Author Archives: marvinjrees

Peace in the Middle East

A public petition was presented at the last Full Council meeting, which will be debated at today’s meeting. My response has been published on Bristol City Council’s website and is also shared below:

Since 7 October’s attacks on Israel by the terrorist organisation Hamas, we have continued to work closely with community leaders from across our city, of all faiths and none. In that spirit, I welcomed a joint inter-faith statement from Jewish, Muslim, and Christian leaders in Bristol. We continue to work with representatives from all communities to promote community cohesion and togetherness in our city, and lit up City Hall with the words ‘salam’ (and the Arabic script), ‘shalom’ (and the Hebrew script), and ‘peace’. Bristol must continue to stand together against the rising antisemitism, Islamophobia, and hate that we have seen in response to events in the Middle East.

We all want a complete and permanent end to violence and the threat of violence in Palestine and Israel, through a sustainable ceasefire built on the safety and security of both Israelis and Palestinians. All civilians must be protected. Innocent people are being killed and injured. This must stop and, while, like any country, Israel has the right to defend itself, international law must be upheld.

The wider debate about one of the world’s most complex geopolitical situations, which is changing rapidly, perhaps, including between me writing this response and you reading it, has become increasingly binary. Former President Obama has rightly observed that a number of things are all true at the same time: that what Hamas did on 7 October was horrific, and that there’s no justification for it; that the situation facing Palestinians is unbearable; that there is a long history of antisemitism, not least the unique horrors of the Holocaust, which is too readily dismissed or forgotten; and that thousands of Palestinians who have nothing to do with the actions of Hamas are being killed and injured in Gaza.

International efforts for humanitarian pauses bore fruit in November. There was welcome progress, first in the form of local pauses in northern Gaza in exchange for the release of some of the hostages kidnapped from southern Israel. A breakthrough in negotiations then saw a more sustained pause to enable the release of additional hostages and enable a greater flow of much-needed humanitarian aid into Gaza. But the following weeks have seen more innocent people killed and injured. While it is welcome that another crossing into Gaza, at Kerem Shalom, has reopened, more progress and more aid is needed, and all hostages must be released.

To achieve a sustainable ceasefire, there remain significant, continuing challenges in the short term that will need to be overcome. Those involved in these matters, including officials from the United States, have been warning of several such risks at this time, including Israel winning tactical military victories at the expense of strategic defeats. Hamas makes it difficult to distinguish between military targets and civilians, but the lack of discrimination between the two is unacceptable.

There is no pathway to Israeli safety and security that does not ensure the safety and security of Palestinians. Likewise, there is no pathway to Palestinian safety and security that does not ensure the safety and security of Israelis. In the longer term, there will need to be a political process for a just and lasting peace, so it remains essential that the international community supports a path, however complex and challenging, to a two-state solution with a free and secure Palestine and a free and secure Israel.

The Global Refugee Forum

Last week I was invited to be the keynote Mayoral speaker at the 2023 Global Refugee Forum. I was there as Mayor of Bristol and thanks to the Mayors Migration Council (MMC), where I am a Board Member.

The Global Refugee Forum is a process of the United Nations, which was set up after the Second World War for national governments to develop joint agreements or policies on key global issues. It is important to get national governments working together, but it is increasingly apparent that national governments cannot afford to work without cities. 

Most migrants leave cities, travel through cities, and settle in cities. Perhaps surprisingly, most refugees – 70% – don’t live in refugee camps, they live in cities. This is one of the reasons that we co-founded the MMC, and make the case that that international agreements on the global refugee crisis cannot be undertaken, let alone delivered, without the input of city leaders.

For that reason, in 2018, mayors asked to be involved the first Global Refugee Forum (GRF) but access was limited and mayors were represented only through city networks. This week, at the second GRF, mayors were directly involved. I was honoured to announce the 100+ city-led pledges made by Mayors at the UN, committing our cities to programmes that welcome refugees and support them and their receiving communities.

The world can celebrate the progress made on refugee protection and solutions since the adoption of the landmark UN Global Compact on Refugees in 2018. The mayors in attendance from Kampala, Zurich, Amman, San Antonio, Lampedusa, and more offered many positive examples.

But, sadly, we now find ourselves in a situation where populist political actors are undermining the opportunities we have to build a just system in which the talents and skills of refugees can be truly utilised in refugees’ host cities, if not their own. Meanwhile the number of displaced people continues to rise. Today, more than one in every 73 people on Earth has been forcibly displaced: a historic high of 114 million people. In just the past 12 months, UNHCR, the UN’s refugee agency, declared a record 46 emergencies across 32 countries.

