Highlights from Westbury Forum
21st April 2026
21st April 2026
Those present
The meeting was attended by 30 residents, together with one of our councillors, Stephen Williams. Carolin Gooch and Nicholas Coombes sent their apologies, Caroline because of illness and Nicholas because of a prior engagement.
Westbury Hill Car Park Charges and Resident Parking Zones
There was nothing to report at this stage as both are with the Transport Planning Subcommittee.
Carlton Court Development Proposals
Comments on plans by the Council’s Transport Planning Management have now been published, which includes details of concerns raised by residents on the impact on local parking. They will require the developers to submit parking surveys, to be carried out on at least two different weekdays – a Friday and a Saturday. The surveys should include a number of roads around the development, stretching out to Church Road and Canford Lane, but not including Falcondale Road. However, the survey will only need to assess the likely impact of further development, not the impact already caused by the closure of most of the Carlton Court car park. Also the effect of proposed charges in Westbury Hill car park will not be considered. Businesses in Carlton Court and the rest of Westbury have been reporting substantially reduced footfall for several months and a number have recently closed.
Planning Applications
Library Update
CIL Funding Meeting
The Westbury on Trym Society has submitted a bid for the installation of a zebra crossing on Stoke Lane at the War Memorial roundabout. The Councillors are backing this and it will be brought to the Area meeting at 5.30pm on 1st June.
Library Strategy
A questionnaire will be going live shortly, asking people what they like about their libraries and what more they would like to see – within the existing budget!
Stephen would like to see changes to staffing arrangements so that opening hours can be extended. He would like all our library buildings to be used more and become community hubs.
Bad Debt
The questioner asked why the Council had carried forward £52 million of uncollected debt and what was being done to reduce this amount. There is also the problem of unpaid charges from the Clear Air Zone. Stephen was asked to find the answer for our next meeting.
Combined Authorities
The government intends that every grouping of councils in the country will become a combined authority with a regional elected mayor. Bristol is already part of WECA, the West of England Combined Authority. As an example. The issue of visitor levies will be devolved to these Mayors.
Removal of Vans from the Downs
At the time of the meeting lots of piles of rubbish were still there. There is a court injunction against parking on the grass and a court order has been applied for against parking on the road. The Council can enforce a possession order with 3 months’ notice. 90 vehicles have already moved. Derelict vehicles can be moved and towed away.
The toilet block in Westbury on Trym The question was raised as to whether there would be any support for the Council buying the property back and the community helping to reinstate and run them.
Henleaze Library
The Library Service has been able to secure £250,000 funding from the government’s Library Support and Improvement Fund for the building of an accessible toilet and extension at Henleaze library.
Date of Next Meeting This was initially set for Tuesday July 14th, but will need to be amended as this will now be the date of a full Council meeting.
The meeting was attended by 30 residents, together with one of our councillors, Stephen Williams. Carolin Gooch and Nicholas Coombes sent their apologies, Caroline because of illness and Nicholas because of a prior engagement.
Westbury Hill Car Park Charges and Resident Parking Zones
There was nothing to report at this stage as both are with the Transport Planning Subcommittee.
Carlton Court Development Proposals
Comments on plans by the Council’s Transport Planning Management have now been published, which includes details of concerns raised by residents on the impact on local parking. They will require the developers to submit parking surveys, to be carried out on at least two different weekdays – a Friday and a Saturday. The surveys should include a number of roads around the development, stretching out to Church Road and Canford Lane, but not including Falcondale Road. However, the survey will only need to assess the likely impact of further development, not the impact already caused by the closure of most of the Carlton Court car park. Also the effect of proposed charges in Westbury Hill car park will not be considered. Businesses in Carlton Court and the rest of Westbury have been reporting substantially reduced footfall for several months and a number have recently closed.
Planning Applications
- The Ridgeway - a plan to build a house on a strip of land covered with trees at present.
- In the High Street behind the old Police Station – plan to build houses.
- Flats above former National Westminster Bank – a pre-application for a fifth unit of accommodation.
Library Update
- The Library Friends Group hold their monthly coffee morning on the last Saturday of the month, with the next one being Saturday May 31st. Why not pop in for a hot drink, a biscuit or two and a chat – all free…
- The next Wotsoc Talk is on Thursday May 21st, when Alexia Gardner will be talking about “Teddy Bears”, while the June talk will be on “Britain’s Canals and Waterways”. All are welcome, and the cost is £2 for non-members. Please ring 0117 9502825 or email wesburyontrymsociety@gmail.com to book a place.
- The teenage crochet club (years 10 and 11) - is on Wednesday evenings from 7:30 during school terms and all are welcome.
- Extended access – a reminder that we are one of only three libraries in Bristol with this facility, which means you can use the library at any time from 8am to 7pm, Monday to Saturday, and also on Sunday afternoons. Please have a word with library staff for more details.
CIL Funding Meeting
The Westbury on Trym Society has submitted a bid for the installation of a zebra crossing on Stoke Lane at the War Memorial roundabout. The Councillors are backing this and it will be brought to the Area meeting at 5.30pm on 1st June.
Library Strategy
A questionnaire will be going live shortly, asking people what they like about their libraries and what more they would like to see – within the existing budget!
Stephen would like to see changes to staffing arrangements so that opening hours can be extended. He would like all our library buildings to be used more and become community hubs.
Bad Debt
The questioner asked why the Council had carried forward £52 million of uncollected debt and what was being done to reduce this amount. There is also the problem of unpaid charges from the Clear Air Zone. Stephen was asked to find the answer for our next meeting.
Combined Authorities
The government intends that every grouping of councils in the country will become a combined authority with a regional elected mayor. Bristol is already part of WECA, the West of England Combined Authority. As an example. The issue of visitor levies will be devolved to these Mayors.
Removal of Vans from the Downs
At the time of the meeting lots of piles of rubbish were still there. There is a court injunction against parking on the grass and a court order has been applied for against parking on the road. The Council can enforce a possession order with 3 months’ notice. 90 vehicles have already moved. Derelict vehicles can be moved and towed away.
The toilet block in Westbury on Trym The question was raised as to whether there would be any support for the Council buying the property back and the community helping to reinstate and run them.
Henleaze Library
The Library Service has been able to secure £250,000 funding from the government’s Library Support and Improvement Fund for the building of an accessible toilet and extension at Henleaze library.
Date of Next Meeting This was initially set for Tuesday July 14th, but will need to be amended as this will now be the date of a full Council meeting.