“I speak as resident of the area and a fully signed up "average" person.

I'm pleased to see George F and Jon R adding their support to the work of the PRSC. I've traveled up and down that road for 17 years, and something positive is happening.

Not only is is positive, but it is different. And, although it should go without saying, that is a good thing.

I think the owners of the property, were they wiser, might have seen how they could profit by working with the PRSC. Other business people in the area might also like to think about that possibility.

I don't like the fact that the buildings at the top of SC have been left empty for so long - THAT is the most damaging factor in the story of Stokes Croft.

One place you won't hear the silent majority is in the comments section of this website - it's not not the most edifying forum.

But I'll speak for everyone I know who lives in the area (all fully employed tax payers) - we like the PRSC.”

“Sage of Montpelier, Cheltenham Road from his/her position of anonymity, calls on me to "defend yourself to your 'real constituents'"

I represent all constituents to the best of my ability. Over the five years I have been a councillor I have been involved in correspondence and/or casework for all the businesses you have named in Ashley ward, except Pipe and Slippers (and many more - Left Bank, One-30, Rice and Things, Richard's farm shop, etc, etc) .

I don't consider Chris Chalkley "destructive and divisive". I don't agree with all he says and does either. I do know that there is a lot of compromise going on, and Chris puts a lot of time into meeting people, including council officers, to progress ideas.

I have just checked and since I was elected, I have been contacted by 253 people with an interest in Stokes Croft, particularly the street art, the billboards, the antisocial behaviour, cultural quarter, street drinking, litter, the traffic, the clubs, like Lakota and Blue Mountain, Westmoreland House, the bear pit, Hamilton House and the CarriageWorks (and recently Tescos).

To my recollection, there have been 7 people who have been in contact to say they disapprove of what Chris Chalkley and others are doing.

In my original posting I said, "I am aware it is not too everyone's taste" and it isn't. Some people on this thread see no difference between "mindless tagging" and "street art". To them, it is all "offensive graffiti" that should be removed as soon as it appears. For better or worse, that is not the approach that the council has taken in this area of the city.

I have also supported a number of campaigns to remove tagging in my ward - Happy Lane, St Andrews Park, Richmond Road, York Road, Albany Green, Picton Street, Mina Road, Picton Lane, Winkworth Place, etc. They have all involved local residents often with support of Clean and Green team.

It is not possible to please everyone, but I do think that the work that Chris Chalkley and others have put into Stokes Croft have made it a safer, friendlier and more fun place to be and travel through.

Lots more to do though!”

“"Can we meet in the middle? "
Jamie - meeting in the middle would seem the obvious thing. However, Chris Chalkley and his merry band do not compromise. They think their way is the right way and any other way is wrong.

Jon Rogers should be ashamed of himself. He is out of touch with the silent majority and too in bed with the vocal minority. That is why the liberals will never get my vote. They spend too much time focusing on the minority and their minor issues.

What about jobs for the real people of St Pauls and Montpelier. We can't all be Grafitti artists - we want everyday businesses here that employ local people. What are you doing about that Mr Rogers or are you too busy hanging out with the campaigning trustafarians and cool 'self publicising' grafitti artists.

What about a bit of congratulations to the people who have been plugging away in Stokes Croft and Montpelier for ages. I never see Jon Rogers publicly lauding the likes of Licatas, Bells Diner, Pipe and Slippers, Metropolis, Lakota, The Croft, Sofa Riot, Fred Baker, Herberts, the wonderful post office and the other creative businesses in the area. These people have been around longer and have done more for Stokes Croft than the destructive and divisive Chris Chalkley yet because they are not loud mouths they get no support from the likes of Jon Rogers. They are too busy keeping the wheels moving to spend time painting on other people's property and publicising themselves.

Come on Jon - defend yourself to your 'real constituents'.”

“Cubist, i think you will find that First colours are the same nationwide (with exception to London where a lot of them are red)
I agree with the majority to be honest. How can you truly differentiate between what is graffiti and what is vandalism? Surely the fact that Banksy does his work without the owners permission is against the law? The fact that people worldwide admire this 'artist' who openly vandalises property yet someone who does something in an attempt to brighten up a dull area gets a sentence which we see rapists, peodophiles and such like handed to them stunks of double standards and that people in suits are more concerned with the pound signs than that of the local people?”

“If Chalkley can shake the blanket anti-all-establishment sentiment and retain the ad-hoc organic theme to his artwork, I think he's got a lot to offer.

I quite liked the sign, even if the politics behind the PRSC leave me cold. Can we meet in the middle?”

“The judge rightly said that Chalkly is an arrogant man. Part of this arrogance is that he believes that I should have to walk through his 'outdoor gallery' everyday whether I like it or not. He likes it, therefore I must. There is a sinister authoritarianism about his system of beliefs.
Ashley residents should know about their councillors view stated in court yesterday. Apparently it is 'the custom' in Bristol for graffiti 'artists' to spray their work on buildings and then wait to see if anyone complains. If they do, then restrospective permission can be applied for.
If it is on council property, 'well, we can have an internet vote on it'.
This councillor has announced a change in the law all by himself.”

“Well said Danny.

And has anyone noticed the huge amounts of ugly white and yellow paint on our roads? Even historic cobbled streets in conservation areas.

And I could also mention the other legal graffiti - advertising hoardings.

Or the moving visual monstrosities that are First Bus. Why do we allow that colour scheme in this city?

They look like ice-cream vans the size of houses.”

“So the guy painted a stencil on a wall. And ??? Revolting housing estates spring up all over the country all the time, but no one gets arrested for that.”

“I cannot imagine why these people imagine they are doing anything new or revolutionary. When I lived in the Croft in the late 70's and early 80's it was so much more radical and revolutionary. Back then we had the original peoples republic centred around the Full Marxs bookshop and the Demolition Diner and Ballroom and the many, many squats in the surrounding street before the advent of Knighstone and Churches Housing Associations and all happened over 30 years ago.”

“Cllr Rogers - the question that I had was regarding the double standards over graffiti - Banksy being OK, but Mr. Chalkley's work not. Specifically I said "Mixed messages are a bad thing, so what are the council going to do about it?"
Perhaps if I rephrase the question: How does the council determine what graffiti is acceptable and how will that message be conveyed to the public?”