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News from your Local MP

Posted by Dawn Primarolo, MP for Bristol South, at 13:04, Fri 5 August 2011:

WELCOME!

Here’s the latest edition of my regular newsletter.

CELEBRATING 35 YEARS OF WINDMILL HILL CITY FARM

On Tuesday, I visited Windmill Hill City Farm to help celebrate the Farm’s 35th birthday. As a founder member of the Farm in the 1970s, I was very interested to catch up with the latest developments at the Farm and see all the facilities including the adventure playground, farm yard, wildlife area and allotments. It’s wonderful that this valuable community project is still going strong after all these years thanks to the hard work of all the staff and volunteers involved. The wide range of activities available at the Farm means there is something for everyone. For more information about Windmill Hill City Farm visit: www.windmillhillcityfarm.org.uk

SUSTRANS' FREE RANGE KIDS CAMPAIGN

This morning I met with sustainable transport organisation, Sustrans, to discuss their fantastic Free Range Kids campaign. The campaign aims to get children out and about, both by playing outside and encouraging them to travel to school on foot or by bike. One of the main aims of the campaign is to ensure the adoption of 20mph zones in residential streets. This is definitely something I would support – the pilot zone in BS3 has certainly had some impact on slowing traffic although there is, of course, much more we can do to make our streets safer. I have written to the Department for Transport to show my support for the campaign, and hope that the Council will work proactively with Sustrans to deliver some of the objectives here in Bristol.

We also discussed the new Festival Way cycle path which provides a largely traffic free route from the City Centre through to the Cumberland Basin and onto Ashton Court. This is a great walking and cycling path which can be used to reach next weekend’s International Balloon Fiesta at Ashton Court. For more information about local cycle routes, visit the Sustrans website: www.sustrans.org.uk

BADGER CULL

Several local residents have been in touch with me regarding plans announced by the Government recently to proceed with badger culling as a method of controlling TB in cattle. Bovine TB is a terrible disease which certainly needs to be addressed; however, I am not convinced that a badger cull is the best way forward. Previous culling trials have not proven culling to be an effective solution to the problem of bovine TB and I’m worried that the Government’s proposals could be inhumane and could even spread the disease as badgers move out of the culling areas. I believe vaccination is currently the best option for effectively tackling bovine TB in the long term and I will continue to raise concerns with Government Ministers about this matter.

TRANSPORT ISSUES - ROUND UP

A number of residents who live in the Ilchester Crescent area of Bedminster Down have been in touch with me to raise concerns about the removal of the 510 bus. This service is due to stop running next month following the Council’s decision to withdraw its subsidy. Local residents in this area – many of whom are older or have mobility problems - are understandably worried about the impact of losing this service which is the only bus they can access. Many rely on this bus, which stops outside ASDA in Bedminster, to get do their shopping, see friends and attend appointments. I have written to the Council, the bus company and ASDA Bedminster on behalf of local residents asking if there is any way in which a service could be retained for this community.

On a different note, I was pleased to hear that sites are being considered for a new pedestrian crossing in West Street in Bedminster. I know that many local residents, including elderly residents living in St Monica’s House, are keen to see a crossing installed to help them cross this very busy road safely and I look forward to plans progressing.

SCHOOL PLACES UPDATE

Parents with school-age children will no doubt be aware of the pressure on Reception places in South Bristol. As I've previously reported, the problem has been particularly serious in the BS3 area with parents forced to send their children to schools miles away from their homes. The worst pressures were resolved after intervention from myself, local Councillors and concerned parents forced the Council to create extra 'bulge' classes at two local schools, but clearly this is only a temporary solution. Local parents are rightly worried about a repeat of this year's fiasco.

Last week I was back in contact with the Council to ask for an update on what steps they plan to take to ensure this year's problems aren't repeated next year, and what support they need from Government to expand the number of school places in this part of Bristol. Once I've heard back, I intend to personally lobby ministers at the Department for Education to ensure South Bristol gets the funding it needs and every parent can send their children to a genuinely local school.

MEDIA SURVEY

Over 100 people have filled in my survey on the media following the hacking scandal. Many thanks to you all for taking the time to let me know your views. The survey is still available at www.dawnprimarolo.co.uk – please do take five minutes to complete it if you can.

ANY QUESTIONS?

If you have any queries about these issues, or have a question you would like to ask about anything else, please do not hesitate to get in touch. Just email me at dawn.primarolo.mp@parliament.uk, phone 0117 909 0063 or write to me at PO Box 1002, Bristol, BS99 1WH.