Quarterly summary – October to December 2025

Charging for businesses to use our parks

After announcing that businesses like dog walkers will be charged to use our parks, the Green / Lib-Dem administration had to make a U-turn. We were concerned about the potential impact on small businesses and will continue to scrutinise any revised proposals that come forward.

Planning applications

Henleaze Lake put in a planning application for a new sauna facility, in addition to the one they already have. We were concerned that this may encourage yet more car parking issues in the area, the fine weather over the summer 2025 meant this was a big issue. The application had the reference 25/13591/F

In late December 2025 a planning application was put in for a temporary (or semi-permanent) site for 21 pitches for van dwellers on Lanercost Road in Southmead (see below). There was no consultation with us as ward councillors or with local residents about the usage of this as a meanwhile site. This was covered by local BBC news, with coverage on their website, Points West and Radio Bristol.

Van dwellers – illegal encampment in Southmead

Bristol has one of the highest numbers of van dwellers of any city in the UK. With rents soaring and a lack of affordable housing, many people are turning to alternative forms of living. The number of van dwellers has increased significantly in recent years, it’s estimated that there are now over 600 across the city, the Downs being just one place where they are congregated. The council is considering setting up what’s called ‘meanwhile sites’, where unused land planned for development is allocated for temporary accommodation use.

In January a small community of van dwellers set up on council owned land on Lanercost Road in Southmead, access being enabled by a gate put in by the council. This is an illegal encampment without planning permission. It has no running water, no wastewater facility and no proper toilets, these are basic requirements for any temporary accommodation.  Local residents and the BBC were told by the van dwellers the council encouraged them to move there from Lockleaze.

Ash die-back

Several Ash trees in the city are diseased, including  in Badock’s Wood. Safety of the public will always be a priority and as a result these diseased trees may have to be felled.

In a press release the council said  ‘A three-year programme to remove trees infected with ash dieback disease is running from 2025 to 2028, together with a dedicated tree planting programme to increase the city’s tree canopy cover. Following an extensive audit of ash trees on council owned land, the programme of work is now underway across the city targeting diseased ash trees.’

Crime and anti-social behaviour

Many residents contacted us about people with masks driving electric bikes, asking what’s being done. An electric bike without pedals that can travel over 15.5mph is classified as a motorcycle, hence users need to have a licence and insurance to use them and obey road traffic laws.

The police are aware of issues with drivers of these bikes and reassure us that they are tackling crime / anti-social behaviour related to them. The police rely on reports from members of the public as part of their evidence gathering process. If you see e-bike drivers acting suspiciously or breaking the law by speeding, you can report this anonymously via Crimestoppers or the non-emergency number 101.

Parking

Bad parking is an issue that residents contact us about on a regular basis. Traffic enforcement officers were in our ward issuing penalty notices to those who park illegally on double yellow lines.

Vehicles parked on the pavement can cause serious problems for all pedestrians, especially people with mobility or sight impairments, as well as those with prams, pushchairs or mobility scooters. Unlike Greater London, parking on the pavement is not explicitly prohibited in legislation outside London. Councils can restrict pavement parking by introducing a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO), but the current TRO process is burdensome, time-consuming, and in need of reform. The Government are is looking to modernise the process for making creating a TRO and have stated that they will be announcing it will announce next steps for pavement parking policy as soon as possible.

Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMO’s)

The council are is proposing to remove rules that allow for homes to be turned into small HMOs without the need for planning permission, known as permitted development rights, in an area of Southmead. (A small HMO is broadly defined as a shared house or flat occupied by between three and six unrelated individuals, as their only or main residence, who share basic amenities such as a kitchen or bathroom). The proposed area where this will be applied includes parts of the ward between Southmead Road and Greystoke Avenue, as far west as Lake Road, but not including Lakewood Rd/Cres and the Home Ground area.

Safety for women and girls in our parks

In November 2025 councillors unanimously approved Labour’s plan to make parks safer and more inclusive for women and girls. Women are three times more likely than men to report feeling unsafe in parks, and 93% of women say they feel unsafe after dark in their local park, compared to 20% during the day. As a result, the council will now work on improving parks through measures such as improved lighting and sight lines, a more visible staff presence and will produce an annual Safe Parks Progress Report to Council, to include feedback from women and girls.

Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)

In Southmead we have been able to secure funding for new benches at in Elderberry Walk park and small improvements to Fonthill park.

The process for identifying projects for 26/27 starts in January 2026. After a fallow year for potential transport related improvements, we can consider these in this round. If you have any projects, please contact your local councillors as soon as possible. The online tool ‘Improve my Street’ is being used to identify potential highway improvements, if you are online, please consider using this to log a request, the link is https://www.bristol.gov.uk/residents/streets-travel/tell-us-about-a-road-safety-concern

Road centre line painting

The Transport and Connectivity Committee voted to adopt a policy of not repainting white lines in the centre of some of our roads. This policy was brought forward based on very limited research, on the basis roads may be safer for cyclists by doing this. Labour councillors on the Committee (including Cllr Kaz Self) are very much in favour of improving safety for cyclists but weren’t prepared to make this a policy without concrete evidence, hence voted against it.

Libraries

The Green /Lib-Dem led administration have stated that they would protect the funding  for libraries, but when inflation is considered, this actually means a real term cut. We are concerned that some of the less well used libraries (like Southmead) may be closed in next year’s Council budget.

A petition against library closures started by Labour got nearly 5000 signatures and was debated at November’s council. Stephen Williams is the councillor in charge of our libraries, in that debate he was unable to state  that no libraries will be closed.

Council waste

Did you get a letter saying that there was a “typo” mistake in your last council tax bill? The Green led council were legally obliged to write to residents about this at a total cost of almost £200,000! Bear that in mind if you hear councillors complaining they don’t get enough funding from central government.

News you may have missed this quarter (links to news articles)

Bristol won't be moving to 3-weekly bin collections - thanks to Labour councillors – Bristol Post

Labour councillors stop an increase in the CAZ charge – BBC Bristol News