Ward profiles 2021: Frome Vale – ‘A fantastic part of the city’

Frenchay Bridge has a cast iron plaque in the centre of its span over the River Frome with incised lettering that informs it was built by subscription in 1788.

Another sign says that it “is unsafe to carry a weight beyond 6 tons” on the bridge – “by order of the Chipping Sodbury Rural District Council”.

As Bristol24/7 continues our ward profiles ahead of May’s local elections, it is interesting to note the local authority who 230 years ago were responsible for what now marks one of our city’s most northerly extents.

The bridge spans the border between Bristol City Council and South Glos, with Bristol’s Frome Vale ward to the south and Pearce’s Hill, part of South Glos’ Frenchay and Stoke Park ward, to the north.

The Grade II-listed structure is described by English Heritage is an “almost round arch of rubble set as voussoirs with larger keystone, rises above to plain rough dressed coping, splayed at ends to meet retaining walls”.

Chipping Sodbury Rural District Council were originally responsible for Frenchay Bridge – photo: Martin Booth

Frome Vale ward encompasses part of Frenchay and part of Fishponds as well as Broomhill, Snuff Mills and Oldbury Court Estate.

While 87 per cent of residents were satisfied with the quality of parks and green spaces in the area in the 2020 statistical ward profile (compared to the Bristol average of 72 per cent), 89 per cent think traffic congestion is a problem locally – well above the Bristol average of 77 per cent.

Some of the busiest roads in the ward are Fishponds Road and Manor Road, with the M32 also forming its western boundary.

Hundreds of new properties from one to five bedrooms are currently being built off Manor Road as part of the Blackberry Hill development from Linden Homes, who describe Fishponds in their marketing literature as “an urban retreat”.

One-bed flats at Blackberry Hill cost from £197,500 – photo: Martin Booth

Linden Homes also point prospective buyers of properties at Blackberry Hill to the Cross Hands pub on Staple Hill Road.

But much nearer, the former Old Tavern on a narrow stretch of Blackberry Hill close to Glenside Hospital Museum, sits empty.

Dating back to the late-18th century, the pub has had a number of guises in recent years including being the Arbor Ales brewery and tap, and hopefully has not pulled its last pint, with a ‘to let’ sign enticing prospective publicans.

Another empty pub just a few hundred metres away is the Farriers Arms, next to Morrisons on Fishponds Road, which has been closed for more than a decade.

Morrisons has recently applied for permission to knock down the historic pub and replace it with an open area the supermarket giant describes as a “public realm”.

Supermarket bosses say that the pub – built on the site of a former forge – is “of low significance” due to its poor state of repair and “extensive” changes made in the last 100 years.

But campaigners say that the building should be turned into a hub for the community and have accused Morrisons of neglecting it in the ten years since its previous application to demolish it was rejected.

The Old Tavern on Blackberry Hill has had a number of different guises in recent years but currently sits empty – photo: Martin Booth

The Farriers Arms is a 300-year-old building and the 2010 no to demolition resulted in pub protected status in 2011 – photo: Martin Booth

At City Hall, Frome Vale is currently represented by Conservative former lord mayor Lesley Alexander and Labour’s Nicola Bowden-Jones, who recently tore into her party for freezing council rents in a bombshell speech attacking colleagues.

Alexander is joined by Pooja Poddar as the two Tory candidates for Frome Vale in May.

Alexander and Poddar promise to fight for a new pedestrian crossing at the junction of River View, to renovate Fishponds play area, and to campaign to remove car parking charges at Oldbury Court and other local parks.

Lesley Alexander (left) and Pooja Poddar (right) are standing for the Conservative Party in Frome Vale – photo: Martin Booth

In a joint statement, Labour candidates Mike Wollacott and Amal Ali told Bristol24/7 that air quality and the protection of green spaces in the area are key issues in Frome Vale.

They said: “The ward has major issues with pollution, and whilst this has been reduced during lockdown, we have to think how we emerge from this, so that we do this in a way that does not impact on our health.

“We need to preserve and enhance our green infrastructure, ensuring it is accessible to all, the heath benefits are immense, and we need to encourage all to reap those benefits.

“We need to challenge the proposals over charging for parking, and make sure there is adequate provision for those with limited mobility.”

Wollacott and Ali added: “We also need to encourage development on Brown field sites, there are many vacant commercial units that will remain vacant, and conversion of these to homes will help answer the demand for housing whist preserving our green spaces.

“Frome Vale is a fantastic part of the city, being on the outskirts of the City, we have all of the benefits of city life that is accessible through a robust bus service. There are also areas where you feel that you are in the country, this offering the best of both worlds.”

Lib Dem candidates on May 6 are Keith Fenner and Bev Knott, with Green candidates Ed Fraser and Jesse Meadows.

Theatregoers in Bristol will know Meadows as an actor, theatre-maker and co-founder of the Wardrobe Ensemble and the Wardrobe Theatre, where she is also co-artistic director.

Frome Vale Green Party candidate Jesse Meadows as Betty in The Star Seekers at the Wardrobe Theatre – photo: Ellie Kurttz

Main photo: Martin Booth

Read all of our ward profiles