Litter pick and area tidy: 10am, Sat 21 Feb, Tesco, Callington Rd (meet at recycling area)

Report from the Bristol Evening Post website,

A footpath in Brislington that is frequently strewn with abandoned bags, wrappers and other litter will be cleaned up on Saturday by a team made up of community groups, the city council and Tesco employees.

Sustainable Brislington has teamed up with Sustainable Knowle, Friends of Callington Road Nature Reserve, Sustrans volunteers, Bristol City Council's Clean and Green team and Tesco to organise the litter pick and vegetation clearance on the footpath area around Tesco in Callington Road.

Glenn Vowles, 47, from Sustainable Knowle said: "This is a great opportunity to tidy up an area that lots of people use but is frequently litter-strewn.

"By working together with other community groups and businesses we are demonstrating that people power can make a difference."

Colette Linehan, 49, a Sustrans volunteer ranger, said: "Residents have decided that it is time to clear up the area to make it a cleaner and more pleasant place to walk.

"We are really eager to create a pleasant environment by cutting back vegetation, removing litter and planting wild flowers so that people are more inclined to walk through and enjoy what can become a lovely area."

If you wish to get involved, turn up at the recycling bins at Tesco at 10am tomorrow wearing sturdy shoes and warm clothing and armed with secateurs or shears.

Bristol City Council and the Sustainable Communities Act

What is the Act and why should you get involved?

Developed by a coalition called Local Works following a five -year campaign, the Sustainable Communities Act gained Royal Assent in October 2007. It aims to promote the sustainability of local communities and it ‘begins from the principle that local people know best what needs to be done to promote the sustainability of their area, but that sometimes they need central government to act to enable them to do so’. It gives local communities the ability to put forward policy suggestions to central government, via their council, before 31 July2009 to promote the sustainability of their area. Anyone can submit a suggestion, but it is likely that suggestions will be made by organised groups such as community groups, resident associations and local branches of national organisations. Local Strategic Partnerships can submit suggestions. The remit for suggestions is broad and must aim to improve the economic, social or environmental wellbeing of an area or areas in Bristol. Social wellbeing also includes suggestions that will promote participation in civic and political activity

Further information

On the 26th February the Council's webpage on the Sustainable Communities Act will go live. The page will give information about the Act and how you can go about making suggestions. The Act and guidance from the Department for Communities and Local Government is available at http://www.communities.gov.uk/ For further advice about the Act and how you can be involved pleasecontact Graham Starmer, Programme Co-ordinator, Sustainable Communities on 0117 922 4917 or e-mail graham.starmer@bristol.gov.uk

The Power of the Community: film show and discussion 27 Feb

Open Meeting: Film and discussion

The Power of the Community
- how Cuba survived peak oil

Southbank Club (formerly Holy Cross)
Dean Lane
Southville

Friday 27 February 7pm to 8.30 pm
(doors open 6.30pm)

When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1990, Cuba's economy went into a tailspin. With imports of oil cut by more than half – and food by 80 percent – people were desperate. This film tells of the hardships and struggles as well as the community and creativity of the Cuban people during this difficult time. Cubans share how they transitioned from a highly mechanized, industrial agricultural system to one using organic methods of farming and local, urban gardens. It is an unusual look into the Cuban culture during this economic crisis, which they call "The Special Period." The film opens with a short history of Peak Oil, a term for the time in our history when world oil production will reach its all-time peak and begin to decline forever. Cuba, the only country that has faced such a crisis – the massive reduction of fossil fuels – is an example of options and hope.
http://www.powerofcommunity.org/cm/index.php

Speaker: Wendy Emmett – environmentalist and follower of the Cuba experience. Just returned from leading an environmental study tour of Cuba.

Free entrance (bucket collection proceeds go to the organisers, Bristol South Green Party and Bristol Cuba Solidarity).

Bar Available!!

Torpoint Road, Kingswear Road & the College, Marksbury Road: Consultation on Redevelopment 14 Feb

Sustainable Knowle will be represented at this consultation. Matters of particular interest to us are: relationship to the Area Green Space Plan process; can new green spaces be created and/or existing ones improved; is 'mixed development' possible; how green will building standards be; any 'special' features possible eg use of rainwater collected, or 'super-insulation'; affordable/social housing...

Consultation Event: Redevelopment of Torpoint Road, Kingswear Road & the College Site on Marksbury Road

Date: 14th February 2009Time: 11am-3pm (this is a walk-in event)

Location: City of Bristol College, Marksbury Road, Bedminster, Bristol BS3 5JL

Contact: Sean Griffiths, 02072516735, sean@fat.co.uk

Description: Meet the team to discuss proposals for the development of Kingswear Road, Torpoint Road and the College Site at Marksbury Road. Bristol City Council, Knightstone Housing Association and the Homes and Communities Agency have employed architects FAT to come up with ideas for the redevelopment of the site. There is potential to provide new homes and new community facilities. Before work starts on the design proposals we would like to hear your views on the area.

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