Bristol has a strong story to tell on refugees and migrants. During the GRF, the Home Office specifically thanked the city for our response to recent refugee crises. As a proud City of Sanctuary, we work to help resettle vulnerable refugees from around the world. We have supported 461 refugees from the Middle East and North Africa since 2016, 441 Afghan refugees since 2021, and 806 Ukrainian refugees since 2022. City Partners, specialist health agencies, and the refugee voluntary sector support the Home Office, who accommodate just under 1,200 asylum seekers in Bristol.

And, as a city that welcomes migrants and refugees, it’s vital to understand more about the people arriving in Bristol and what support they need the most. After all, a young man looking for work needs different support to a mother with small young children. There is much incredible work happing in Bristol.

  • The Haven is a great example of tailored provision, with healthcare like TB screening and childhood vaccinations for refugees who may have not had access to these in the past. 
  • Ashley Community Housing provides housing and employment support to refugees and migrants.
  • One of Bristol’s new International Ambassadors, Muna Abdi, came to the UK as a young refugee. She now runs Primeway Care, with 120 employees providing key care provision to citizens all across the city, and chairs the Bristol Somali Forum. 

However, provisions like these require investment. Refugee inclusion is woefully underfunded. Among members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, 72% of countries’ funding for refugees is solely humanitarian, ignoring the longer-term inclusion and development needs of refugees and host communities. That means missing out on all the talent and opportunity that these individuals bring with them. In Bristol, and only around 1% of all funds pledged to refugees went directly to city authorities, the level of government closest to the front line.

While at the Global Refugee Forum, I also visited the World Economic Forum (WEF) headquarters and discussed Bristol’s economic strengths and key industries; met the Chief of Staff of the International Organisation on Migration (IOM) to talk about refugee support on employment opportunities; and connected with representatives from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, the Home Office, the UK office of UNHCR, and the Scottish and Welsh governments.

I was thanked for Bristol’s international leadership and participation in these kind of global forums, and for directly proving that cities offer solutions to their country’s challenges. We do this by offering positive opportunities for their home communities and new citizens who arrive. 

I look forward to seeing how cities feed into the Global Refugee Forum in 2027, for the world to continue to #ListenToCities

My travel and accommodation for the Global Refugee Forum was covered by the Mayors Migration Council.

Bristol arts and cultural organisations set to get £1.4m funding boost

Councillor Asher Craig is pictured, smiling, with greenery in the background.
Today’s guest blog is from Councillor Asher Craig, Deputy Mayor for Children’s Services, Education, and Equalities, and Labour Councillor for
St George West ward.

The re-opening of the Bristol Beacon one week ago today was an amazing moment to reflect on and take pride in our city’s thriving creative sector. Bristol has always been an exciting hub for creative innovation and artistic expression, with a truly international reach.

Sadly, the spectre of the pandemic, and continuing austerity, still looms large over much of the arts and culture sector, with businesses and organisations still feeling the pinch as they continue to recover.

However, Bristol arts and cultural organisations are set to get a much needed boost from the council’s Cultural Investment Programme (CIP). With a fund of over £2.4 million dedicated to creative organisations both large and small, across three distinct funding streams (Imagination, Originators and Openness), the CIP is not merely an investment, it stands as a commitment from Bristol City Council to securing Bristol’s vibrant music and cultural scenes now, and in the future, through both funding and support.

The aims of the CIP 2023 to 2027 programme also aligns with our city’s key priorities around promoting diversity, inclusion and equality as referenced in the Bristol Council Cultural Strategy, the Corporate Strategy 2022-27 and the One City Plan. The organisations recommended for funding by an independent panel have all demonstrated that they are reaching into underrepresented areas; have embedded community partnerships, health, and wellbeing partners; and are investing into building a sustainable sector.

During this week’s Cabinet meeting, we stood by our commitment, by approving this further grant funding of over £1.4 million for two of the funding streams, giving even more organisations the opportunity to access this vital fiscal lifeline. Of the £1.4 million being allocated, 11 organisations were awarded Imagination grants totalling over £300,000, and a further 15 were awarded Openness grants totalling just over £1 million.

