Westbury & Henleaze Conservatives

10/07/2026

HAVE YOUR SAY ON NEW WARD BOUNDARIES - CHANGES FOR WESTBURY AND HENLEAZE

The Boundary Commission update ward boundaries every ten years, and they're asking for your views on their proposals, which would take effect at the next local elections in 2028. You can see the details and respond on the link below. Please do let us know what you think in the comments, but most importantly please respond directly to the Boundary Commission via the link.

By far the biggest change for Westbury and Henleaze is that they are proposing to split the current combined ward into two separate ones, one for Westbury-on-Trym and one for Henleaze, each represented by two Councillors. This would go back roughly to what existed before the wards were merged in 2016.

There are some other changes proposed to boundaries in some locations, which are mainly to try and balance out the number of residents per Councillor.

In Westbury:

- Some roads to the west of Coombe Lane that are currently part of Stoke Bishop ward would move into Westbury. These include some or all of Coombe Lane, Bell Barn Road, Coombe Bridge Ave, Haytor Parkm Briercliffe Rd, Woodland Grove, West Coombe, West Dene, South Dene and Cross Elms Lane.

- Some roads currently on the western edge of Southmead ward would move into Westbury, incluing St Monica's Westbury Fields complex, parts of Greystoke Ave, Greystoke Gardens and Elmfield Rd.

- They considered including the Coombe Di**le area in Westbury, but decided to include it in the Stoke Bishop ward along with Sea Mills, and they are asking for feedback on this idea

In Henleaze:

- Roads around Henleaze Lake that are currently part of Southmead ward have been moved into Henleaze, including Clover Ground, Home Ground, Coombe Paddock, Vintery Leys, Lakewood Rd, Lake Road, Glenwood Rd, Charis Ave, Tuffley Rd, Cranham Rd, Delvin Rd and Francis Rd

- They considered bringing Westbury Park together into one ward, but decided to keep the boundary where it is, so the northern part of Westbury Park falls into Henleaze as now, and the southern part into Redland ward. They are asking for feedback on this idea.

This is a page for the electoral review of Bristol

08/07/2026

📢 Westbury-on-Trym Forum – Community Updates
Your local Conservatives, Sharon and Steve, attended the Westbury-on-Trym Forum yesterday, held at the Library on Falcondale Road, Westbury-on-Trym.
They attended to listen to residents, gather information and share some of the key updates and discussions from the meeting.
Here are some of the issues raised that we thought residents would find useful:
🚓 Police Update – School Parking
Local police are continuing to monitor parking outside schools, particularly vehicles stopping or parking on the white zig-zag markings. Officers are currently carrying out enforcement at 11 local schools.
If you are found parked on the white zig-zag lines or are otherwise parked illegally outside a school, you may receive a penalty ticket.
The police are working closely with local schools to help improve safety for children, parents and staff during school drop-off and pick-up times.
🛴 E-Scooter Update
The police acknowledged that illegal use of e-scooters is becoming increasingly difficult to manage and are fully aware of the issues they can cause within the community.
Residents were encouraged to continue reporting any illegal or anti-social behaviour involving e-scooters. Officers advised that, although some offenders wear face coverings, a number have still been successfully identified.
The key message from the police was simple: please continue to report incidents, as every report helps build intelligence and supports enforcement action.
🚗 Pavement Parking
There was also a discussion with the police about pavement parking and the problems it can cause, particularly for wheelchair users, people with pushchairs and those with visual impairments.
The police acknowledged that they are aware of residents’ concerns. At present, there is no general nationwide law in England that prohibits pavement parking, although there are circumstances where enforcement may be possible if a vehicle is causing an obstruction or other offences are being committed.
The Government is considering giving local authorities greater powers to enforce pavement parking restrictions in certain areas, but these measures have not yet been implemented.
🚲 Bike Security Event – Saturday 12 July
The police are holding a free bike marking event to help protect bicycles against theft.
📍 Location: Waitrose, Henleaze
📅 Date: Saturday 12 July
🕐 Time: 1:00pm – 4:00pm
If you own a bicycle, you are encouraged to take it along to be security marked. Bike marking can help deter theft and makes it easier for police to identify and return recovered bikes to their rightful owners.
🌳 The Downs Injunction
The police were also asked about the injunction covering The Downs and how it is being enforced.
Officers confirmed that they are fully aware of the injunction, and the senior officer attending the meeting explained that he carries a copy of it while on duty so it can be referred to if required.
The police advised that they patrol The Downs on most days and encouraged residents to continue reporting any concerns, anti-social behaviour or other incidents where police assistance may be needed.
💧 Wessex Water Update – Canford Park
There was also an update regarding the planned works by Wessex Water at Canford Park.
Residents have raised concerns about the impact of the project, particularly the potential closure of parts of Canford Park for up to two years while Wessex Water carries out essential infrastructure improvements. The works are intended to help reduce sewage discharges into local rivers and improve the sewer network.
The current programme of investigation works is as follows:
• From Monday 6 July – Trial holes will begin.
• Week commencing 13 July – Trial holes will be carried out outside the bowling club.
• Week commencing 20 July – Borehole investigations within Canford Park will begin.
• Mid-September – A four-week pump test is scheduled to take place.
Wessex Water has advised that residents living on affected streets will receive advance notification of the dates, locations and any diversion routes. Access for pedestrians, traffic and emergency vehicles will be maintained throughout the investigation works.
It was also explained at the meeting that, once these investigations have been completed, there will be a full public consultation on the project. Although the council cannot prevent the works from going ahead, it can work with Wessex Water to make sensible suggestions that help minimise disruption to residents and improve how the project is carried out.
It is hoped that key parts of Canford Park, including the play area, bowling green and tennis courts, will remain open wherever possible while the works are taking place.
As more information becomes available, we will continue to keep residents updated.
Thank you to everyone who attended the forum and contributed to the discussions.
Your local Conservatives, Sharon and Steve, attended the meeting to listen to the issues raised, gather information and share these updates with residents.
We appreciate that some of the issues discussed are complex and that not every outcome will be what residents are hoping for. Our aim is to keep the community informed, share the information discussed at the forum and continue to highlight the issues that matter to local people.
We will provide further updates as more information becomes available.

