#Bristol's Unfiltered Truths: Cllr Eddy, Festival Follies & Your Public Photo Rights.
From City Hall's Fiery Debates to Harbourside's Camera Chaos – A Bold Look at Bristol's Latest.
(Image: Metro)
Well, it’s that time to gather 'round again, because if you thought Bristol couldn't possibly out-Bristol itself, you'd be delightfully, hysterically wrong. This week, our fair city has once again provided a rich tapestry of the truly captivating, the utterly outspoken, and the just plain thought-provoking. My satirical keyboard is practically writing itself, and frankly, it's getting a repetitive strain injury from all the vigorous agreement!
First up, let's talk about Councillor Richard Eddy. Now, bless his brazen heart, Cllr Eddy is a gift that keeps on giving. Just when you think he's peaked in the "saying something profoundly unvarnished in public" stakes, he somehow manages to outdo himself. This time, in a discussion about a secondary school's playing field – yes, a playing field – he declared that Cotham School "behave like terrorists do" and, just for good measure, preferred to trust "the Hamas regime in Gaza" over the school (http://bit.ly/3J5Rqii). I mean, who wouldn’t?
Let that sink in. A Bristol secondary school, where teenagers are presumably grappling with algebra and the existential dread of another term ahead, is apparently, in his view, exhibiting behaviour comparable to a proscribed terrorist organisation. And when asked to withdraw these frankly incisive remarks, our esteemed councillor simply told his colleague he "could whistle in the wind." Because, clearly, tiptoeing around uncomfortable truths and not calling a spade a spade is for the weak-willed, and, I assume, just saying a simple ‘Fuck you’ would be far more traumatic, and not very councillor-like.
But wait, there's more! This isn't Cllr Eddy's first rodeo in the controversy ring. This is a man whose career highlights include:
Adopting a golliwog doll as a mascot. A provocative gesture, certainly, designed to spark discussion. Like, erm…. who wouldn’t?
Suggesting vandalism of a historical plaque might be "justified," only to then be "horrified" when the actual statue was pulled down. This highlights a nuanced stance on direct action versus mob rule, given that the plaque has no actual importance to anyone (least of all me).
Secretly concocting plans with developers. Because sometimes, pragmatic solutions require discreet groundwork. If in doubt, just ask the Greens for further advice on this, allegedly.
Honestly, at this point, if Cllr Eddy didn't say something utterly forthright in a council meeting, I'd assume he was unwell. His colleagues, meanwhile, were left "open-mouthed in shock," mouthing "Oh my God." Which, let's be honest, is probably how most of those born from the so labelled 'Gen' cohort react to just about everything nowadays that isn't a 'trauma', being 'traumatised', doesn't fall under the category of an 'emergency' or 'disaster', and falls within the category of doom, gloom, disaster, and in the lyrics of REM, 'The End Of The World, As We Know It.'
The Great Camera Conundrum of the Harbour Festival.
And just when you thought the clarity couldn't escalate, along comes the Bristol Harbour Festival with a side plot so illuminating it could only happen here. This year, apparently, our beloved festival decided to wage war on... professional photography.
Except, not really. What it actually meant was that if you had a camera larger than a smartphone, you were suddenly deemed a "professional" (even if you're just an enthusiastic amateur who still uses a flip phone for calls and, you know, communication). Security guards, armed with what I can only assume was a questionably deep understanding of public safety regulations, started turning people away from public spaces like Queen Square.
Their reasoning? "Wider public safety considerations, particularly around the use of larger electrical and battery-operated gear in busy crowd environments." Right. Because the lithium-ion battery in any mirrorless camera is clearly a greater threat to public safety than the hundreds of thousands of smartphones, power banks, and vapes that were undoubtedly swarming the festival. It’s a testament to their commitment to order, even if the general public found it a bit, shall we say, enthusiastic.
Now, let's be crystal clear for these well-meaning but utterly clueless "jobsworth numpties": "Street photography" is not illegal in any open, public space in the UK. If it were, our newspapers would be empty of visual content, reduced to mere text. As far as I'm aware, we're not yet, and hopefully never will be, a communist country where the state dictates what you can or cannot photograph in public. Even if an event organiser "hires" a public space, they generally cannot legally exclude someone with a camera based on the act of photography itself, unless there are very specific bylaws, court orders, or actual issues like harassment or obstruction. The size of your camera or your perceived "professionalism" has precisely zero bearing on your legal right to document what you see in a public place.
Photographers were told to find a nearby hotel to store their gear, and, a rucksack at most, (because hotels are clearly just glorified left-luggage offices now) or simply go home. Imagine rocking up to a free public festival, eager to capture the vibrant atmosphere, only to be told your artistic medium requires extra scrutiny. It's enough to make you want to swap your DSLR for a tin can camera and a very, very long string, just to prove a point!
The good news? The festival organisers have promised to "review the policy" and that it "will be changed for next year and will not be an issue." Which, translated from corporate-speak, means: "We received feedback, adjusted our approach, and aim for an even smoother experience next time."
So there you have it. Another week in Bristol - so far, another testament to the enduring power of strong opinions and pragmatic event management. Between councillors fearlessly speaking their minds and festivals prioritising public order, it's a wonder we get anything done. But hey, at least it keeps us engaged, right?