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Latest stories
‘Freedom of information laws have been working for nearly 25 years – but warning lights are flashing’
In 2000, the Freedom of Information Act gave citizens the right to access material held by public authorities. We need to recognise the democratic benefits of this vital tool, or risk losing them, an expert warns.
Transparency matters: why is Bristol City Council failing on freedom of information?
Cable research shows that Bristol is worse than many other major cities at handling citizens’ FOI requests. Why is this a problem – and will the end of the mayoral system next year bring more open local government in the city?
Listen: Bristol Unpacked with filmmaker Aodh Breathnach on surviving being stabbed – and documenting its impact on him
With knife crime a tragically common part of life in Bristol and other cities, Neil talks to Aodh about the psychological trauma of being the victim of an attack, and the process of recovery.
Upcoming events
The Future of Cities
Read moreHow do we build cities fit for the future? This is the question we're trying to answer in our year-long series of solutions journalism
Trams, or an underground? As Bristol weighs its public transport options, can it learn from across the Channel?
Bristol is notorious for its congestion and poor public transport, and has been hit by a worsening bus crisis. As it looks to a new mass transit system to solve its problems, cities such as Rennes and Bordeaux can offer valuable lessons.
Bristol’s flood defences are being pushed to their limit. What is the city’s long-term plan, and will it be enough?
The council is searching for an extra £100 million to fund future flood defences to protect low-lying areas of the city. While residents call for greater action, the Cable looks across the North Sea to Rotterdam for inspiration.
Life in Lansdowne
Read moreShould Bristol be a high-rise city? This series tells the stories of residents of an Easton tower block
Bristol Unpacked Podcast
Listen to moreFascinating and challenging conversations from characters on big topics facing the city and beyond.
Investigations
Read moreUncovering injustice and wrongdoing
‘A Pandora’s box’? What impact will Fishponds’ big new developments have, and who stands to profit?
Plans to redevelop three factory sites could see thousands of new homes along the Bristol and Bath Railway Path. Residents want to raise awareness about the potential impact of the schemes, which promise their owners lucrative returns.
‘Hollow victory’: a rape survivor’s journey through a broken criminal justice system
More women are reporting rape to the police but prosecutions are at an all-time low. As a new approach to investigating sexual crimes is piloted in Bristol, the Cable follows the story of one woman from reporting to the police to her attacker standing trial.
Voices
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How starting an arts festival helped me find community in Bristol
Grassroots groups have birthed a movement that celebrates and represents people from East and South East Asian communities. It has unleashed a ‘warm, communitarian energy’, writes the co-founder of MOON FEST, which takes place this weekend at the Trinity Centre.
Healing is a justice issue: how can we radicalise the voluntary sector, amid a perfect storm of cuts?
When it comes to recovery from trauma, meeting people’s basic needs such as food, shelter, and physical safety is not enough. In an increasingly harsh environment, charities will need all their imagination and creativity to do more.
Video
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Watch: ‘I was a conspiracy theorist for 15 years. Now I’m on a mission to bring others back to reality.’
Brent Lee Regan from Bristol describes his journey down the rabbit hole of internet conspiracies and back to reality, and how it led him to creating his podcast explaining how conspiracy theories work.
Popular series
In Disrepair: Bristol’s broken renting system
This series will tell the stories of renters in Bristol, dig into how the pandemic has affected the crisis, and, crucially, what can be done about it. We will join the dots between local issues and the wider housing crisis in the UK, holding the council and central government to account on pledges for action.
