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What is Bristol and its Civic Society? |
Bristol is a unique city. Located in an outstanding natural setting of hills and waterways, it contains a wealth of buildings - many not yet fully appreciated - of every period and style. It is a prominent academic and cultural centre and its outstanding environment attracts major employers and investors.
It is many people's favourite city.
But a city is never static. Economic and social pressures, changing tastes and technologies and the simple effects of weather and age all combine continually to alter the city environment. Cities are always changing. Bristol is outstanding in having coped relatively successfully with changes over many centuries, but the balance is always a very delicate one.
Bristol Civic Society's main concern is that a healthy balance is maintained. Our members are people who care about their city and who are motivated by the difficult task of combining the past, the present and the future in a way that satisfies all the people who use the city - residents, workers, visitors.
Partnership is increasingly seen as the way forward, involving local and central government, local and national companies based in Bristol, and the myriad of organisations and groups in the voluntary sector. Bristol Civic Society has been working in this way for years, achieving results by dialogue and persuasion.
Bristol Civic Society is an independent and non-party political organisation. Some of our members have professional skills (which we value) but most do not. We are all volunteers with a vast range of working backgrounds and we achieve a lot, steering a course between conflict and co-operation. Most of the time we work quietly behind the scenes; when necessary, we adopt a public role as a pressure group. Either way, we are taken seriously by the public authorities because our views are well reasoned and based on a deep knowledge and love of Bristol.
In recent years, we have been especially active in:
 | pressing for the highest standard for new buildings |
| preserving important buildings and open spaces |
| campaigning to improve the transport system and pressing for better public transport |
| helping to fund many small, local improvement projects throughout Bristol |
| making annual awards which recognise high quality new developments. |
Bristol is a fine
city but it could be better.
Bristol Civic Society operates through a variety of
Working Groups:
| the Planning Applications Group monitors the register of planning applications and comments on schemes which would have a significant impact. |
| the Urban Design Group considers the way that Bristol works as a whole - especially the historic heart of the city. |
| the Amenity and Spaces Group concentrates on the 'nuts and bolts' that make up the city - pavements, street furniture - and also monitors Bristol's magnificent parks and open spaces. |
| the Transport Group considers all aspects of transport in Bristol - road, rail, cycling, walking, water - and tries to ensure that the motor car does not continue to dominate the city. |
| the Publicity & Communications Group runs our awards schemes, organises the Society's events for members and looks after publicity and exhibitions. |
Get involved - join a Group. It's good fun and you'll help to make Bristol a better place.
There are regular public meetings and visits are organised for members. Members also receive a lively Newsletter four times a year, along with the Annual Report and occasional special publications.