23/06/2026

🌳 PLANS FOR MAJOR CLOSURES IN CANFORD PARK AND OLD QUARRY PARK 🌳

Plans emerging from Wessex Water could see most or all of Canford Park closed for two years to build a new stormwater tank, and Quarry Park closed for one year. The projects would help to reduce sewage overflows into our rivers.

Like many local residents, we support efforts to tackle sewage pollution and improve our environment. Clean waterways are something we should all want to see, and we recognise the importance of investing in infrastructure that helps achieve that.

However, your local Conservatives are concerned about the significant impact these works will have on our local community. These are much-loved community spaces used daily by families, dog walkers, children, local football teams and many other residents.

While we welcome the £1 million parks improvement fund that Wessex Water will pay in exchange for the closures, many people will understandably be worried about losing access to these valuable green spaces for such a long period of time.

Our biggest concern is that local residents have not been given a proper opportunity to have their say. Given the scale of the disruption and the importance of these parks to the community, We believe there should have been a public consultation so that local people could ask questions, raise concerns and understand the options that were considered.

We know that local Liberal Democrat councillors support the environmental benefits of the scheme, however, supporting cleaner waterways should not mean residents lose their voice when major changes affect the places they use and enjoy every day.

There are still many questions that the community deserve answers to:

• Exactly which areas of the parks will be inaccessible and for how long?
• Will play areas and other facilities remain open throughout the works?
• What steps will be taken to minimise disruption to residents, dog walkers and local sports teams?
• How will the £1 million improvement fund be spent?
• What alternative provision will be available while the works are taking place?

This is not about opposing environmental improvements. It is about ensuring that local people are properly informed, consulted and respected throughout the process.

We would be interested to hear the views of residents. Do you think there should have been a public consultation before these plans moved forward?

Please keep comments respectful and constructive. People may hold different views on this issue, and it's important that everyone feels able to take part in the discussion.

15/05/2026

DODGY CLAIMS FROM OUR COUNCILLORS

Residents are receiving a "two year report" from our Lib Dem Councillors in Westbury and Henleaze, some extracts are attached here. It's a masterclass in claiming credit for other peoples' work.

❌ On zebra crossings, they might have "campaigned" (i.e. posed for some photos) for a crossing on Canford Lane, but they did nothing about it last time they were in power. It was Conservative councillors in 2019 who pushed the proposal through the Area Committee and secured the funding, then spent five years fighting Council dither and delay to get it built. By the time the Lib Dems were elected in May 2024, it was all signed off and was installed a couple of months later. Of course they're claiming it was all down to them.

❌ On sewage, the leaflet is very carefully worded to say that Cllr Nick Coombes "proposed a policy" (a motion in a meeting with no power), and then says that Wessex Water is now working on a project to stop overflows. It implies that those two things are connected. They are not, but that doesn't stop them claiming credit for it.

❌ On van dwelling, it's one thing to try and steal credit from other politicians, quite another to take it from an independent community group. It's clear to anyone paying attention that recent progress on the Downs is down to the hard work and legal action from the independent Protect the Downs campaign group. Without their pressure, the Council would still be pretending that there's no problem. In fact despite chairing the committee responsible for the issue, Cllr Ctephen Williams has spent the last two years doing his best to hide from it and dump the whole thing onto Green Cllr Barry Parsons who chairs a completely different committee. Of course, that won't stop him from claiming credit now, will it?

Our Lib Dem Councillors - all mouth and no trousers.

23/04/2026

29/03/2026

Wishng you all a blessed Palm Sunday. May this day bring peace, hope and new beginnings.

20/03/2026

20MPH SPEED LIMIT PLANS

The Green Party who lead the Council are planning to put 20mph speed limits on nearly 100 roads across Bristol. In Westbury and Henleaze, that would include Falcondale Rd, Westbury Rd, Canford Lane, Canford Rd and the parts of Henleaze Rd that are currently 30mph - see the map below.

We want to hear your views on this, please let us know what you think at https://www.bsgconservatives.com/bristol-city-council-considering-lowering-speed-limits-20mph-nearly-100-roads

05/02/2026

PARK STREET TRAFFIC CLOSURE PLANS DEFEATED

We are delighted to say that the plans to close Park Street to cars has been defeated at today's meeting of the Transport & Connectivity Policy Committee.

The closure plan (originally a Labour Party idea but now being pushed by the Greens) was the most controversial parts of the major infrastructure upgrade to the No.2 Bus Route (A4018/A37) Park St/Triangle scheme. It is our belief that if this had been successful then it would have:

❌ Caused economic harm to the City
❌ Displaced traffic on to the wider road network (such as outside the BRI)
❌ Hastened the decline of the shopping precinct
❌ Completely ignored the views and concerns of local businesses and traders.

We will continue to oppose these kind of planned restrictions on vehicles using Park Street.

We have consistently campaigned against this idea from the very beginning of the public consultation launched in the autumn of 2021.

This is a traffic management innovation that rightly needs to be scrapped in its entirety and not saved or salvaged through underhand compromises.

We are delighted that is has now been thrown out. It was always a highly irresponsible, hugely wasteful, and hyper-ideologically driven measure.