In this newest round of funding, we should be proud to see a positive shift towards the diversification of our grant recipients, with over 60 per cent of organisations recommended for both funding streams working with people from equality backgrounds. Bristol’s investment into these organisations over the next four years will offer new opportunities to communities who might otherwise miss out on grant-based funding rounds.

The Openness and Imagination funding streams have already played positive roles in supporting dozens of creative organisations across Bristol. One such group includes the Paraorchestra, an amazing organisation that not only works tirelessly to redefine the traditional orchestra through collaboration with disabled and non-disabled artists, but also shares their passion for music with the city, as those who saw their performance at the opening of the Bristol Beacon can attest to.

Local authorities up and down the country continue to face intense financial challenges, with councils struggling to support their cultural sectors at all, as they continue to grapple with the ongoing cost of operating crisis and a severe lack of central government funding support.

It’s in the face of these financial difficulties that I am proud that our city remains in steadfast support of the arts and understands the positive impact a healthy and sustainable arts and culture sector has on our communities. While remaining committed to diversifying this sector, providing opportunities for individuals and organisations that have continually lacked the necessary support to help them succeed. The CIP remains an essential component in ensuring that everyone can have access to, and benefit from the city’s successful arts and culture sector.

Taking a tour of the newly refurbished Redcliffe Bascule Bridge

Councillor Don Alexander is pictured, smiling, with trees and College Green in the background.
Today’s guest blog is from Councillor Don Alexander, Cabinet Member for transport and Labour Councillor for Avonmouth and Lawrence Weston Ward.

I recently visited Redcliffe Bascule Bridge on Bristol’s floating harbour to find out more about all we’ve done to refurbish it and to see the repairs up close.

To look at the bridge in its normal state, when it’s lowered, it looks like a simple construction over the harbour from Redcliffe Way to Welsh Back. However, when the section that lifts up (known as the bascule span) goes into the upright position, that is when you realise there are complicated mechanics at work.

Built in 1942, the bridge needs to open to let larger boats in and out of Welsh Back, a wharf alongside the floating harbour. The last time any significant repairs took place to the bridge was in 1996 but, since then, the deck anchoring and lifting system had deteriorated to the point that it had become noisy under the heavy traffic flow. We needed to solve that issue, and bring it up to modern standards.  

The project was designed by Jacobs Consultants UK between late 2018 and 2020, mainly concentrating on structural problems and upgrading the mechanical and electrical elements of the bridge.

Redcliffe Bascule Bridge is picture with new paint.

Cleveland Bridge UK originally started the repairs back in January 2021. However, they went into administration in July 2021 so we needed to find a new contractor who could hit the ground running. Griffiths, the council’s maintenance contractor, took on the project and the refurbishment work started back up again in June 2022.

Griffiths brought in Fairfield Control Systems to upgrade and replace various electrical components that control the bridge’s critical functions and surroundings, and Fairfield Engineering Solutions to focus on refurbishing the crucial mechanical elements essential to the bridge’s structural integrity.

Glyn Evans, Project Manager for Bristol City Council, and Mike Clark, Site Agent for Griffiths, took me on a behind-the-scenes tour to find out more about the bridge and its refurbishment, which was fascinating.

I got to see the workings of the lifting mechanism, which all goes on out of sight in the bascule electrical distribution centre.

The tour also took in the main plant room, which houses the new high-tech electrical control systems and the bascule cabin, which is where the bridge is operated by our harbour staff.

The lifting mechanism room of Redcliffe Bascule Bridge is pictured, happening out of the bascule electrical distribution centre.
Redcliffe Bascule Bridge's main plant room, housing the new high-tech electrical control systems and the bascule cabin, which is where the bridge is operated by our harbour staff.

What the works involved

The scope of work covered a range of critical components, including:

  • steelwork and concrete repairs
  • electrical works to upgrade and replace vital parts 
  • mechanical works
  • waterproofing the deck of the bridge, replacing joints, and surfacing and paving works
  • painting the structure
  • installing CCTV, fire and intruder alarms and lighting

One of the big issues was the sound of larger vehicles crossing the bridge. The clamping system, at the end of the deck that is raised into the air when the bridge lifts, had become worn over time and allowed the bridge to ‘flap’ under the load of traffic, albeit by a few millimetres, but sufficient to create a loud clank from every passing heavy vehicle. Happily, this has been resolved by creating a new nose bolt for the bridge, which keeps the decking securely in place. It means we’ve been able to improve the road surface, reducing noise for locals and creating better journeys for everyone who crosses the bridge.

