Ward profiles 2021: Redland – ‘An environmentally and socially minded ward’

Some stonework on Redland Green is the last remaining part of the boundary wall between the common land of Redland Green and the neighbouring fields, owned by John Cossins, on which St Oswald’s Road and Cossins Road were built.

There are no walls dividing the boundary of the current Redland ward – which stretches from the edge of the Downs in the west to the Pigsty Hill stretch of Gloucester Road in the east; Coldharbour Road in the north to the arches in the south.

Ninety-four per cent of Redland residents are satisfied with life, compared to the Bristol average of 75 per cent.

This could be down to the fact that 95 per cent of people in the ward say that they are in good health: the highest out of anywhere in Bristol.

Redland children also top the Bristol table for their average achievement score at the end Key Stage 4, with Redland Green School one of the most sought-after in the city.

Redland Green School was built in 2006 at a cost of £36m – photo: Martin Booth

For Redland’s two Green Party councillors, Fi Hance and Martin Fodor, one of the best aspects of the ward is its “very engaged population, expecting action on many global and local issues”.

They say that these range “from the threat of inappropriate tall buildings in the city, frustration with years of delayed action on cleaner air, to real action tackling the climate emergency including stopping the local pension fund being invested in fossil fuels and the airport expanding”.

“Redland is also full of really practical community volunteers making life better in many ways, including our community orchards and gardens and local art trails. With minimal support they achieve vast improvements to the ward and its spirit.”

The new ‘little library’ on Elton Road – photo: Martin Booth

As councillors, Hance and Fodor say that they “have helped residents navigate the often murky waters of council processes, from disabled parking bays to sorting out housing benefit. It’s often the area of our work that’s the most varied and most satisfying.”

The pair are proud to have seen Bishopston Library on Gloucester Road completed and finally opened after a decade in the pipeline. It has been one of Bristol’s busiest libraries since it opened and is the only publicly-owned community space in the ward.

Hance and Fodor have worked with residents who have been campaigning for many years for a safe crossing used by schoolchildren from Cairns Road to Harcourt Hill. Local CIL developer funds for a crossing was secured in 2019.

Hance spent nearly 18 months in the Bristol mayor Marvin Rees’ original ‘rainbow cabinet’ before – in her own words “being unceremoniously ejected when he made it Labour-only”.

Elworthy on Redland Road is one of Bristol’s oldest shops, dating back to 1948 – photo: Martin Booth

The two Labour candidates for the elections on May 6 are Kirsten Malcolm and Andrew Milton, who in a joint statement for Bristol24/7 called Redland “a diverse, environmentally and socially minded ward, full of people who want the best for their community”.

They said: “Over the election campaign we have been speaking to Redland residents about the issues that matter to them and some of the things that come up are housing, homelessness, and student accommodation, also fly-tipping and the preservation of green spaces, but overwhelmingly, parking, traffic, and clean air.

As your councillors we will work with the rest of the Labour group to implement the Transport Plan for Bristol including implementing the Clean Air Zone and improving transport to meet increased demand from the growth in housing, jobs, and regeneration.”

The Brewers Droop on Gloucester Road is on the edge of Redland ward – photo: Martin Booth

Malcolm and Milton added: “The people of Redland need an integrated and accessible transport system that provides realistic transport options for everyone. The Transport Plan includes increased services to Redland train station, cleaner air by way of investing in accessible bio-gas buses and expanding electric car infrastructure, and making the roads safer by tackling rat runs.

“Bristol is facing the same problems as other major cities around the world. We are looking at the best solutions that have been implemented across the globe and bring those home to Bristol.

“As part of this we will promote active transport to improve air quality and road safety making it a safe and healthy place in which to grow up, and an even more pleasant place to live.”

A panorama over Redland – photo: Martin Booth

Main photo: Martin Booth

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