00:00For years, the outdoor tables at Braavos have been part of the everyday rhythm of Cotham Hill,
00:06drawing customers to a busy stretch that has evolved into a popular pedestrian space.
00:10But the restaurant's effort to retain its covered seating has reached a critical moment
00:14after Bristol City Council planning officers recommended refusal ahead of a committee decision.
00:19Their report states that while temporary outdoor dining is acceptable in principle,
00:23the current installation is considered a permanent structure because it cannot be dismantled quickly.
00:28According to officers, that raises significant safety issues,
00:32including insufficient room for a fire engine to pass in an emergency.
00:36The report also says that the remaining space on a pedestrianised road is too narrow
00:40to safely accommodate both cyclists and people on foot,
00:43increasing the risk of conflict in what is described as a busy and well-used area.
00:47Planning officers warn that approving the structure could set a precedent for similar installations on Cotham Hill,
00:53creating what they call an overbearing sense of street clutter.
00:56The Council's highways authority has also raised concerns stating it would be unable to grant a licence for the structure.
01:04Its submission highlights risks linked to blocked drainage channels,
01:08access for cleaning and potential for damage to the carriageway.
01:12Officers stress that their objection is directed at the size and permanence of the structure,
01:16rather than the principle of outdoor dining.
01:19Support for Braavos, however, remains strong.
01:21More than 1,000 people have backed the application and several Green councillors have publicly defended the restaurant,
01:26saying that businesses along Cotham Hill have worked hard to make the area thrive.
01:31The committee meeting will take place in public, following an earlier refusal made by officers this year.
01:36Enforcement action has already been issued ordering removal of the structure,
01:41though that has been paused while the new application awaits a decision.
01:44The committee meeting will take place in public,
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