Your say / community
‘We are delighted that community rooms in tower blocks are bookable again’
It is a universal human need to have communal spaces to meet, to talk, to play and to share food in.
Residents in our council tower blocks already face many issues – which are being worked on, but will take a while to see fruition.
However, we are pleased to say that this lack of access to communal space is something we have been able to tackle.
Since Covid, people who live in council tower blocks have been unable to access community rooms outside office hours.
These rooms, based on the ground floors of the tower blocks, were designed to function as gathering spaces for these residents.
But the rooms were closed during Covid and never re-opened in this way; if residents want to use them, they have to do it at a time when the caretaker or another member of council staff can be around to let them in.
However, people need the rooms for events like birthday parties and wakes, and many of these need to be during evenings or weekends.
Yassin and I have been working hard with officers to get this sorted.
It took a while because of the health and safety procedures that had to be followed, including PAT testing all the electrical equipment.
But we have finally managed to ensure that now, tower block residents are able to book the communal spaces again during evenings and weekends – something that multiple residents asked us for.
Barry Parsons, chair for the Homes and Housing Committee and Green councillor for Easton, said: “I am delighted that residents will be able to access these spaces again in their own time.
“Everyone deserves a space to socialise and get together, and we know this will be a key way to help people do this and enjoy their community.”
Samira Musse from Barton Hill Activity Club said: “It’s amazing to get the keys back for these community rooms. They have been missing for five years. This makes the community feel like they belong.
“This is their neighbourhood, their homes, their community rooms. Now they can organise group activities together near where they live.”
Tom Allport from the University of Bristol, who is a community paediatrician, said: “We appreciate so much the efforts that councillors and Council officers have put into reopening the community rooms in Bristol city tower blocks and other housing facilities.
“The impact of the Covid pandemic has been broad and long-lasting, and this is one example of the work needed to rebuild community connections.
“Spaces for people to meet, to have opportunities for play and social interaction, and to organise ways to support one-another are essential for us to live good lives.”
To book a community room, either speak to your local caretaker or book here.
Yassin Mohamud and Shona Jemphrey are Green councillors for Lawrence Hill – photo: Stephen Lloyd
Shona Jemphrey and Yassin Mohamud are Green councillors for Lawrence Hill.
Main photo: Mike Lloyd
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