Minutes of the TRESA Directors’ meeting on 12 December 2023 at Stevens Crescent, Totterdown
Present: Anne Silber (Membership Secretary and Vice-Chair), Suzanne Audrey (Chair), Robin Millard (Company Secretary), Simon Hobeck (Treasurer), Miranda Walker, Nick Walters
Apologies: Carolyn Jones (Editor of the Talk of Totterdown)
DIRECTORS’ REPORTS
Company secretary
The report for Companies House has been prepared. Suzanne to print and sign the report and the 2022/23 accounts for Robin to send to Companies House. Action: Suzanne and Robin
Membership secretary
There are currently 109 members and 11 friends. Some reminders have been sent out.
Treasurer
The current balance is £8,701.
Talk of Totterdown
CJ submitted a written report. She will be meeting with Hillcrest School on Wednesday 13 December to sort out plans for their contribution during 2024. The project should be continuing, and perhaps with a new cohort from Summer 2024. The deadline for the Spring 24 issue of The Talk of Totterdown is 9 February 2024. As well as articles from regular contributors, the issue will include a piece with news of TRESA’s March public meeting (Anna of Bedminster Library of Things to be invited as the speaker), and details of ArtPark as a venue for hire. Action: CJ
PROJECTS
Totterdown Sprouting
Gardening group: members enjoyed a Christmas lunch at the Sundial cafe.
Community orchard: Simon and a new member helped remove bindweed at the orchard. A pruning session is to be arranged in the New Year. Wassail to be arranged. Mulch is needed for the orchard and TACA may be able to donate. Bristol247 would like to write an article about wassailing in Bristol. Suzanne to put Ann in touch with the journalist. Action: Anne and Suzanne
Totterdown Urban Nature reserve
A group of UWE students are working on a map to record spaces that will be part of the Totterdown Urban Nature Reserve. It would be good to be able to upload surveys for birds, butterflies etc. The students would like to meet Simon to discuss the website. Simon will contact them. Action: Simon
Robin will promote the urban nature reserve at the Three Lamps estate meeting. Action: Robin
Totterdown mosaic
The workshops are set for 13 and 14 January 2024. Action: Suzanne
Suzanne has sourced used ‘snub bricks’ from the Chocolate Path renovation work, which have been delivered free of charge. They need to be cleaned but are ideal as a protective outer ring for the mosaic.
Totterdown history
The possibility of a Totterdown conservation area will be considered in the new year. In the meantime, Miranda is writing articles for the Talk of Totterdown about the history and interesting buildings of the area. Action: Miranda
PLANNING
Totterdown Reach
The land at the other side of Totterdown bridge is subject to a pre-application for a towerblock development. Simon has contacted the developers for information who say they will be in touch with information in the new year. In the meantime, TRESA has a copy of a presentation that is only for sharing within TRESA as an interested planning group. Action: Simon
Mead Street
An application for a ‘non-material amendment’ was submitted TRESA objected on the grounds that the proposed changes were substantial and did not constitute a non-material amendment. The planning officer agreed and the application was withdrawn. A further application has now been submitted as ‘variation of conditions’. These are also substantial changes, and some reports are missing. TRESA will monitor the application and has already contacted the planning officer to ask for the missing reports to be made available to the public via the planning portal. Action: Suzanne
School Road
School is applying to make Cemetery Road a school street. There is an online survey. Hillcrest Primary School – School Streets Survey (smartsurvey.co.uk) Suzanne to send link to all our members for comment. Action: Suzanne
Liveable Neighbourhood
Totterdown could consider applying to be a liveable neighbourhood following the East Bristol and BS3 schemes (although it was noted that half of Totterdown is in BS3).
Pedestrian crossing on St Lukes Road
Suzanne attended the Area Committee at which it was confirmed that, due to rises in costs, the allocated funding is not enough. It is now unclear whether the pedestrian crossing will go ahead.
Temporary school at St Lukes Road
Construction of the temporary school appears to be going well. TRESA has concerns about the transport plan and the implications for congestion and road safety at the student entrance on St Lukes Road, since the catchment area is not local.
ANY OTHER BUSINESS
Open Street map
Simon has been Open Street Map which can be linked with Wikipedia. He has mapped all of Totterdown. It is a tool that TRESA could use.
DATE OF NEXT MEETING
Tuesday 9 January 2024. This is a public meeting and the topic is still to be confirmed. One suggestion is the local plan. Action: Suzanne