I am delighted to say the refurbishment works are now complete and Redcliffe Bascule Bridge reopened to all users in August 2023.

Since then, we had an issue with the south pinion bearing, which is a geared cog bearing that drives the span of the bridge upwards. It was not in the original scope of the project, but it had deteriorated over the course of the works through lack of use. After a thorough assessment and some quick problem solving, our team successfully resolved the issue, illustrating their dedication to finding cost effective and practical solutions.

Councillor Don Alexander is pictured looking at the lifting mechanism room of Redcliffe Bascule Bridge.

Final steps

The final commissioning phase, when we will do our last tests on the lifting mechanism and train our harbour team to use the updated equipment, is all that remains left to do.

We are hoping to carry this out in February 2024 to avoid the busy run up to Christmas. It will mean we may need to close the bridge for a short period of time to all users. Signage will go up on the road and we’ll divert everyone over Bristol Bridge, if that’s the case. 

Thank you

Many thanks to everyone who has been involved in this project – it is a huge feat of engineering work. Your dedication and expertise has made sure that Redcliffe Bascule Bridge will stand strong for generations to come. I would also like to thank everyone, from road users to nearby residents and businesses, for your patience throughout the refurbishment works needed to future-proof the bridge and bring it back into full working order.

The old control systems for the Redcliffe Bascule Bridge.
Old hinges are pictured from the Redcliffe Bascule Bridge.

International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women 2023

International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women 2022
Councillor Ellie King is pictured, smiling, stood on the ramp of Bristol's city hall.
Today’s guest blog is from Councillor Ellie King, Cabinet for Public Health and Communities and Labour councillor for Hillfields ward.

While the festive period brings many opportunities to celebrate, the additional pressures and increased alcohol consumption can make this time of year increasingly difficult for those at risk of gender-based violence. 25 November marked the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls, and the beginning of the UN’s 16 days of action against gender-based violence.  

Worldwide, six women are killed by a man every hour, and in the UK, a domestic abuse call is made to the police every 30 seconds. This is an incredibly alarming statistic to wrap your head around.

 Gender based violence can come in many forms including:

  • domestic abuse
  • sexual violence
  • abuse and rape
  • coercive control (an act or pattern of controlling, threatening or humiliating behaviour).
  • stalking and harassment
  • trafficking
  • forced prostitution
  • female genital mutilation
  • forced marriage
  • intimidation at work, education or in public
  • ‘honour’ crimes.              

Bristol’s City Hall was lit up orange on 25 November, in honour of the International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls and will be again today, (30 November) to mark Next Link’s candlelit vigil to highlight the number of women and children affected by Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence.

I am proud of our commitment to making Bristol a zero-tolerance city for gender-based violence, where survivors are supported, and perpetrators of violence are held to account. This work can be seen in the Mayoral Commission on Domestic Abuse, which details our recommendations for a violence-free city, and our commitments to supporting women across the city, no matter who they are.

I am also proud of our involvement with the Bristol Women’s Commission, which has dedicated groups to address issues faced by women and girls, such as education, women’s health, and the economy. Organisations like these help women to feel protected and safe in Bristol.

At Bristol City Council, we support employers to develop domestic abuse policies, and spot signs of abuse to protect their staff. We will always promote our zero-tolerance policy for all types of abuse and encourage local businesses and media outlets to challenge abusive behaviours and support survivors.

We have also signed up to achieve the Domestic Abuse and Housing Alliance accreditation, which will help our housing officers identify and respond to domestic abuse earlier, and more efficiently so that all families can be safe and have housing security.

As well as this, our manifesto commitment to increase the priority of Domestic Violence survivors in the HomeChoice system has been delivered. This means that women who have been victims of Domestic Violence will be classed as an urgent housing priority when allocating social housing.

Dedicated Services

In Bristol we provide additional specialist services and support through the Next Link Plus partnership, understanding the need for tailored services working ‘by-and-for’ survivors in a partnership that recognises everyone has their own unique experience of discrimination and oppression.

Next Link Plus has trained specialists that are able to support women in abusive and violent situations. They have specialists supporting those who have experienced ‘honour’ abuse, have dedicated safe houses for survivors from minoritised communities, such as South Asian, Black, those with disabilities and those from the LGBTQ+ community.

They also work in partnership with other organisations across Bristol to provide the best possible care, such as St. Mungo’s to support those sleeping rough or homeless, Sign Health for those who are deaf or have hearing difficulties, and Nilaari for therapy.

