Bristol bus services could be cut after £2.2 million shortfall

By Sam Rkaina, Local Government Reporter

BUS services across Bristol could be cut as the city council is facing a £2.2 million budget shortfall.

Morning, evening, Sunday and bank holiday services that the council supports could all be axed.

Certain journeys on the number 4 city centre to Downend, the 8 and 9 Temple Meads loop and the 20 Hengrove to Southmead are among the many that could be scrapped.

Night buses, the Henbury yellow school bus, harbour ferries, orbital buses, shopper services and the Easyrider could also be affected.

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Filton crime needs New York style crackdown claims Tory MP

By Rachel Clare

POLICE and residents have rejected suggestions by Conservative MP Jack Lopresti that police could solve gang problems in Filton by copying tactics used in New York when crime was rife.

In a House of Commons speech Mr Lopresti, who represents the Filton and Bradley Stoke ward, claimed his constituents were suffering at the hands of a “few thugs” who were waging a campaign of “intimidation and abuse”.

He said he was unsatisfied with the police response and invited chief constable Colin Port to meet with residents to discuss the problem.

But Avon and Somerset police told the Evening Post officers had done all they could to resolve the problem, which they called “low-level”.

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Celebrating Bristol’s treasures at MShed museum

By David Clensy

THERE are few people who would look at a paper bag and see a treasure.

But the spirit of the new M Shed museum will be to celebrate the normal; the everyday; the mundane – the things that make Bristol‘s social history come to life.

So perhaps it shouldn’t be too surprising to find expert paper conservator Harry Metcalf, studying a brown paper bag, as though it’s the Crown Jewels.

After all, the eagerly-anticipated new museum, which is set to open on June 17, will be filled with more than 3,000 individual objects from the daily lives of Bristolians.

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“Stop banging on about Cadbury closure” – Tory MP

IT is time to stop “banging on” about Kraft‘s actions in closing the Cadbury factory in Keynsham, the town’s MP has said.

The American food company pledged to work to keep the Somerdale plant open as it fought a bitter takeover battle for the British chocolate maker in 2009.

But within a week of winning control of Cadbury in February last year, Kraft announced a U-turn. It said Cadbury’s previously-announced closure plans, under which production of snacks, including Double Deckers and Curly Wurlies, would move to Poland, were too far advanced to reverse.

The factory ceased production at the end of last year and the last workers left in March.

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Council forced to apologise to teacher wrongly accused of assault

By Tom Morris

A JAMAICAN teacher who won a race discrimination case against Bristol City Council has settled the matter out of court.

Traditional Caribbean dance teacher Ripton Lindsay was reprimanded by then Millpond Primary School head Susan Eriksson after separating two agitated children.

After the event in February 2009, Mrs Eriksson told him: “This is not how we do it in British schools.”

Mrs Eriksson is now head teacher at Glenfrome Primary School in Eastville.

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Invite to new Easton learning centre

By Bristol City Council

Local residents are invited to find out more about the new library and learning centre, business units, houses and community facilities which will be opening in summer 2012 at the Junction 3 site in Easton, Bristol, at a special coffee morning at Mill House Youth Centre on Thursday 2nd June from 10am to 12 noon.

Staff from Knightstone Housing Association, Bristol Libraries and Single Parents Action Network will be on hand to give a free tour of the site at 10am and answer questions. There will also be an opportunity for residents to have their say about the library service, family learning resources and social housing which will feature at the new site.

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Cheltenham Road Tesco reopens after riots

By Emily Koch

THE controversial Tesco store which was damaged in last month’s riots has re-opened.

Some campaigners are calling for a boycott of the Cheltenham Road store, which reopened yesterday following April’s violence when the premises were looted and vandalised.

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D-Day set for Ashton Vale stadium row

By Ian Onions, Political Editor

A DECISION which will clear the way for land at Ashton Vale to become the site of Bristol City‘s proposed new stadium or lead to a ban on all development there looks set to be taken within weeks.

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Booze could be banned in St Andrew’s Park

By Marc Rath

A CITY councillor believes it “may prove to be necessary” to introduce an alcohol ban in St Andrew’s Park to curb anti-social behaviour.

Jon Rogers, ward councillor for Ashley, says the measure needs to be considered if problems in the park persist.

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Deputy Lord Mayor gets stuck into tar problem

By Ian Onions, Political Editor

BRISTOL’S deputy Lord Mayor Chris Davies is giving his support to a resident in his street who is fighting the city council for compensation after becoming a victim of a “melting” road.

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