Progress update: Fight for Lockleaze
The Council are proposing a new development which could be the making or the breaking of Lockleaze Neighbourhood Trust.
Consultation ends 10 March so we need your help now.
The plans can be found here and our initial response can be read here .
We need you to respond to the consultation and to encourage everyone you come into contact with to do the same, residents, colleagues, family and friends-everyone.
We also encourage you to write to:
The Mayor, tell him Lockleaze needs more and better
Lockleaze local MP Darren Jones, ask him to help get the Council to listen and work with us
Cabinet member for Housing Cllr Tom Renhard, ask him for more than just housing
Cabinet member for communities Cllr Ellie King, ask her to prioritise a sustainable community organisation - Lockleaze Neighbourhood Trust
Cabinet member for Children Services, Cllr Asher Craig, ask her to prioritise full time nursery care for working parents, much needed in Lockleaze
What do we want?
LNT need a minimum of 450m sq - there are 2 ground floor flats that could make this happen
We want the outdoor space - we would do good things with it
We want great design - this is for the next 100 years of Lockleaze, this will be a key site in the square, let’s make it magnificent
We need them to consider our financial sustainability in the construction process - no demolishing the Cameron Centre until we move into the new space.
Why does it matter?
Lockleaze Neighbourhood Trust runs 2 community spaces but is much more than a building, we are working with the community on:
wellbeing
climate action
housing justice
fun community events in school holidays
Santa street visits at Christmas
A community plan
A local lettings policy adopted by Bristol City Council which will prioritise local residents in all new social housing
24 affordable homes over 2 different sites, based on residents needs.
Over half of our money comes from grants. Every year we apply for funding and work hard to sustain our activity. This is a risk; these funds are very competitive and means our future income is uncertain.
The rest of our money comes from our rental income, and over 3/4 of that is from the Cameron Centre, because unlike The Hub (which we rent from social housing provider Brighter Places), we only pay a peppercorn rent to the Council for the space so our costs are much much lower.
Without this space we won’t survive.
However, even with a new space, we remain in the same position, vulnerable and reliant on grants. Worse than that, we will also have to pay for fitting out the new space, which will cost us money. That is a plan to nowhere.
Good news
We have been working for a number of years on a plan to become more sustainable. Most charities are exploring social enterprise opportunities where they can deliver their mission but also make some money to provide long term support to invest back in their charity.
We have been talking to Raised In Bristol, a social enterprise nursery that provide high quality nursery care, and work with community organisations to support their sustainability through profit sharing. Additional benefits of this partnership include 60 place nursery supporting some 200 local families and 20 local jobs. It seems like the dream partnership and we have made many plans to work with them but they need a minimum of 250m sq and outdoor space. So we have provided various business plans to the Council asking to accommodate this. However, last month the Council produced plans without talking to Lockleaze Neighbourhood Trust, who have occupied this space for 25 years.
“Lockleaze Neighbourhood Trust has been here, in the heart of our community for 25 years-your support can help us remain.”
It is vital Bristol City Council reconsider the plan and listen to the community about how to secure a sustainable community organisation, much needed childcare spaces, local jobs and all the other benefits we bring. The Council have a plan which meets requirements and maximises housing, we have a vision for the success of Lockleaze.
Progress so far
Since we first heard about this consultation there has been some progress:
Councillor Tom Renhard has confirmed Lockleaze Neighbourhood Trust can occupy the non-residential space, subject to a viable business plan. See here.
Officers have found an additional 28msq to take the non-residential space to 330msq. not enough but shows they are listening and willing to work with us.
We have meetings with both the architect and BCC development team, and the library service booked to explore how we can make this development work for both LNT and residents.