New home for old barge bought by city council for £1.4m |

Comments

Bristolian-2470

Friday Nov 20, 2020 - 12:15am

To describe the residents of Bridge Quay as dumbfounded would feel an extreme understatement at present. It seems fair to say we are, as a nation and beyond, facing immeasurably difficult times right now and, more than ever, we are forced to adapt in ways we previously would never have imagined. One such necessary change has been the very real decision to lockdown our society and enforce a drastic change to home working and reduced socialisation. More time at home. The quintessential ‘relaxing, stress free and safe space’. Although our complete empathy and understanding sits with those who successfully petitioned against The Ebenhaezer being moved to Bathhurst Basin, it begs belief that the alternative outcome has ended up at a place which further and more aggressively obstructs residential light and views and has a substantial adverse effect on the amenity, security and safety of our homes. This is impacting the well-being of residents and little common sense or regard for others has been shown. Not only has there been no consultation with Bridge Quay residents but even more disrespectfully, there has been no communication. We suddenly found ourselves to be staring at the very large side of a monstrosity of a strange vessel. The hunt then lay of course with us, the residents, to find answers. A duty of care that absolutely should have been sitting with the local authority instead. To be advised the boat was meant to be located at Temple Meads but poor planning and complete lack of logistical forethought had overlooked the small fact it would not fit under Bristol bridge. As if that has not been enough we have been informed by the Council that to move the boat, from the place the council had chosen to just park it without thought or regard for others, would cost circa £2,000 and that having spent £1.4m of tax payers money purchasing the boat they could not justify this £2,000 cost! There are ample spaces along this dock where this vessel could be moved without hindering the very locals that support and invest in this city and yet it would appear the boat has been dumped at their nearest and easiest location without any thought. This is causing a lot of stress and upset for residents and is only enhanced by the fact we are trapped looking at our stressor all day every day while we are restricted to our homes. We and the very laws of common sense implore the Council to think this through intelligently and quickly and to provide some small decency of communication in the immediate term in order that our faith is renewed in the ability of our local authority to act appropriately on behalf of its currently loyal constituents.

Architect-2576

Monday Nov 16, 2020 - 9:46am

Entirely the right thing to do. The barge was a ransom strip and hindered the redevelopment of an important river frontage. Generally 1/3 of the site's value is contained in a ransom strip. Re-cooping the value by selling the asset of the barge is sensible. Redeveloping the site is more fundamentally important.

Oldman-3779

Saturday Nov 14, 2020 - 1:32pm

Beside other council ventures, such as Bristol Energy and MetroBust, this looks positively sensible. A floating exhibition of these and Bristol's other green initiatives sounds a very good idea, although with the council setting it up, it is more like to finish up as a rotting hulk blocking navigation, with just the roof showing above the water.

Bristol_Jo-1818

Saturday Nov 14, 2020 - 11:44am

What an interesting opportunity for the council. Perhaps it could be set up as a restaurant or bar and used as part of a work experience project for young people in the city. Or a floating exhibition on green initiatives.

RobinofBristol-1328

Saturday Nov 14, 2020 - 10:50am

What a farce... someone ought to paint a Bristol City Councillor, tripping over his dropped trousers on the side of the barge. A nice Banksy piece just might raise it's value to something like what BCC paid for it (with our money).