22 Apr 2011 - Cabot eNews
April's edition of Cabot eNews.
In this edition: 1. Local elections and Referendum on Thursday May 5th 2. Election on May 5th - polling station changes 3. Are you able to help? 4. Council switch to white street lights to save money and cut energy use 5. Bristol "Free Bus" to start in city centre in June 6. Studio Upstairs 'Open Studio' exhibition 30th April - 2nd May 2011 7. Get composting this spring with the council's bin offer 8. Upcoming Spike Island Gallery events 9. Avon New Cut events 10. Beautifying vacant shops 11. �1.4m cash boost for Bristol's M Shed 12. Latest Harbourside eBlast 13. A Midsummer Night's Dream comes to Brandon Hill 14. Renovation of the old bowling green area on Brandon Hill 15. Brandon Hill Community Orchard and Herb Garden 16. Brandon Hill Volunteer Days 17. Brandon Hill Blog _________________ 1. Local elections and Referendum on Thursday May 5th In case you weren't yet aware, there are local elections in Bristol on Thursday May 5th. Two thirds of the city's wards are up for election, including Cabot, where Alex is standing for re-election. There is of course also the voting-reform referendum at the same time. The last UK-wide referendum was on the UK's continued membership of the EEC 36 years ago in 1975 - so this one coming is a big deal! The deadline for registering to vote was Thursday 14th, so if you're not registered now, sadly it's too late for you. Here is a short article on the proposed change to the "Alternative Vote" by the Electoral Reform Society: http://www.electoral-reform.org.uk/article.php?id=55 _________________ 2. Election on May 5th - polling station changes Please note your polling station may have changed this year. To find out where your polling station is please: 1. Look at your poll card. 2. Look at our web site www.bristol.gov.uk/vote 3. Go to a library and ask for information about finding out about your polling station. 4. Ring Bristol City Council Electoral Services on 0117 9223400. _________________ 3. Are you able to help? If you support the work of your local Lib Dem team, and would like to see Alex re-elected on May 5th, then why not volunteer some time to help with the campaign? We need help to deliver leaflets, stuff letters into, and write addresses onto envelopes, as well as with a range of other administrative work. If you can help, please get in touch by e-mail [email protected], or call 0117 942 8773. _________________ 4. Council switch to white street lights to save money and cut energy use Bristol City Council is to convert all of its street lighting to more energy-efficient white lights in a move which will improve the quality of lighting, save hundreds of thousands of pounds a year and cut the city's carbon footprint. Around 34,000 sodium lights will be replaced with new white lights over four years at a cost of �4 million, saving more than �338,000 in the first full year. The work will get under way in mid May. The total CO2 saving is estimated to be just over 4,000 tonnes per year following completion of the works. The cost of the work will be funded by borrowing which will be repaid from the energy savings realised over a period of just seven years. _________________ 5. Bristol "Free Bus" to start in city centre in June The FreeBus project aims to provide a community run, non-profit bus service for Bristol which is free at point of use. The principle goals of the project are as follows: * To demonstrate the economic case for free public transport in Bristol. * To demonstrate the travel behaviour change potential of free public transport. * To provide a non-profit alternative to Bristol City Council supported bus services. * To reduce the environmental and social impacts of car use. The initial route will run on an express loop between Temple Meads, Cabot Circus, Broadmead and the City Centre. It will be on Saturdays only, 10am to 6pm every half hour. The FreeBus service will then expand with its membership to serve residential routes around the city. We think this is a great idea, so please support them! More details at their website: http://www.freebus.org.uk/ _________________ 6. Studio Upstairs 'Open Studio' exhibition 30th April - 2nd May 2011 It is that time of year again when Studio Upstairs is transformed from a working arts community into a beautiful exhibition space, showcasing the work of our members, staff and volunteers. For more information on the exhibition and events happening in the Studio throughout the weekend go to their website: http://www.bristol.studioupstairs.org.uk/ They are based at units 1 & 2, Albion Dockside Estate, Hanover Place, Bristol BS1 6UT _________________ 7. Get composting this spring with the council's bin offer This spring, the council is offering subsidised compost bins to encourage residents to give home composting a go. Home composting is one of the most environmentally friendly ways to deal with food and garden waste. It's easy to do and it produces a nutrient rich compost that can then be used on flowers and plants. Up to a third of your household waste can be composted at home, and not only does it cut the waste going to landfill, which saves hundreds of thousands of pounds in landfill taxes, it also reduces the amount of harmful methane gases that are given off by the waste when it's in landfill. Composting at home for just one year can save the equivalent of all the CO2 your kettle produces annually. To order a bin online or find out more, go to www.bristol.gov.uk/composting or call the customer service centre on 0117 922 2100. _________________ 8. Upcoming Spike Island Gallery events Spring is in full swing at Spike Island Galleries. Upcoming events are: Tue 26 Apr, 6pm - Artist's Talk: Marjolijn Dijkman Fri 29 Apr, 7pm - Open Studios and Exhibition Preview and Party Sat 30 Apr, 2pm - Theatrum Orbis Terrarum Exhibition Tour Sat 30 Apr till Mon 2 May - Open Studios 2011 Sat 7 May, 2pm - Theatrum Orbis Terrarum Exhibition Tour Mon 9 May, 6pm - Write Club Tue 10 May, 6pm - Artist's Talk: Stuart Whipps Thu 12 May, 8pm - Ignite Bristol Sat 14 May, 7pm - Pre-colonial Dinner and Exhibition Tour See