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News from Your Local MP

Posted by Dawn Primarolo, MP for Bristol South, at 15:53, Fri 29 June 2012:

WELCOME!

Here’s the latest edition of my regular newsletter.

SUPPORTING SELF-BUILD ON WEST STREET

Tomorrow is Armed Forces Day, where we celebrate the bravery and dedication of all our service personnel. It can be tough to return to civilian life after leaving the forces, so it’s important that we also think of supporting our veterans, as well as everyone still in uniform. Today in Bedminster I joined a group of these veterans who, with the support of Knightstone Housing Association, Leadbitter and the Community Self Build Agency, have built their own homes on West Street. All of them had fallen on hard times and become homeless, and this is the first project of its kind in the country. The accommodation is fantastic, and is a testament to the hard work of the ex-forces personnel and the fantastic support they have received from a number of organisations. I am sure they will be happy in their new homes, and make a great contribution to Bedminster life.

FARESHARE

There has been much in the news lately about the amount of perfectly good food that households and supermarkets throw away. Fortunately, some organisations are seeking to reverse the trend, and I was very pleased to meet recently with Farseshare. This fantastic organisation redistributes surplus fit for purpose food to community groups and organisations working with disadvantaged groups. They also promote volunteering opportunities in their warehouses, giving people a first step on the road to employment. Unfortunately, Fareshare told me that there are now seven food banks operating in and around Bristol at the moment. Nobody should have to worry about where their next meal is coming from, but I am getting increasingly concerned that food banks are only going to get busier in the next few months. I will be working with Fareshare to promote the excellent work they do, and to ensure that the most vulnerable people in our communities have somewhere to turn.

VISITING UWE

UWE’s campus in Bower Ashton makes an important contribution to the local community, so I was pleased to accept their invitation for a look round recently. Bower Ashton is very much the creative cub of the university, and it was great to be given a preview of this year’s Creative Industries Degree Show. The displays were truly impressive and I hope many students will go on to have successful careers in their fields. The Campus’s location in Bower Ashton is a huge asset to Bristol South, with students choosing to live nearby and contribute to local life. UWE has links with a number of local schools and students also get involved in various community art projects. I’m keen that this joint working is further extended across Bristol South and have offered my support in taking this forward.

TEN YEARS OF KNOWLE WEST HEALTH PARK

This morning, I went along to the Health Park in Knowle West. The Healthy Living Centre is celebrating its tenth anniversary with an Olympic themed summer festival, and I was very interested to see some of the activities on offer. The Health Park has done so much to promote health and fitness in Knowle West during the last decade and today’s events have been well supported by the community. The festival continues tomorrow, with an exhibition highlighting the Health Park’s history, an Olympic style procession through Knowle West, and a football tournament supported by Bristol City Football Club – if you have some time this weekend please do go along to join in the festivities.

ILLUMINATED ADVERTISING SIGN IN TOTTERDOWN

Like many local residents I have written to Bristol City Council expressing concern about the recent planning application for a very large illuminated advertising hoarding on the Wells Road in Totterdown. The grounds for opposition are that the sign would not be in keeping with the Victorian nature of much of the western side of the Wells Road. It would also ruin an area of much improved green space. In addition there are two busy pedestrian crossings very close to the proposed site, the distraction posed by an illuminated sign therefore posing a traffic hazard.

It is my understanding that a recommendation to refuse this application will be made, I very much hope that this recommendation is accepted.

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.