A person is pictured holding a candle at a vigil on International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
Vigil on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women 2022

The Drive Project

In June this year, the Home Office Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Intervention Fund awarded £1,230,500 to the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC), the police, and councils throughout the southwest to implement the Drive initiative. The Drive project exists to challenge the behaviour of high-risk domestic abuse perpetrators, reducing the risk of violent behaviours and offering further protection to victims.

The Safer Streets Project

We have also been given funding from the Home Office to fund our Safer Streets project. This has been run in Manor Farm, Portland Square and most recently across South Bristol. The funding has gone towards more street lighting, more CCTV, and increased community activities, which has made our streets safer and more secure for women.

Bristol Nights

Feeling safe at night is important. Bristol Nights is committed to making women feel safe at night, and to reducing the anxiety and fear that socialising at night can induce.

97% of women in Bristol have experienced sexual harassment. The Women’s Safety Charter aims to improve the safety and security of women at night. This campaign has now been running for over a year, and businesses all over Bristol have been trained to protect their staff, and the public from possible violence.

This year, we have made great progress in supporting victims of domestic violence and commit to making further progress in our Bristol Domestic Abuse Safe Accommodation Strategy and working with more women and children to support them through violence and abuse.

Getting help

If you or someone you know is or has been affected by domestic abuse, you can access support via:

  • Next Link Plus service: 0800 4700 280
  • National Domestic Violence Helpline: 0808 2000 247
  • Always call 999 in an emergency

Photos: Remembrance Sunday 2023

It was a privilege to join other local dignitaries and military personnel in showing our respects at Bristol’s annual day of remembrance. The event included a parade from College Green to the Cenotaph, before a two minute silence and the laying of wreaths.

Bristol’s Act of Remembrance was led by Royal Marines Reserve Bristol, HMS Flying Fox. With the parade featuring military units, cadet contingents, veterans and related groups.

Thank you to everyone involved in the organisation of such a special and emotional day.

Photography credit:

The hilt of a sword is pictured, gleaming with droplets of rain. Photo credit: Colin Rayner.
A man wearing military uniform is pictured playing a bugler at Bristol's Act of Remembrance. Photo credit: Colin Rayner.
Mayor Marvin Rees is pictured on the left of the image, holding a wreath for remembrance. To his right Karin Smyth MP, Darren Jones MP, Thangam Debbonaire MP and Mark Shelford PCC are also holding wreaths of remembrance. Military personnel can be seen in the background during Bristol's Act of Remembrance. Photo credit: Colin Rayner.
Military personnel are pictured showing their respects during Bristol's Act of Remembrance. Photo credit: Colin Rayner.
Members of the public are pictured showing their respects during Bristol's Act of Remembrance. Photo credit: Colin Rayner.
A Policeman is pictured showing his respects during Bristol's Act of Remembrance. Photo credit: Colin Rayner.
A ex-military serviceman is pictured wearing uniform during Bristol's Act of Remembrance. Photo credit: Colin Rayner.
Military personnel and city dignitary's are pictured showing their respects in front of the Cenotaph during Bristol's Act of Remembrance. Photo credit: Colin Rayner.
Military personnel are picture showing their respects during Bristol's Act of Remembrance. Photo credit: Colin Rayner.
Military personnel are pictured marching during Bristol's Act of Remembrance. Photo credit: Colin Rayner.
Military cadets are pictured in formation during Bristol's Act of Remembrance. Photo credit: Colin Rayner.
The hats of military personnel are pictured during Bristol's Act of Remembrance. Photo credit: Colin Rayner.
Wreaths are pictured at the bottom of Bristol's cenotaph. Photo credit: Colin Rayner.
Military personnel are pictured during Bristol's Act of Remembrance. Photo credit: Colin Rayner.

An update on the Major Incident at Barton House

The skyline of Bristol is pictured.

My thoughts are with everyone at this time and I’m grateful to all residents for your patience. I extend my thanks to the family, friends, volunteers, faith leaders and community groups who have come forward to provide support.

We have written to the tenants of Barton House to update them on what is a fast moving and complicated situation.

I’m sorry to residents that I couldn’t be with you in person last night. Over the weekend, I travelled to Kigali to take part in the Commonwealth local Government Forum’s conference on climate and migration. I will be back in Bristol as soon as I can but in the meantime I know housing officers, cabinet members, my office, senior council staff have all been on hand. I extend my thanks to them also.

