If you are interested in becoming a Board member and making a difference, contact Anita Pearce (0117) 908 4248.

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Neighbourhood Renewal has funded many projects over the last 2 years, including the Knowle West Media Centre’s Communications and Archimedia projects, School-Family Link Workers, Project X (pictured left) , and Knowle Safe.

For more info on how the funding has benefited these groups and local people see the first CIP Newsletter (Dec 07).

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Community in Partnership saw its official launch on Monday 12th November 2007. Throughout the day several trees were planted around the neighbourhood to symbolise the importance of Community in Partnership - roots being embedded locally and the long-term growth of partnership working for our future.

Later in the day, more than 60 residents attended the Filwood Community Centre to hear about the importance of the future of neighbourhood management and how it will develop.

There was a steel band playing throughout the Community Centre and 100 biodegradable balloons were released with local names and the NM office number attached. 

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A new 'Masterplan' for Knowle West is to be produced to shape the future regeneration of the estate. The Knowle West Project Board (comprising Bristol City Council, English Partnerships and the South West Regional Development Agency) will be working with local people to address a wide range of issues. While wider plans are being considered to improve education; health; employment; housing; transport; retail; community and leisure facilities, and open spaces across the south of the city (called the Comprehensive Regeneration Framework) the Masterplan will look at these in detail for the local area.

Consultants are expected to make a start on the plan in the Autumn. As a result of the extensive regeneration activity in the area in recent years, there is already a wealth of consultation information available for them to work with. However, as clear proposals are put forward there will need to be extensive consultation with residents, businesses, and others with an interest in the area. The plan itself will not only need to reflect the changes local people want for the estate, but also wider aspirations for South Bristol.

Once appointed, the consultants will look at regeneration opportunities across the estate, with Filwood Broadway likely to be among the first priority areas. The council has already started to acquire land around the Broadway (for example the garage site) in anticipation of this. Development options for other sites and improving the general infrastructure - such as roads and open space - will also be substantial elements of the plan. There will be a strong emphasis on high quality design and building to high environmental standards.

Improvements will not be seen overnight as a long term view needs to be taken to make lasting changes, with the work carried out to be phased over a 20 year period. The area's transformation will have to pay for itself, with community facilities and improvements to open space for example being paid for and maintained through finance generated by new housing and other developments.

Locally, a group from the Community In Partnership is working with the Council on the Masterplan project. This will include advising on the best approaches to community consultation and publicising the project. The group will also visit other areas, locally and nationally, which have undergone significant change, to learn from their positive and negative experiences.For more information on the project contact John Boutwood at Bristol City Council on 0117 9222965.

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Every month residents from each of the Neighbourhood Renewal* (NR) areascome together to talk about local community issues that impact on peoples quality of life - they are called The NR Residents Forum. The group talk about their projects, share good ideas and decide how they can influence decisions made through the Bristol Partnership (a partnership between all different organisations in the city). The Forum also act as the link between their communites and the Bristol Partnership.

NR Residents Forum meets for lunch and to talk once a month at the Council House, on college Green between 1-3pm. If you'd like to come along or to find out more call Matthew Symonds at Voscur on (0117) 909 9949

NR areas: Barton Hill, Easton, Hartcliffe, parts of
Henbury, parts of Knowle, Lawrence Hill, Lawrence Weston, Lockleaze,Southmead, St Pauls, Withywood.

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