Work to begin on Bristol community centre refurbishment in Knowle West as traders fight road changes
The major refurbishment and expansion of a 1930s community building in Bristol is set to begin later this month.
Bristol City Council has appointed Bedminster-based company Bray & Slaughter as the main contractor to undertake the works to Filwood Community Centre on Filwood Broadway in Knowle West.
The £10m project is part of the wider £30 million Transforming Filwood Broadway regeneration project, which will also see more public space, new shops and new affordable housing for the area.
But local traders have recently launched a petition against ‘catastrophic’ road changes proposed as part of the wider project.
Makala Cheung, director of Filwood Community Centre, which will temporarily close during the redevelopment, said: “It’s fantastic that the work on the Community Centre will be managed by a firm based just down the road from us!
“The Centre means such a lot to the local community, our tenants, and everyone who works here, so it’s reassuring to know it’s in the hands of a company who really understands the value of what we do.
“It’s been a lot of work to get to this point but we’re all so excited to see the construction start on our beautiful new-look Community Centre.
“We’ll have much more space and better facilities, making us a destination for culture and wellbeing in south Bristol.
“Along with the wider development on Filwood Broadway, we’ll really be putting Knowle West on the map.”
The work will start amid traders on Filwood Broadway calling for the council to “leave the road layout as it is”.
The council’s plans for the street include a new cycle lane and fewer parking spaces.
Local piercing shop owner Soniya Zellinger, whose petition against the changes has more than 150 signatures, said: “My fears with a cycle path being put in on the Broadway are that it will be a complete death trap. Do they not think the youths will use this on their bikes, scooters etc as a rat run?
“Local neighbours need to be also aware of the problems coming with limited parking on the Broadway, as customers will then have to find alternative places to park. Us as traders will have nowhere to park.
“Us traders have supported the Broadway for years as a rundown area and have made it thrive, now we don't get a say with our businesses being affected, all because new homes are going to be built.”