We have made the decision to evacuate Barton House because we are putting the safety of our residents first and foremost. We understand the disruption and inconvenience this has caused, but rest assured our top priority is to make sure everyone is looked after and updated as the situation unfolds.

We are working as quickly as we can to carry out the necessary further investigations and surveys on the building to ensure we have a full understanding of the situation.

Please allow me to summarise the situation we are facing:


Yesterday, council leaders made the difficult decision to evacuate residents of Barton House. While there is no evidence of an immediate risk to life, this precautionary decision was taken following receipt of results from surveys undertaken to assess the building’s structure.

These surveys were ordered as part of work to assess potential future options for Barton House given its age and method of construction.

A survey of three out of ninety-eight of the flats has indicated that the building may not have been built to the specification set out in its design. A number of issues have emerged that suggest the building’s construction is sufficiently different to its blueprints that there is a material risk to the structure of the block in the event of a fire, explosion or large impact.

This includes the apparent lack of structural ties between the floors and the load-bearing external walls. There is lower fire resistance of these structural elements and less concrete cover than set out in the original plans for the floors. Even if there was concrete cover as thick as set out in the original plans, this would still be less than would be used in a building built today.

We are working at pace to complete further surveys now, to go deep into the structure and understand when it would be safe for residents to move back into Barton House.

The surveys will take us some time to complete, so residents will need to be away from home while they are carried out. We are working as quickly as we can to find everyone suitable temporary accommodation.

Accommodation

We have managed to make direct contact with most Barton House residents. We are asking people to contact us with their details to let us know if they or other residents are not getting updates from us. We will then be sure to add their details.

Fifty seven hotel rooms were provided to families in need and four people stayed at our rest centre at City Hall. Nine households decided to stay in their property and twenty nine households did not answer their doors, so may not have been home.

We are working throughout the day and evening to make contact with those households we couldn’t speak to yesterday and continue to have an ongoing dialogue with those who chose to stay inside Barton House. All other households chose to stay with friends and family.

Officers have made every effort to acquire and prepare emergency accommodation for residents. More rooms are becoming available by the hour with further expected to be secured by the weekend.

I’m grateful to so many organisations and businesses across the city who offered accommodation or to provide support and rest in their buildings for those displaced by this evacuation.

Likewise, we’ve been inundated with offers of donations and volunteer support. This overwhelmingly positive response from communities across the city demonstrates clearly the kindness and care inherent across our city. However, donations are not required and we are asking any offers of volunteering to visit the Can Do Bristol website with their offers of support. This way we will be able to ensure our efforts are best coordinated.

Information for Residents

If you are a resident in Barton House and need to speak to a Housing Officer or have a question that needs answering about the current situation, please call our free helpline on 0800 694 0184. Outside of office hours, you can call 0117 922 2050. Please provide the call handler with your contact details so an officer can contact you directly. Housing officers will be available at your temporary accommodation or at Barton House.

We know there will be lots of questions and concerns over the coming days and we will do our best to keep everyone informed.

Investing in Bristol’s high streets and city centre

Cllr Craig Cheney is pictured, smiling, in a dark suit against a white background.
Today’s guest blog is from Councillor Craig Cheney, Deputy Mayor for City Economy, Finance, and Performance and Labour Councillor for Hillfields ward.

The city centre and variety of high streets are central parts of Bristol’s character and the reason so many of us choose to live, work or study here.

To help Bristol’s high streets and the city centre to recover from the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, we launched the City Centre and High Streets Recovery and Renewal programme in July 2021 having secured £4.725 million of funding.

The aim of the programme is to help increase the number of people visiting and using these places by filling vacant premises, diversifying what’s on offer, improving their appearance, and supporting the culture and events sector to put on events and activities.

The money has been used to support the recovery of the city centre and forty seven high streets throughout Bristol, with a specific focus on nine priority high streets including: Brislington (Brislington Hill and Bristol Hill), Church Road (St George), East Street (Bedminster), Filton Avenue, Filwood Broadway, Shirehampton High Street, Stapleton Road, Stockwood (Hollway Road and Stockwood Road) and Two Mile Hill.

By encouraging people to visit and use these places, our activity continues to support businesses, helping them to survive and thrive.

Working closely with businesses, residents, community groups, the creative and events sector and other stakeholders, we have focussed on making sure that activity and improvements match the challenges facing each individual high street.

