Bristol leader won't give up despite low turnout
Bristol City Council leader Barbara Janke vowed not to give up on Lawrence Weston on Monday night after only four residents showed up to a public meeting.
The meeting, held at the Rock Community Centre at St Peter's Church Hall in Ridingleaze, was arranged to give people a chance to raise concerns with the councillors.
Mrs Janke was joined by the Liberal Democrat-run executive member for transport and sustainable development, Councillor Jon Rogers and Simon Rayner, a local Lib Dem campaigner.
A spokesperson for the Lib Dem group on the council had said if it was successful similar meetings would be held elsewhere in the city.
Mrs Janke said afterwards: "We would have hoped to see more people but hopefully we can build on this. We want to hear what people have to say in this area."
The people who did attend asked about issues including jobs, housing and education.
Comments
by Adrian Clarke, Kingsweston
Tuesday, April 07 2009, 9:20PM
“Of the 4 residents present, there were two pensioners, myself and one Lib-Dem activist. Simon Rayner, an architect who lives in Clifton, was asked by me if he would ever consider living in Lawrence Weston, and his response was that this was highly unlikely in the foreseeable future. This is appalling considering that he intends to represent the Kingsweston.
I informed him that as a state school secondary teacher, and I asked him about education and he admitted that he knew nothing about the schools in Kingsweston, and then the Liberal Democrat activist stated that Weston Park School was one of the worst in North Bristol. This is an absolute insult to many local parents like me, and it also shows that not only do the Liberal Democrats appear to know nothing about where we live, but their party supporters are talking the area down.
Cllr Janke may want to know what to know what people think in our area, but clearly chooses to select candidates who live in Clifton and work in the city centre. Does he represent our area?
In fact, as the Conservative Candidate, I am the ONLY one who lives locally, who uses local shops in Ridingleaze, whose child goes to a local primary school, and is in involved in supporting after school and holiday clubs (LWOOSA).”