Saltwell Valley

The history's a mystery! Only reference I've yet found to salt wells is a mention of the Salt Well spring, just south of Whitchurch close by the A37. So maybe the brook should be known as the Saltwell brook. Old maps don't name it, though, and modern ones just suggest that it's the upstream section of the Brislington Brook.

The council (through its overstretched Wildlife Officer) is hoping to arrange some work here during what's left of the winter, to protect the 'neutral grassland' to the south and east of the brook against further scrub encroachment. This means cutting back the brambles, blackthorn etc.

Apparently the neutral grassland is the main value of this SNCI. The tussocks are anthills, and are valued as an indicator of the sites history, i.e. it hasn't been cultivated for a long time. They also serve as a food source for various insectivorous species. Really it needs light grazing to keep it in condition - not by cows, which would trample it, but by sheep, goats, or even a dexter herd. However, graziers are increasingly rare.

All of which adds yet another dimension to the future enjoyment of this attractive valley.

It's already finding plenty of informal uses: play, exploration, dog-walking, and recently tobogganing.

Cycling City are planning to add interpretive boards, seats, etc, at the top of the bank by the railway path. They're also preparing plans for a new cycle path dropping from the Whitchurch Railway Path into the valley, then under the viaduct, and on to Whitchurch Park.

The Area Green Space Plan, due out in July, could suggest more investment to improve access and public amenity. (That in turn could provide a through link from the Stockwood side through to Wells Road and Gilda Parade). All in all, we can expect a few changes here.

If grazing's compatible with nature conservation, why not see the site as a potential local food project too, teaching livestock care and management? It could complement similar habitat around the Craydon Road entrance to the railway path.

Although that, of course, could provoke more Tory '#kerryout' twitters about Bristol East being all Mogadishu and goat curry.

Stockwood - Bristol's newest shopping destination!

Things have been happening at Hollway Road shops, the parade of two dozen units plus library at the heart of Stockwood. Cycling City is on the job of turning it into the destination retail centre of choice for the cyclists of South Bristol.


Until now, we've had to make do with just three bike stands at the shops.


Now, two have been added at the library


.....plus two at the Co-op


.....plus three at the post office


.....plus two at the chippy


.....plus two at the offie.


Sadly, the recently refurbished playground at Cottle Road Park, with its own little shopping parade, remains without any provision for bikes.


As do the shops on Sturminster Road.

Clearly, there's a plan behind all this. If only we knew what it was.
........................


Meanwhile, the other side of the one-time tracks, the Parks people are consulting about the future of the few acres of open space between the Whitchurch Railway Path and the Saltwell Viaduct on the A37. Apparently it's a Site of Nature Conservation Interest, (which makes it pretty safe from being sold off to provide park-keepers in Knowle). But isn't this the place where Cycling City want to provide a new off-road link route under the viaduct and up into Whitchurch? They don't seem to have told the Parks planners.....

Cycling City and Stockwood

'CYCLING CITY' chose the Royal Hotel on College Green to launch its programme this evening. I didn't risk using the bike on slippery roads and went by bus instead, so I never found if Marriotts' guests can park their bikes there. A surprising choice for a venue, though, given that the Council House is only a few yards away. I don't know who paid the hotel bill but I have a pretty good idea.

Of the 70% of the budget intended for 'infrastructure projects', to be in use within two or three years, there are three that could make a big difference for cyclists in this corner of the city.

One's the Callington Road Link (aka the Tesco to Sainsburys link), initially just a cycle-and-walk way but later a strategic road, along the trackbed of the railway under the Bath Road. By going under the A4 instead of across it, it's got to be better than the present NCN3 route. Well, for those not heading towards Temple Meads and town via the pedestrian bridge, anyway. It doesn't offer much for them.

North of that, they hope to provide a safe cycling route over the St Philips Causeway across to Lawrence Hill. It's a much more direct route than what we have now, and braver, more reckless, cyclists use it already. For much of its length there's a separate lane and some striking views - but it's prone to wind gusts and at each end the road narrows and you're competing for space with the boy racers and the juggernauts. Anyway, from south-east Bristol it would give better access to the Bristol-Bath path and new links to the northern fringe.

To the south, within Stockwood, a link is proposed from the present railway path to follow the brook valley south west under the Wells Road at Saltwell Viaduct (hmmm.....) and on into Whitchurch. That could be useful if an when the Hengrove developments become a destination. Wouldn't we all prefer to cycle to a hospital appointment?

Chris Hutt has a copy of the map, and a commentary, on his Green Bristol Blog