News / Bearpit
‘Something has to change in the Bearpit’
Two owners of businesses in the Bearpit have written about the current problems in the area and their fears for its future.
Miriam Delogu of Bearpit Social and Simon Green of Bearritos are both part of Bearpit Bristol Community Interest Company, a social enterprise trying to have a positive impact in the area.
But at a recent emergency meeting to discuss the current issues affecting the Bearpit, the company directors came to the conclusion that they have to demand changes or leave.
is needed now More than ever
“We are prepared to pack it all in prevent this escalation in anti-social behaviour towards staff and the general public,” Simon wrote.
In his blog, he said that “the physical, political and social environment… has simply not changed enough for any business to survive in.
“We are putting ourselves in danger every day we trade. Verbal and physical abuse, open drug use, drinking, aggression, needles, human excrement, an aggressive and angry physical environment.”
Graffiti in one of the Bearpit underpasses
Miriam’s cafe recently celebrated five years, with her mantra being one of “relentless perseverance in fighting the good fight for a safer and welcoming Bearpit using good coffee and good food to bring people together”.
But she wrote on her blog that so far this year, crime and anti-social behaviour in the Bearpit are at their worse again and with more cuts, “it’s obvious resources are scarce. And we absorb all of it. The abuse, the threats, emotional draining punch in the face.”
Miriam said: “I don’t know if anyone is listening, but we are begging for help.”
Miriam Delogu of Bearpit Social
She added: “I apologise to every person that has been a victim of intimidation, harassment, threats, I apologise for every person who has walked through and clasped their child’s hand trying to pass through the tunnels, I apologise for every person who has been grabbed and asked for money, I apologise.
“We have tried our hardest to put all the positivity and energy into this roundabout.”
Miriam said that Bearpit Social was “the vehicle that allowed me to be fully committed in transforming the Bearpit into something Bristol could be proud of (but) the incremental change approach hasn’t worked.
“All the investment hasn’t worked. The Bearpit needs to be re-envisioned, rethought. redesigned. Something has to change.
“The environment is hostile. The behaviour is hostile. And my biggest fear is that something so tragic will happen that there won’t be going back. That you know what, filling it in may be the best choice.
“I want to keep fighting for a safe and welcoming destination, but we can no longer do it alone.”
Bristol Biennial’s Bearpit Banquet – photo courtesy of Art in the Bearpit
For Simon, the main issues in the Bearpit are regarding drink, drugs and crime, with homelessness or rough sleeping “not the major issues that many people believe them to be”.
He said: “To live with knowingly allowing the serious endangerment of colleagues, strangers or friends, is not something we are prepared to accept any more. So pretty soon we may well be gone. On to quieter, not better, things.
“Sad that we weren’t able to complete the project, but happy that we weren’t to blame for the injury (or worse) of people we care about. This can’t go on, and it won’t.”
The minimum standards that Simon and his colleagues are asking for is to keep the Bearpit clean, for it to be policed effectively, for dangerous and illegal structures to be removed, and its toilets to be in use.
“A safe, welcoming, clean, tidy, neutral space,” he added. “That is simply all we are asking for.”
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