Features
The ‘Red Scout’: how a boy from Brislington became caught up in anti-communist hysteria
Seventy years ago this month, Paul Garland was kicked out of the Scout movement over his links to the British Communist Party, with his case making the pages of Time magazine and sparking debate in the House of Lords.
Inclusive or exclusive: can community-led housing schemes provide for people most in need?
In recent years Bristol has seen the development of several new community-led housing schemes, which are often driven by small resident groups – but also aim to house people in need of a social home. How is the model working out – and with funds shrinking, does it have a future?
‘I can do action’: cafe owner who organised tower block evacuation response aiming to be councillor
When she heard Barton House was being evacuated in November, Cafe Conscious owner Deniece Dixon got to work helping families who had become homeless. Two months on, she explains why she’s set her sights on City Hall
‘You needed young people’: how one man nurtured a community on an east Bristol allotment site
Tenants of Bristol’s sought-after allotments are pushing back hard on council proposals to hike fees. But back in the 1980s, plots in Eastville at Royate Hill were unloved and at risk – until Mike Feingold took custody of the land.
Bristol’s Clean Air Zone is not exactly winning people over – but the data says it’s working
A new report shows air pollution has reduced both inside and outside the zone a year after it came into force. But many feel poorer people are being punished while traffic is just being rerouted around the city.
‘Stealth closures’ of libraries leave casual staff facing hardship and city with fewer warm spaces
Dozens of temporary library closures have been announced since the council abruptly cut casual workers' shifts in November. With the council under huge financial stress, there are renewed fears for the future of the service.
Bristol’s politicians are in deadlock over underground mass transit. What can the city learn from trams in Sheffield and Nottingham?
West of England Mayor Dan Norris has vetoed building the region’s new mass transit region underground to save cash. But trams in other cities bring their own challenges.
Darin J Sallam on what shaped her creative life, her film Farha and the controversy it sparked from the Middle East to Bristol
Sallam’s film has been praised for its bravery in choosing to tackle the events of the Nakba – one of very few films to do so – but was also heavily criticised by Israeli authorities and prompted a boycott campaign
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?
