Who are you?

Nothing too personal, it helps if we know a little about you.

Your thoughts on the space as a whole

This could be anything from the current state of the toilets to the general amenities on offer, pour your heart out - we want to hear it all!

A bit about how you use the Bearpit

This section looks at how you use the Bearpit and what you get up to down there!

Areas in need of attention

We'd love to hear your views on what aspects of the space you feel are in need of our attention.

The surface level walkway

The Bearpit is a busy place but it can still be intimidating at night. That's one of the reasons why Bristol City Council has allocated £1 million to put in a walkway that avoids the tunnels. We're turning to you for your opinions on the ideas we have come up with. We may not be able to do them in their entirety but your feedback will contribute to the final design. Tell me more...

The Ampitheatre

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This design allows people to cross directly from the town centre to Stokes Croft - the busiest flow of traffic. It also allows people to easily enter and leave the Bearpit to get to any amenities and events in the space while providing ample seating for socialising and performances.

Walkway only

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The walkway only idea provides covered space which can be used for a number of things, it still includes a route into The Bearpit by the above ground crossings. The Bearpit Improvement Group is passionate about keeping the area's green space. As such we will compensate for any loss of green space by providing further landscaping. In-depth information about the designs can be seen here (this link will open in new tab).

Walkway & commercial space

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This option is similar to option number two, it will still provide areas for trading or storage underneath but will run the opposite way around the space, this means that the majority of greenery can be kept as it is. The downside of keeping the green space means that pedestrians will have to walk further to use the walkway when coming from Broadmead. In-depth information about the designs can be seen here (this link will open in new tab).

Introduction to BIG's work

The ethos of the Bearpit Improvement Group (BIG) is to deliver manageable, incremental change.

Sections on the following pages outline our current thinking on the short and long term improvements we wish to make.

These ideas have been worked up from previous public consultations. We'd like to know what you think of what we're doing.

Arts

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The Bearpit has become a space where the arts flourish. For example, last year wooden panels painted by local artists were installed in every tunnel. The roofs of the toilets were cleaned and are now designated sites for sculpture - currently displayed is a spoof rally car by Patrick Joyce.

The grey walls of the toilet blocks have been painted by local street artists. The remaining surfaces of the tunnel walls will be used to extend the concept of the outdoor gallery - a space to promote local artists.

Signage within the Bearpit is to be bespoke and designed by local artists. All construction and activity within the Bearpit will be considered within the context of creating a space where creativity is encouraged.

Trading

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The Bearpit has come a long way in terms of trading. In April 2012, three daily stalls were introduced to the space and a shipping container was installed to allow traders to store their equipment. Since May the Saturday market has been growing, with ten or more traders on average every weekend. This has been enabled by the installation of a power source.

Due to this success, future plans include the installation of sheltered kiosks and an increase in the number of daily traders. By October 2012 we are hoping to have more shipping containers installed, some refrigerated to accommodate a wider range of traders.

The biggest change will be the the installation of a double decker bus, the lower deck for cooking and the upper deck to be used as a restaurant.

Grassy areas

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There's nothing better than an oasis of greenery in a city centre.

Recently local organisations have been taking ownership of the beds and using them as urban allotments. A mass planting of bulbs in Autumn 2011 means that every spring The Bearpit will get a burst of welcome colour.

Our future plans are to plant fruit trees and insect habitats which would contribute aesthetically, educationally and ecologically to the area.

Play

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One of the best ways to encourage people to spend time in a place is to provide things for them to do. As you may have noticed we have already installed a permanent ping-pong table on the site which is well used.

Future plans include the installation of an adaptable stage for use by a range of performers and a giant chess set.

Heritage

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The reason we need historical boards in The Bearpit is that many facts about it go unnoticed, for example, The Bearpit marks the medieval boundary of the city. Many travellers arriving at the city come from the adjoining bus station. Historical interpretation boards and murals are an ideal way to celebrate The Bearpit and Bristol's rich historical heritage.

Old maps, murals and photographs showing the changes in the area over time have been a very popular addition to the dockside area of the city. The Bearpit is also be a suitable candidate for similar installations.