Cheswick Village tiered apart by coronavirus decision

There is metal fencing at the end of Landseer Avenue in Lockleaze that marks the usually invisible border between Bristol and South Gloucestershire. From one minute past midnight on Saturday morning, one side of the fence will be in tier two and the other side in tier three.

It’s a Black Mirror-esque visual representation of where Bristol has found itself under the latest government restrictions.

On Friday, South Glos Council leader Toby Savage wrote to health secretary, Matt Hancock, asking for an explanation on what he calls the “contradictory decision” to keep South Glos in tier three while Bristol and North Somerset – grouped as part of a single NHS region – are moving down into tier two.

Savage wrote: “We have families that live across the road from each other that are now in different tiers, local supermarkets that are in different tiers, hospitality establishments on the same road or immediate vicinity in different tiers, travel to work and cross border issues for local schools, and public transport that is integrated across tier boundaries.

“This is already leading to community cohesion issues and increasing levels of frustration and anger. Whilst an element of this might be around Tier 3 status itself, more appears to be about a feeling and sense of unfairness, lack of recognition of the reality of what happens on the ground, and the creation of yet further divide amongst close knit communities.”

Looking towards Honey Pens Crescent in Cheswick Village from Landseer Avenue in Lockleaze. The fencing has remained in place since building work began on the new development in South Glos – photo: Martin Booth

On the South Glos side of the border is Honey Pens Crescent, part of Cheswick Village which here has been built on land previously owned by Dings Crusaders RFC.

Further into Cheswick Village, next door neighbours on Hermitage Wood Road will be in different tiers come Saturday. Nearby, those living on roads on the west side of Romney Avenue in South Glos will be in tier three and those on the east side in Bristol in tier two.

Danby Street in Cheswick Village is located in both Bristol and South Glos – photo: Martin Booth

On Friday afternoon, Sapna Swamy, who lives on the Bristol side of Cheswick Village, was picking up a click & collect cappuccino from Boston Tea Party, which is on the South Glos side.

She told Bristol24/7 that she did not know whether in less than 24 hours, she would still be able to visit the cafe as it would mean crossing from one tier into another for a reason not covered under the current government guidance.

“I do worry about the businesses,” said Sapna. “The fact that businesses in Bristol can open, but those here can’t, especially the restaurants and pubs.

“We usually like going into Boston Tea Party just to sit down and have a hot chocolate and a coffee, but we’ll have to find something on the Bristol side now.”

So will business analyst Sapna be able to cross the border to get a coffee just two minutes’ walk from her front door under the new tiers?

“I think we have been advised not to. But if I’m getting a takeaway just the same as I’m doing now, I don’t see why there should be an issue… I’m working from home now so this is usually my one walk outside.”

Boston Tea Party confirmed that their Cheswick Village cafe will remain open for takeaway and delivery, while their cafes on Park Street, Gloucester Road and Stokes Croft will all return to being eat-in from Saturday.

Sapna Swamy and her six-year-old son on the South Glos side of Cheswick Village – photo: Martin Booth

Despite most of Cheswick Village being in South Glos, many residents still feel part of Bristol.

Putting out the bins on Colts Ground on Friday afternoon, a 35-year-old mum-of-four (who did not want to give her name to Bristol24/7) said that the different tiers will not be affecting her day to day life.

“I don’t really need to go into Bristol if I’m honest. I’m South Glos. I live here. I take my children to school in South Glos and I come back here. Other than that I don’t really leave the house.

“All of my Christmas shopping has been done online so I don’t really need to go into the centre. If I do need anything, I’ll probably go up to Cribbs Causeway.”

So where does she say that she lives? “Bristol. I don’t class myself as living in South Glos. It’s Bristol. I still feel part of Bristol. Even when the first boundaries came in, I still feel part of Bristol. No different, it’s one big community. Bristol’s Bristol.

“But it’s very strange as literally a road away you’re freer than you are on this side. Maybe if this was to happen right at the beginning (of the pandemic), but now we’re used to being on lockdown now and staying in anyway, it don’t impact me in a big way.”

Built in 1860 in Gothic-style, Stanley Farm – separated from Cheswick Village by another fence – is now part of the MoD’s Abbey Wood site, where it is used as a conference centre – photo: Martin Booth

Main photo: Martin Booth

Read more: What does being in tier 2 mean for Bristol?