Concern as community hub attracts anti-social behaviour

A community building has attracted concerns after becoming a target for anti-social behaviour.

The facility was built as part of the redevelopment of Filwood Park in Knowle West, which has also had 150 homes built on it by developer Barratt Homes.

But tackling anti-social behaviour around the community hub and wider development has now become a priority of the local policing team.

The community hub building in Filwood Park between Knowle West and Hengrove has become a hotspot for anti-social behaviour – photo: Charlie Watts

Carol Casey, who is the interim chair of Filwood Residents Association and an independent representative for Avon & Somerset Police, says the hub is “a total waste of money.”

“The hub is never open, never used. It’s just somewhere for people to trash,” said Casey, who was born and raised in Knowle West and even has a road named after her (Casey Close) in the Filwood Park development.

But the company which manages the hub says it is available to hire for residents of Filwood Park and local community groups.

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“The hub has been used this year for a homeowner’s private venue,” said Claira Roberts from Pinnacle Property Management.

“There has been reports of vandalism at the hub to which the police are currently investigating,” she added. “I have actioned repairs in the meantime to reinstate the services there.”

Bristol24/7 has seen footage of a group of youths climbing onto the roof of the hub, removing the CCTV and throwing stones. There is also currently a broken bench outside the building.

Filwood Park has become a priority of the local policing team – photo: Charlie Watts

Avon & Somerset Police acting sergeant Richard Higbey says they are acting on residents’ concerns about anti-social behaviour, criminal damage and other offences being committed in Filwood Park.

He said: “A problem-solving plan has been developed by the neighbourhood policing team to monitor the level of offences and co-ordinate an effective response, and CCTV from around the area has been reviewed, which has resulted in suspects being identified and awaiting interview.”

Higbey also says that they have issued acceptable behaviour contracts and warning letters about the impact of further offending or disruptive behaviour.

He continued: “Officers are continuing to work with a crime reduction team and the development team to focus on putting in measures to reduce offences being committed at the community hub, including the protection of CCTV cameras at the site.

“In addition to this, a letter drop has gone out to residents encouraging them to report offences to us, and explaining how to provide us with CCTV footage to support our investigations.

“We’ll continue to carry out regular patrols of the area to act as a deterrence, as well as community reassurance.”

There is also confusion as to why a new road into the park is yet to open – photo: Charlie Watts

A path into Filwood Park, at the junction of Creswicke Road and Filwood Broadway in Knowle West, only reopened in February of this year – after being fenced off for more than four years while development took place.

A new road into the park has also been built next to the path – but remains fenced off. So there is currently only vehicle access to the development from Hengrove.

Carol Casey, who has a road named after her in Filwood Park, says the community hub is “somewhere for people to trash” – photo: Charlie Watts

Carol Casey thinks the road closure may be contributing to anti-social behaviour in Filwood Park, by segregating the residents of the development.

The community hub has been built in the park despite the council rejecting calls to restore an old cinema in Filwood Broadway and proposing to remove a ball court from the high street, which is considered the heart of Knowle West.

Casey added: “With the road being blocked off, they’re trying to separate them and us. They’ve got a brand new hub, and we’ve got nothing.”

Manning Road through Filwood Park runs from Hengrove Way to Knowle West but is inaccessible via the latter – photo: Charlie Watts

But a spokesperson for Barratt Homes says that the road should now open by the end of October.

The spokesperson told Bristol24/7: “While safety audits and remedial works have been carried out to the satisfaction of the council, we need to have a legal agreement from Bristol City Council for the road to become a public highway, which is why the fencing has been left in place.

“The good news is that the agreement has now been signed by all parties, including the landowners Homes England, and is back with the council for completion.

“We are hoping the road will be open by the end of this month and apologise this process has taken longer than we anticipated.”

A spokesperson for Bristol City Council added: “While the works on Filwood Park are substantially completed, there are small snags from the construction phase that are yet to be finished. Until these are completed, the road remains closed to the public.”

Charlie Watts is reporting on Knowle West as part of Bristol24/7’s community reporter scheme, a project which aims to tell stories from areas of Bristol traditionally under-served by the mainstream media

Main photo: Charlie Watts

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