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From our Editor,

Bristol Bites: Spin the wheel. Again

Housing in Bristol. Discuss. 

The city council finds itself lurching from crisis to crisis or, if one were being charitable, jumping from pickle jar to pickle jar.

Let’s look again at the NEC Housing IT programme, which this newsletter focused on last week.

The NEC project is supposed to provide the council with a clearer picture of key issues, including where repairs are needed in council flats, collecting rents and servicing gas boilers. But it’s been bedevilled by bugs.

The most bizarre centres on the system demanding that tenants wishing to bid for homes must provide two email addresses. This glitch, we are told, will be solved by our old friend, the software upgrade.

Woah! Row back a bit. Two email addresses? Who thought the requirement for two emails was a good idea in the first place? That’s a blindingly obvious red flag right there. How many of us are ever asked for two emails for, well, anything? 

The NEC Housing programme is miles behind schedule and way over its initial £7.5m budget. Additional emergency funding of £1.3m was hurried through in December to smooth the system’s rollout. 

Problem solved? Er, nope. Last week, councillors approved an additional £2m to be thrown at the project. Apparently, council staff lack the skills in things like data input, so need support from well remunerated private sector digital demons. 

And elected members were rattled by claims that, if they didn’t cough up now, it would cost even more down the line and delay rollout yet further.

The image of a man in a shabby tuxedo at the roulette wheel, contemplating his losses, springs to mind: “I’m in this deep, I’d better double down… another few chips on lucky 13!”

Charles Brooks, a director in the housing department, gave this assurance:

“There will be no more requests for funding. We will not be coming back for any funding. You can quote me on that.”

Oh, we will, Mr Brooks, we will.

Elsewhere, the council is mulling over whether to refurbish or redevelop four connected blocks of flats in St Jude’s.

The flats, home to more than 500 people, are in a parlous state - riddled with damp and in a general state of disrepair. But the good news is that there is only a small chance of the blocks collapsing in the event of a gas canister exploding. Tenants must have been whooping for joy at that news - they may be planning a street party to celebrate. 

The council now wants to hire - you’ve guessed it - a consultant to weigh up the costs of refurbishment versus redevelopment. Either way, councillors have been warned that residents may have to be relocated. Where to, given the shortage of social housing in Bristol? 

People living in the four blocks, Charleton House, Haviland House, Langton House and John Cozens House, must be at their wits end. But at least they can sleep soundly knowing that there is only a “small chance” of their homes being razed to rubble in the event of a gas explosion.

The van dweller saga rumbles on. This week, the council was granted an injunction at Bristol County Court and a possession order allowing it to evict van dwellers (let’s hope it need not come to bailiffs). District Judge Napier said the possession order meant van dweller evictions could be enforced in 21 days time.

The council sought an extension of the injunction “in the interest of citizens” and for the “protection of the rights of others”. The judge said no - apply to the High Court if you want an extension. It’s always such fun when the lawyers get involved. 

Meanwhile, on the luxury “meanwhile sites” for van dwellers? The council planned to deliver 250 pitches by this month. Thus far, it’s provided 98.

A botched IT scheme. Unsafe housing blocks. The long-running van dweller farce.

When it comes to housing, Bristol City Council has got itself into a right old pickle.

Revered restaurant reviewer and food broadcaster, Jay Rayner, has heaped praise on Bristol’s independent eateries. 

Writing in the Financial Times, no less, Mr Rayner suggests Bristol is the best place in Britain for independent restaurants. He reviewed “Other”, a place on Cannon Street in Bedminster (otherrestaurant.co.uk) 

Amid mouth watering descriptions of glazed pork chops and sourdough doughnuts, Mr Rayner had this to say:

“We can grasp at cultural explanations for Bristol’s impressively robust independent restaurant culture. It has long had a tradition of going its own way. In 1831 the city’s people rioted for voting rights. In 1963 they boycotted the bus service over its racist employment practices. They throw statues of slavers into the harbour. They don’t produce boy bands; they produce Massive Attack and Portishead.”

His plea? “Oh Bristol, don’t ever change.”

Spot on, Jay. 

Rhidian Wynn Davies | Editor in Chief

Continuing our trip up and down the Bristol-Oxford-Cambridge tech arc, let’s examine how this trio of splendid cities compare in terms of access to amenities.

Bristol: 2.9 Oxford: 3.3 Cambridge: 3.3

Bristol: 11.4 Oxford: 22.1 Cambridge: 23.2

Bristol: 3.0 Oxford: 8.0 Cambridge: 9.6

Bristol: 97% Oxford: 98% Cambridge: 90%

Bristol: 60% Oxford: 26% Cambridge: 61%

This data is important for younger people, many of whom work in the tech sector. Access to supermarkets and sports facilities stands out. Food and fitness are key considerations for the under 30s in weighing up how well they are served by their cities. Bristol is OK for supermarkets but scores very poorly for sports facilities. This in a city that boasts a top rugby side and two football clubs. 

Museums and libraries may come down the list of priorities for this demographic. Museums are a little thin on the ground per capita in Bristol. But the city scores strongly on the access to libraries metric. Maybe tech savvy, bright young things aren’t borrowing books, but libraries can be quiet places to get the laptop out, away from noisy flatmates (although coffee shops appear to be more popular).

Getting to work is a key factor for younger people and Bristol scores well on access to railway stations. 

Attracting talent to these tech arc cities is a competitive business. 

Source: Office for National Statistics

Scroll down for best of Instagram, sport, property news and more things to do in Bristol this weekend…

Bristol Bears

It’s been a grim few weeks for The Bears. Prem defeats against Leicester Tigers and Harlequins have left Bristol fifth in the table, seven points adrift of fourth place and the playoffs. 

The 59-26 mauling at the hands of Toulouse in the Champions Cup was hardly a morale booster. Throw in some fresh injuries and you can understand why Bears boss Pat Lam is less than happy.

Tonight’s clash with Gloucester at Ashton Gate is now critical (7.45pm). A bonus point win is what Bristol desire. They know they can do it. But The Bears and their fans will need to roar. 

Bristol City

City ground out a 0-0 draw away to QPR last Saturday - a creditable result, albeit one with the dullest of scores. 

In means Roy Hodgson remains unbeaten as interim boss after three games in charge. He appears to have steadied the ship after a woeful run of results.

The Robins now lie 10th in the Championship. Making the playoffs seems highly unlikely - they are 10 points off sixth place.

Next up for City are Norwich (Saturday, 3pm). The Canaries have turned their season around after a sticky start. The Robins will need to be at their best. 

Bristol Rovers

Rovers made it six wins on trot with a 3-1 victory over Crawley last Saturday. It’s an excellent run of form that sees The Pirates a more than comfortable 22 points clear of any relegation fears. They sit 15th in the league.

Rovers travel to Tranmere for their next match (Saturday, 3pm). Let’s hope The Pirates prevail over The Superwhites to continue their winning streak.

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