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Alastair Brook talk, 19th April, 2012

Last Thursday, with the rain falling outside, dozens of people gathered at the Unitarian Meeting Hall in the beautiful Brunswick Square, to hear Alastair Brook discuss the work of the Bristol Buildings Preservation Trust. After Bristol Civic Society’s chairman Stephen Wickham welcomed the audience to the talk, Councillor Anthony Negus introduced Alastair, using personal anecdotes and reflecting on the many years that they spent working together. One particular comment that stood out was when Anthony stated that Alastair worked on buildings that many others would have given up on. This gave an insight into the hard-working and determined character that we were about to witness.

Message from Maureen Pitman 

Mark, Laura, the grandchildren and myself wish to thank all those  who attended the service for Gordon  last Tuesday . We were absolutely overwhelmed by the number of people present and for the considerable number of messages of sympathy we have received  We all really appreciate and are very grateful for the support given, the lovely memories expressed and for the very generous donations received for Emmaus Bristol  .  Please accept our apologies if we were unable to speak to anyone .We did our best but it was difficult to be certain that no-one was missed in the large gathering.. 

Thank you all again.  Maureen

Environmental Awards, 2012 

Every year, with kind sponsorship from Bristol Water, the Bristol Civic Society awards prestigious blue plaques to works that have been recognised as improving our environment.   

All works need to have been completed in 2011. Nominations must by submitted by 8th June 2012. 

Awards are given to new buildings, alterations to an existing building or landscaping work and nominated by the Bristol public and members of the society.  

Gordon Tucker, 1931-2012 

It is with great sadness that we must report the sudden death of Gordon Tucker on 22^nd March.

Gordon has died in post as Bristol Civic Society’s Planning Application Group Convenor and was a former Honorary Secretary of very roughly 23 years service in two long stints. His overall membership duration exceeded 37 years and he was Society Chairman c1986-1988 with flanking stints as Vice Chairman.

Gordon was a current member of at least three working groups ~ (PAG, Major Sites, and Public Spaces) as well as the Executive, so was a current friend to many of us, as well as remembered by many now less active members. He will be sadly missed

Gordon’s working life revolved around dentistry in Bristol, both privately in Bedminster and in NHS in Southmead. He was an Orthodontist.

Gordon was previously married and leaves two children Mark and Laura as well as four grandchildren. He had one sister Maureen

Our thoughts are with them all and their families.

A full Obituary will follow in the BCS Autumn Newsletter.

For funeral arrangements click the "read more" button below.

Stephen Wickham, Chairman Bristol Civic Society, 25 March 2012.

Building a Civic Society in Stokes Croft  : Chris Chalkley talk

Although we have many excellent speakers in our events programme, it’s not very often that they can be described as inspirational, but this correspondent is not alone in applying that description to Chris Chalkleys talk last Wednesday evening.  He gave a fascinating and informative illustrated account of what he and his friends and helpers have been trying to achieve in Stokes Croft over the last 5 years or so. which is  simply to give the people who live and work there a reason to have  pride in their own area, to speak up for it, and to try and bring some  new life to one of Bristol's most neglected areas by involving all the community, including the homeless, unemployed and those struggling  with addictions. In other words, urban renewal from the bottom up.  Chris is angry that Stokes Croft historically has had treatment that would not be tolerated elsewhere in the city.  As a small example he cites council workmen digging up historic flagstones from a Stokes Croft  pavement in order to relay them in Clifton. Chris also has in his sights absentee landlords of commercial buildings who let them fall into disuse and care nothing about making any sort of contribution to the locality.

Bus Rapid Transit Route2 (BRT2) and the Central Area Action Plan (CAAP)

The Civic Society broadly supports the Central Area Action Plan (CAAP) here.

However, while supporting the principle of the Bus Rapid Transport 2 (Temple Meads to Ashton Gate) we are unhappy about much of the proposed route.

The picture above shows what the docks might look like with Rapid Transit buses on the favoured route.  

We have a suggested route avoiding the docks.  Please see our bulletin covering CAAP and BRT2 here.

Why I love Concrete - In Defence of Brutalism.  10th January, 2011

 We were fortunate to have Catherine Croft, director of the 20th Century Society, talk to us (and the RIBA) in defence of brutalism.  Catherine lectures on concrete and has published a number of books on concrete in architecture.

As she admitted, concrete buildings have had a bad press.  Social housing built cheaply, far from civilisation, poorly designed and badly maintained became associated with a generation of workless alienated families.    Concrete cancer, where rusting reinforcing rods cause chunks of concrete to fall off the building, afflicts many of our finest concrete buildings, bridges and motorways. Concrete has become a word associated with "jungle".  While architects relished the look of rough concrete, to the modern eye it seems brutal and dystopian

11th January -  Gloucestershire Country Cricket Club is on the planning committee agenda.

 Agenda here

Watch debate here:

Living Streets, 15th December, 2011

Tony Dyer campaigns for “Living Streets”, an organisation that has a long history, having evolved  from Pro Pedestrian (founded 1929 and responsible for the introduction of speed limits in 1934, driving tests, Belisha beacons and hence pedestrian crossings, drink-driving tests, GLC parking zones and many other measures). 

Tony then introduced Dr Kyron Chatterjee and Dr Danielle Sinnett whose newly published report can be downded from here.