To date, we have:

  • Delivered 45 events with 116 free activity days through the culture and events programme. Analysis of 21 completed events shows over 130,000 people have attended an event to date, generating £2.08 million of additional spend in Bristol’s businesses, and we have supported 380 paid jobs in culture and events, all from an investment to date of £498,000.
  • Supported over 100 new and expanding small businesses, charities and social enterprises through the Vacant Commercial Property Grant, allocating £872,000 in grants to open new shops and premises.
  • Promoted over 400 businesses through the Where’s it to? Bristol campaign, celebrating the breadth and diversity of independent businesses that Bristol is renowned for.
  • Engaged over 1000 businesses, providing tailored support to 457 businesses and made 93 referrals to partner organisations or services.

The next phase of activity currently underway includes street scene and greening improvements across the priority high streets. Under the City Centre and High Streets Recovery and Renewal programme, the focus is on improving the look and feel of our high streets by adding greenery, planting trees, improving bins and recycling facilities to reduce rubbish, and encouraging people to stay with new seating for shoppers or passers-by.

High-Street-Consultation-boards_low-res_08.11.23Download

Following engagement with local residents and businesses and other interested stakeholders, plans have been drawn up for each area.

For those wanting to view and discuss the plans in more detail, we are running a series of face-to-face drop-in events and online sessions. These begin on Wednesday 15 November and run through until 1 December 2023. Details of the events and plans are available on the High Street Improvements page of our website.

Plans for Filwood Broadway are already in full swing with funding being used to support improvement to the existing children’s play area, and a pocket park has been completed on Stockwood Road, to the side of the library, adding greenery and a seating area.

The newly installed pocket park in Stockwood is pictured.

In addition to the feedback gathered from our engagement work, the plans are guided by the amount of funding available and the physical constraints of each area.

To maximise what we are able to achieve, we are working with our partners across the city to make sure our proposals integrate with other programmes of support and regeneration.

Plans for East Street, Stockwood and the city centre are still in development and will be shared at a later date.

If you are unable to join us for the face-to-face or online session to discuss the plans, comments can be sent to business@bristol.gov.uk by Sunday 10 December 2023.

Once details of the plans have been shared, we will start work to deliver these improvements, with the aim of completion by mid-2024.

Bristol’s Welcoming Spaces this winter

People who have supported Bristol during the national cost of living crisis are pictured in the Council Chamber at City Hall.

Back in April 2022, it became apparent that a national cost of living crisis was developing and that the winter months would be very challenging for many people. We were still emerging from the pandemic, and thought about the fact that we would once again need to come together and plan support for local people.

As a result of our foresight, Bristol was one of the first cities to develop a planned local response to the cost of living crisis. I met with community workers who were on the ground in communities across our city to discuss our approach. The idea of Welcoming Spaces was born. We would go onto create a network of spaces, open to everyone without judgement, where people could go to find company, a warm space, get help and guidance, or take part in activities.

Bristol came together as One City to provide these spaces for local people with help of community groups, advice agencies, local businesses, and over 200 volunteers. The response was astounding and this approach led to a network of 105 Welcoming Spaces spread across the city, all there to help others. The spaces ranged from children’s centres and care homes, to places of worship and leisure centres. Many of them opened their doors specially to help people during the difficult winter months and each one responded to the unique needs of their local community.

It’s been great to see other local authorities following Bristol’s lead and many have set up warm and welcoming spaces initiatives in their own local areas this winter.

In the spring we surveyed the Welcoming Spaces to understand how it all went and today we’ve published an impact report that summarises the successes and things we’ve learnt.

From the information we gathered, it’s estimated that between October 2022 and April 2023 almost 5,000 people visited Bristol’s Welcoming Spaces. The biggest impact that the spaces had was on building a sense of community and 93% of responses we received said that they had improved social connection. This shows the real potential that Welcoming Spaces have in helping to build stronger communities within our city.

People who visited the Welcoming Spaces also benefited from the guidance given by advice agencies who provided support, trained volunteers and increased case worker capacity. Thanks to their work, over 400 people were given advice on debt, benefits and housing. Case workers helped residents collectively gain over £500,000 of new income through social security, and manage £290,000 worth of debt.

Last winter truly demonstrated the power of our One City approach in building resilience when facing big challenges. We are lucky in Bristol to have a wealth of people, community and voluntary organisations and businesses who are ready to help others and offer a warm welcome.

