Greens welcome plans for a South Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood 

Bristol Green Councillors from South Bristol have welcomed plans for a South Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood, following a Green amendment made to the outgoing mayor’s budget earlier this year. 

The West of England Combined Authority granted the council £10 million for two liveable neighbourhoods in early 2022. One is currently in development in East Bristol, which the Greens have also recently commented on. 

Southville Councillor Tony Dyer’s amendment to the budget back in February meant that unallocated transport improvement funds could be used to develop the plan for a second liveable neighbourhood in south Bristol. It will then be delivered using funding from local developer contributions and other transport-related funds. 

The council have now launched a website for the scheme where people can sign up for more information, stating that there will be engagement early next year amongst strategic stakeholders, including local community leaders and organisations. Wider community engagement will then be conducted later in the year. 

Councillor Tony Dyer said: “With the support of the other BS3 councillors, I was able to successfully submit an amendment to the Mayor’s 2023/24 budget to allocate funding towards a Liveable Neighbourhood scheme for South Bristol. ”

“Over the next couple of decades, the number of homes in Southville is expected to double, and the number of cars with it, so this work is essential to supporting existing and future residents. I’m glad to see that some of the funding will come from developments in the area, which themselves are driving the need for some form of traffic management.

“However, as I have said before, we must make sure that the local residents are properly consulted and communicated with at every step of the journey. Many people have campaigned tirelessly to make residential streets safe and more liveable.”  

Southville Councillor Christine Townsend said, “We are currently working with the Council’s transport team to assess the key local organisations that need to be part of the first wave of consultation.

“At this first stage, residents are not being included, and although it makes sense to get the initial scope right before launching a major public consultation exercise, it will be important that expectations are managed. 

“We sincerely hope that the Labour administration can focus on the benefits that this will bring to South Bristol so that we can work together on delivering this rather than seek to make this a divisive election issue in the spring.”

Windmill Hill Councillor Ed Plowden said, “As a transport professional and former Head of Service in the Council’s Transport Department, I have direct experience of listening to residents and stakeholders to optimise local transport schemes. 

“Knowing officers will be working closely with the hard-working, dedicated and responsive team of Green Councillors across this area gives me a lot of confidence that this large-scale and ambitious project will be a success. 

“With all surveys showing that there is a strong majority in favour of this sort of approach across Bristol, and indeed the UK, we look forward to strong Green Party leadership showing the rest of Bristol how beneficial this sort of scheme can be when done well.”

ENDS