Plans to expand a scout hut in Bishopston to meet demand for youth and community activity space are being considered by the city council.
Bristol 63rd Scout Group has found that the headquarters in St Bartholomews Road, which it built in 2015 to replace its former ‘tired ex-military’ premises has proved extremely popular.
The modern facilities are used weekly by more than 400 children who attend beavers, cubs, scouts, explorers, guides and brownies meetings.
It is also used extensively by community groups for activities such as exercise classes, while the council uses it as a polling station for elections and as a designated ‘community place of safety’ providing short-term refuge for local emergencies such as floods, major fires and gas leaks.
Children’s parties are held at the scout hut too. Local schools make use of it for meetings and activities are held there during school holidays.
It’s so busy that sometimes the older explorer scouts have to meet elsewhere.
The 63rd Scout Group has drawn up plans for an additional main hall, with a meeting room and store room above. Its intention is to divide the existing hall into a multi use room and a quiet room, which will enable groups to meet the needs of some users with special needs.
The plans can be viewed on the council’s planning portal by searching the reference 26/13557/F