Thank you to everyone who made last winter’s response possible.

Looking forward

We need to continue to build on the community power that has made this response possible. We approach this winter, and any future challenges, with stronger confidence that we can come together to support local people.

Our Welcoming Spaces began as a means to help people in times of need but have evolved into so much more. They have become hubs for community life, have helped build social connection, and have forged new partnerships and networks. We cannot continue in crisis mode for the long term, and must now focus on creating lasting change and impact to reduce inequality and create stronger communities across the city. Welcoming Spaces can help us achieve this.

There are still over 60 Welcoming Spaces open in Bristol and you can find these on our interactive map. 

We are also continuing to work with Quartet and the Integrated Care Board to deliver a One City fund that will support welcoming space activity, community hubs and extend the reach of advice organisations and emotional wellbeing support. A further £700,000 will be awarded from this fund in the coming months so we can expect more Welcoming Spaces to pop up soon.

We know that community and voluntary sector organisations are facing significant financial pressure, we feel this too in the public sector. As a city leader, I will continue harness the limited resources that are available to us and make them available to communities.

If you need help

Times are really tough for many people in Bristol and we will continue to support you wherever we can.

This week is Talk Money Week, which highlights the importance of talking about your finances and getting advice if you’re feeling stressed or worried. Although talking about money might feel awkward, reaching out can make a big difference to how you are feeling.

A map of Bristol is pictured with dots placed at sites where Welcoming Spaces are hosted.


We have recently added advice agencies to our Welcoming Spaces map so you can easily find your nearest place to get guidance on money, benefits and housing.

The Bristol Financial Resilience Group led by Hargreaves Lansdown are also helping Bristol to become a more financial resilient city. They’re running a series of free webinars to equip people with the skills they need to become more confident managing finances. Find their previous webinars and details of upcoming webinars on their website. 

Remember our cost of living webpage is still available for information about benefits, food, emergency support, housing and mental health.

You can also call the free We Are Bristol helpline to get information and advice about the cost of living for free on 0800 694 0184 between 8.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

I would continue to encourage anyone that needs help to reach out. 

The future of the Colston statue

The Colston statue is pictured, zoomed into the face, with red spray paint on its eyes and torso. Credit: Bristol Design, Bristol City Council.

Many lessons can be learnt from what happened in the past, especially when many of the impacts are still felt today. Understanding our history remains as important as ever. Since the day that Colston’s statue was pulled down in June 2020, particularly during its temporary display at M Shed, Bristol has come together to ask important questions about our city’s heritage. We must continue trying to do better, fuller history.  

It was through the We Are Bristol History Commission that we held a citywide conversation about the future of the statue and how we can build and present a better understanding of our history for this generation and the next. Nearly 14,000 people responded to the commission’s survey, with local residents and people from further afield taking part. The vast majority (80 per cent) of Bristol residents who responded agreed that the best place for the statue in future was in one of our museums.

Workers are pictured using heavy machinery to lift the Colston statue off a barge. Credit: Bristol Design, Bristol City Council.

The History Commission made the same recommendation in their report. To help make this a reality, an application to regularise the legal position of the listed asset, away from its plinth, has recently been submitted which will go to a planning committee early in the new year. It was submitted following discussions with Historic England, the government advisory body responsible for designating listed buildings, as part of the pre-application process.  

Alongside this, a new M Shed exhibition is being developed and will open in March 2024, refreshing the theme of ‘protest’ in the People gallery. This will include Colston’s statue as part of an exhibit focusing on racial injustice. More details on the exhibition will be released nearer the time.

The Colston statue museum display is pictured, with people in the background. Credit: Bristol Design, Bristol City Council.

The progress that has been made so far is a testament to the strength of feeling in Bristol and the dedicated work of all those who have been involved. I thank them for all they have done before the History Commission formally comes to an end in November. The work they have started will be taken forward by the Bristol Legacy Foundation, which has more plans for acknowledging our city’s history in the trafficking of enslaved African people. 

If we want to be a city that is fully inclusive and fair to all, then race equality is a topic that needs to remain firmly on our agenda. Great strides have been made but the conversation is by no means over. Standing together, we remember what happened before us, agree what happens right now and create a legacy of our own that sits proudly alongside our history and not in its shadows.

The Colston statue is pictured, with red spray-paint on its head and upper torso and blue on its body and legs. Credit: Bristol Design, Bristol City Council.