The Dings

Memoirs of the Dings by Clair Williamson and Beth Trimmer, The Dings, Home Zone, Bristol.'We want to tell the story of the Dings - when we've all gone nobody will know what happened here over the years and what happened here over the years and what the Dings is all about' (resident)

'It's changed a lot. People have moved away, other people have come. But you've still got that bit of community spirit and we really don't want to loose that. It's the people of a district that makes it. Not the bricks and mortar' (resident)

'People have welcomed the redesign, it looks so much better! I think it's a really nice environment to live in -especially for children. I enjoyed being involved in creating the many artworks around the neighbourhood as they reflect people's thoughts and memories of the area' (resident)

The Dings in central Bristol is linked with the Bristol Bath D for Dings, Gateway to The Dings Home Zone, BristolRailway Path, and based around a residential area with strong community links, made up of Victorian and 1930s terraced housing, and bounded on one side by a main line railway. 

The area was host to a new home zone project developed with residents, the Community Association and street representatives in partnership with Sustrans, Community at Heart (a New Deal area of deprivation initiative) and the City Council. It was part of a wider transport based European project called Vivaldi.

The Home Zones project was to redesign the streets to allow a better balance of road space use for pedestrians and create a high quality urban space.Bench as part of 'D for Dings' by Walter Jack, The Dings Home Zone, Bristol. Alongside, other measures such as changing car parking layout and tree planting, the inclusion of public art to enhance aesthetics and a renewed sense of ownership through community involvement was a key element. This was the first in a programme of work, which subsequently led to Sustrans DIY Street Programme.