposed 54 flat tower block), Cllr. Plowden pointed out that as he was on the Planning Committee he must refrain from commenting. TRESA’s position is that we object not to its high-density but to its high- rise aspect. Developers are in effect seeking to treat the Bath Road side of Totterdown as if it is a designated high-rise area. TRESA firmly rejects that false assumption: any development in that zone should be restricted to 4 storeys. TRESA appreciates that there is pressure within the Council to build the maximum number of housing units, but argues that this can be achieved through high-density rather than high-rise development (particularly with its poor history in many parts of the UK). What is needed is an enlightened approach to planning and one that is sensitive to communities.
Cllr. Plowden confirmed that this application is to be ‘called in’ for review.
Future speakers
John Usher could be approached to talk on low traffic neighbourhoods. Could be a prompt for a fresh look at Residents Parking schemes .
AOB
Venues for future meetings – could be at Con. Club or on Zoom.
TRESA Banners – GA confirmed that he has the banners purchased by CJ on behalf of TRESA
Shakespeare pub- nothing to report.
Motion club – individuals had complained during the summer/ autumn of all-day noise. However it was probably not such in frequency or extent as to be classed a major nuisance, so there was insufficient reason for TRESA to get involved.
‘Welcome Back’ – a City Council grant -funded project. Grants available until March 22. Well-known local chef John Eggleton had written a piece for the project. SA suggested that participation by TRESA could include a quiz involving local shops – questions with answers to be discovered in local shops. SA to draft an application to the project. SA
Next meeting
Weds 17 November 2021
Presentation by guest speaker on ‘Low Traffic Neighbourhoods’
by Rob Bryher ( Possible )
TRESA welcomed Rob Bryer, who gave a talk on work recently done by the campaign group Possible (formerly 10:10) on the public perception of traffic filters by residents and the extent to which they were welcomed as a traffic reduction measure.
Possible had just published the results of their survey http://www.wearepossible.org/s/traffic-filters-results.pdf which show that traffic filters are overwhelmingly popular with residents: 84.9% of people living on a street with a traffic filter want to keep their filter.
Rob’s presentation prompted a lot of interest, especially from those living on streets in Totterdown which are heavily affected by commuters cutting through between Bath Rd and Wells Rd. There is a lot of interest in establishing the area as a ‘liveable neighbourhood’, in line with Bristol City Council’s wish to establish these where appropriate.
Rob also reviewed the use of traffic sensors as a means of measuring and recording traffic flows, which could be used to justify introducing traffic filters or other measures.
A very positive outcome of this meeting has been that Rob has very kindly offered to work with TRESA in looking at the feasibility of piloting a traffic sensor scheme in Totterdown on those streets most heavily affected by ‘rat run’ traffic.
Next public meeting
TRESA’s next public meeting will be on Wednesday 17 November 2021, venue to be announced