Brislington Community Partnership – Land Survey Zone 7.1

Eastwood Road

Broomhill Road

Brislington Community Partnership Logo

7 – Broom Hill

Keywords/phrases: Eastwood farm, Beeses café, River Avon, green space, ex-local authority housing

Summary

This area is dominated by the open and wooded green space that surrounds Eastwood Farm and the River Avon along the northeast fringe. To the north west of the green space is the best kept secret of Bristol, Beeses Riverside Bar & Tea Gardens and the Conham foot ferry.

The area gives way to the Broomhill ex-local housing association estate, much of which is still owned by N&HS (Neighbourhood and Housing Services) and the Broomhill Junior and Infant Schools. The Brislington Police station is located on Broomhill Road opposite the main entrance to Eastwood Farm.

The area is well serviced by a local Coop and a small range of shops to the east.

Topography

The land drops steeply into the Avon valley and levels out along its fringe to create a substantial flood plane creating a permanently boggy and muddy area, which attracts much wildlife and interesting fauna.

To the west the land rises up to Broomhill peak and provides for good vistas across to the north and west of Bristol city.

Cutting the land from the north west to the south east is the main line Bristol to Bath train line which runs through underground through a tunnel along the southerly fringe of the nature reserve.

1. Eastwood Farm

Details about Eastwood Farm can be found here

The local community group Friends of Eastwood Farm can be found here

Eastwood farm is owned by BCC and is located within an allocated nature reserve. It is open to the public where various recreational farming related activities take place all year round.

2. Land at Whitmore Avenue

Leading off Whitmore Avenue towards Eastwood Farm there is a large swathe of open land that is clearly identified on the BCC maps as residential and is currently owned by N&HS. The easterly land boundary stops at the path of the underground mainline train line.

This area would pose ideal from some kind of mixed-use recreational/activity based centre or community focal point. It is flat, has good service access and is mostly not overlooked by the housing that exists close by.

3. Eastwood Farm Open Space

To the north of Eastwood farm is a huge swathe of land that is owned by BCC Culture and Leisure services. Dog owners mostly use it for exercising their pets. It is quite inaccessible for some as it is quite steep in its centre, which was reputably once a landfill site.

It drops steeply down to the river Avon’s flood plane, where it is boggy and very muddy however this provides a natural haven for much wildlife that exists within this area.

There are few obvious designated paths and navigation is difficult but possibly as a consequence of this it is a sanctuary from the city and a place of relaxation and calm.

The were no evident riverside walk paths and as such the only obvious path leads you back out off the plane up the hillside and into Broomhill although a riverside route is designated on local maps.

4. Beeses Tearoom cafe

Further details about Beeses Tearoom can be found here

Leading out of the flood plane takes you to a track that leads back down the hillside and into the river valley. At the end of the track are three residential units one of which is Beeses garden cafe and riverside tearooms.

At the time of the survey the tearooms had recently passed into new ownership. It is another relatively unadvertised facility/service that Brislington has to offer and one that the owners and community would benefit from more publicity and better access.

The café also run the Conham ferry service that crosses the river at this point. This is a relatively informal service provided by the owners of the café at the demand of Conham side walkers.

During the summer months various boats and cruisers pull alongside for informal party events.

5. Broomhill social housing and playground

Leading down the track to Beeses tearoom you pass by the Broomhill social housing block, the playground and the recreational area to the rear.

The recreational area consists of a small pagoda type building, and a basketball court, both of which are vandalised, burnt and damaged. The facilities are not overlooked by any residential unit and are located down a bank making them particularly vulnerable to this type of anti social activity.

The condition of the area does not induce visitors or local residents to walk down the track to the riverside.

6. Broomhill boarded up house

Situated next to the Broomhill social housing block, a BCC owned house, boarded up and advertised for sale at auction.

7. Brislington Police Station

Details about Brislington Police Station can be found here

This building faces the entrance to the Eastwood farm open space and has recently been buily.

8. Broomhill shops

The Good Intent Public House Local shops and post office

Located on Broomhill Road are the local services and shops that provide the following services, local Coop, local pub with beer garden (The Good Intent), newsagent, Post Office, Chinese take away, 2xhairdresser.

9. Broomhill Vacant land

Situated within the local shops is a BCC owned piece of land that is unused although has been arranged as a path to provide rear access to the alleyway behind Milbank Avenue. It was unused during the survey with most pedestrians opting to walk around the alley.