The Barton Bugle

06/01/2026

If you live in a Barton Hill tower block and have damp or mould in your flat, your experience can genuinely help drive change.

We are Biomedical Scientists from the University of Bristol, working to understand how damp and mould affects the lungs of local residents.

By taking part in this study, you're not just helping us - you're helping your community.

The study is quick and simple: a short questionnaire, easy lung tests, and a free mould swab kit to use at home.

Every person who joins strengthens the evidence needed to push for safer, healthier housing in Barton Hill.

If you or your family (aged 5 or over) want to make your voice heard and be part of improving local homes, come along to one of our drop-in sessions at Wellspring Settlement, the Micro-campus, or Cafe Conscious.

Your participation really can make a difference!

06/01/2026

Local Councillors Shona Jemphrey and Yassin Mohamud will be holding their monthly drop in session at our Settlement Site, Ducie Road, next Tuesday, January 6th from 12 to 1pm.
Come along to discuss concerns including housing benefits, anti-social behaviour, council services, planning matters, crime prevention, and roads and highways.

03/01/2026

Here is all of the collected rubbish from the first community litter pick of 2026, focussing on Morley Street, part of the Urban Park, Tichborne Road and Cobden Street.

02/01/2026

Don't forget the monthly community litter pick is taking place this Saturday - January 3rd 2026! Meet outside the Settlement Site on Ducie Road at 10am, all equipment is provided, as well as hot drinks and biscuits afterwards! If you have any questions, just get in touch with Eric: [email protected] or Steve [email protected]

02/01/2026

31/12/2025

We wish all of our followers a most healthy, pleasant and productive New Year.

2025 has been quite the year for Barton Hill. Let’s see what 2026 has in store.

30/12/2025

TRAFFIC UPDATE

The bus involved in the collision on Marsh Lane has now moved.

Avon and Somerset Police officers were called to ensure a peaceful resolution to the matter.

30/12/2025

TRAFFIC

Marsh Lane is currently blocked following a road traffic collision between a number 16 bus and a car that pulled out from Granville Street.

The car has since moved from out of the road (not seen in the photo), but the bus still remains.

26/12/2025

PROPERTY NEWS

For a fourth time, the former Barton Hill Infant and Nursery School has come onto the market, this time at a far cheaper guide price in comparison to the previous listings.

This time, the guide price is set at £575,000.

We have previously covered the past sales of the former Infant School-come-Sikh Community and Resource Centre, with it having previously been sold for a whopping £1.2million.

However, it was revealed that the previous sale fell through as the building and land was sold to the PG Group who have since gone into liquidation, hence the renewed listing.

Viewings are through Maggs and Allen Estate Agents, with the online auction for the property taking place on Thursday 12 February 2026.

If you have deep pockets, or know anyone who does and would like a piece of this historic Barton Hill property, then make your interests known.

Land for sale in Barton Hill, BS5 for £575,000. Marketed by Maggs and Allen, Auction, Commercial and Investment

25/12/2025

From all of us here at the Barton Bugle, we wish all of our followers a Merry Christmas.

Have fun and stay safe.

19/12/2025

EBLN CHANGES AHEAD

Yesterday, it was widely reported that following the latest round of feedback and monitoring of the East Bristol Liveable Neighbourhood (EBLN) scheme, Bristol City Council are proposing to make changes to the scheme, more so within Barton Hill.

The changes will include:

- Removing the Marsh Lane bus gate.

- Relocating the Avonvale Road bus gate from near the junction with Beam Street, to near the junction with Mildred Street.

- Considering time limited exemptions at the Pile Marsh bus gate for residents.

- Replacing bollards and planters on Ducie Road Bridge and on The Avenue, St. George, with Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras.

- Removing the bollard and planters within the middle of Victoria Avenue.

If the EBLN scheme is made permanent subject to cross-party support within the City Council, further changes are proposed to be made to the scheme including improvement works to the junction of Blackswarth Road and Church Road, which as we are sure residents will agree should be improved irregardless of the EBLN being made permanent or not.

The proposals to remove the planters and bollards on Ducie Road Bridge have largely come as a result of a recent Freedom of Information request that found that the Fire Service response times have been impacted by the EBLN trial measures, in stark contrast from reassurances previously given from the Council and individuals within such as John Smith and Ed Plowden, that emergency services response times would not be impacted by the trail measures implemented as part of the EBLN.

Though the Bristol Green Party released a statement welcoming these proposed changes, councillor Tom Renhard of the Bristol Labour Party has stated in a recent article for Bristol 24/7 “The EBLN does not have the full consent of the community”.

Opinions are split on the proposed changes with some in agreement, and others believing the changes do not go far enough, in particular to support the still struggling businesses on Avonvale Road and Marsh Lane who have lost passing trade from the bus gates. Hamblins Fish and Chips shop have been the most vocal on their loss of trade since the implementation of the bus gates.

“Moving chairs on the Titanic” is a quote recently given by a Barton Hill resident in response to this announcement.

Please find the full report from Bristol City Council with the proposed changes here:

https://news.bristol.gov.uk/press-releases/cfaa76ad-9605-41dd-9db0-620f9250b15f/ebln-engagement-and-monitoring-reports-published-and-changes-to-key-trial-measures-announced

The statement from the Bristol Green Party here:

https://bristolgreenparty.org.uk/greens-welcome-changes-to-ebln/

And councillor Tom Renhard’s article for Bristol 24/7 here:

https://www.bristol247.com/opinion/your-say/ebln-does-not-have-consent-community/

For further reading still, chair of the Lawrence Hill Neighbourhood Forum, Shaban Ali, wrote for Bristol 24/7 giving his thoughts on the EBLN and the still ongoing issues that aren’t being tackled by the City Council within the Lawrence Hill ward. “Decades of neglect are fuelling a growing mistrust in public institutions” is the headline of his piece that can be read here:

https://www.bristol247.com/opinion/your-say/decades-neglect-fuelling-growing-mistrust-public-institutions/