http://www.spikeisland.org.uk/events for full list. Spike opening hours - Galleries: Tue to Sun 11am-5pm Spike Cafe: Mon to Fri 8.30am-5pm; Sat & Sun 11am-5pm _________________ 9. Avon New Cut events The next two Friends of Avon New Cut (FrANC) events are: Redcliffe Evening Stroll - Thursday 12th May Led by Roy Gallop, learn about parts of Redcliffe and the waterway around Bathurst Basin. Meet at Bathurst Basin alongside the Louisiana pub at 7.00 pm. Finish at the Ostrich pub at around 8.30pm. There will be a charge of �1.50 per head for this event, payable on the day. No need to book, just turn up on the day. Wildflower Discovery Walk - Thursday 9th June Led by Pam Millman from the Bristol Naturalists Society, learn about the wide variety of wild flowers growing on the riverbanks. Meet at 7.00pm at Gaol Ferry Bridge (Cumberland Road side). Finish by 9.00pm. There will be a charge of �2.00 per head for this event, payable on the day. No need to book, just turn up on the day. Email: [email protected] Website: www.franc.org.uk _________________ 10. Beautifying vacant shops The "Capacity Scheme" aims to turn Bristol's underused buildings and spaces into creative places for local artists and organisations to use in the interim - they have supported many projects around the city and more information can be found here www.capacitybristol.wordpress.com Since last September, 2 council owned shops on 31 College Green have been run as temporary exhibition spaces. 'Positive Protest' is running in The Showroom up until May Day and is a show which explores politics and protest through painting, film, performance, prints and toys. It is open 16 April- 1 May Tues-Sun 12-6pm. _________________ 11. �1.4m cash boost for Bristol's M Shed News from Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) that M Shed - Bristol's new museum, has received a massive �1.4m financial boost. The cash injection will help to cover unforeseen costs of the �26m flagship museum as well as providing a valuable contribution towards fundraising targets and the completion of the learning studio. The decision by HLF underpins M Shed's standing as a museum of regional and national significance and is in addition to the �10.2m of HLF funding received at M Shed's inception. The unforeseen costs include: - The removal and disposal of contaminated waste on the site, which was far worse than expected - Piling costs - the substructure had to be redesigned which had an impact on pile positions causing extensive foundation redesign work. Piling loads significantly increased necessitating use of an alternative heavier piling rig - More extensive repair works to the original concrete frame/shell of the building and the internal columns. _________________ 12. Latest Harbourside eBlast Latest edition is out and available here: http://visitbristol.co.uk/site/about-bristol/destination-bristol/harbourside _________________ 13. A Midsummer Night's Dream comes to Brandon Hill Shakespeare's famous play is coming to Brandon Hill! Open air theatre company 'The Lord Chamberlain's Men' is bringing the play to the old bowling green on the hill on Friday 27th May at 7.30pm. For more details, visit www.tlcm.co.uk/emailer/ or contact [email protected] Box Office: 0117 9020344 Adult �14.50 Child �8.50 _________________ 14. Renovation of the old bowling green area on Brandon Hill The Friends of Brandon Hill have been working on producing a design for the renovation of the old bowling green area on Brandon Hill. After the completion of questionnaires, talking to people in the park, and receiving feedback from many throughout the community, it is apparent that the wish is to keep the only flat area on the hill available for as many activities for as many people as possible. An outline plan for improving the area has been produced based on the feedback received to date. The plans can be found online at http://www.bristolparksforum.org.uk/brandonhill FoBH would appreciate your comments and feedback on this outline plan. They can be contacted by email on [email protected] or Fraser on 0791 901 5774. You can also speak to Darren the park keeper to let your views be known. _________________ 15. Brandon Hill Community Orchard and Herb Garden Would you like to be part of a city-centre orchard? Help with the planting and maintenance of the trees and benefit from the fruit of your labours? Friends of Brandon Hill are currently planning a Community Orchard and Herb Garden for Brandon Hill and are looking for people interested in getting the orchard up and running. They have now secured some initial funding for the project. They intend to purchase trees over the next couple of months so they can mature over the summer. They are looking for help in determining species and varieties of fruit trees that will do well in the park and whose fruit can be used by all. The planting is now planned for November. More funds are being sought to create the herb garden. The next meeting planned for those interested in helping with the project is Tuesday 10th May at 18:30 next to the depot on Brandon Hill. If you have an interest in orchards or their produce and would like to be part of this exciting city centre project then please contact the Friends. _________________ 16. Brandon Hill Volunteer Days Throughout the year Friends of Brandon Hill have regular volunteer days. The Friends help out with border planting, bramble bashing, pond clearing and other activities to make the Hill a better place. If you are interested in taking part on these days or would like to organise a group to help on Brandon Hill at times to suit yourself or your group please contact the Friends or speak to Darren the park keeper. Friends of Brandon Hill can be contacted by email on: [email protected] or Fraser on 0791 901 5774. _________________ 17. Brandon Hill Blog Topping off an exceptional flood of Brandon Hill activity - it is spring after all! - here is a link to a new nature blog that a local resident has set up for Brandon Hill. Full of information about the wonderful variety of wildlife to be found on the hill: http://brandonhillnature.wordpress.com/