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Downend, BristolDownend, a suburb of Bristol in South Gloucestershire == Downend is effectively a suburb of the City of Bristol but actually comes under the administration of South Gloucestershire, a county which sprang up following the wellcomed demise of the County of Avon in 1996. Downend is located to the North East of Bristol and is bordered by the Bristol City suburb of Fishponds to its south west and the South Gloucestershire suburbs of Staple Hill to the south and Frenchay to the west. The outward expansion of Downend dating from the 1980s has been contained by the presence of the M4 Motorway which swings around the northern side of Bristol. Downend has little industry within its boundaries consisting mainly of domestic housing and local shopping facilities. A very wellcome addition since 2003 is the opening of several restaurants in Downend village itself which has allowed locals to eat out and have drinks without the need to drive or arrange a taxi. Unfortunately, most of the local pubs leave a lot to be desired with scruffy interiors and very smokey atmospheres which discourages many local residents from being "regulars." Some of this may change if and when the proposed anti-smoking legislation comes into force in the next couple of years. The road transport system within the boundaries has been left almost intact with fairly free flowing traffic at most times of the day other than on the ring road where traffic lights have been introduced on most junctions in an attempt to improve flow. This has made what was originally intended to be a rapid means to travel from the north of the city to the south into another "stop/start" experience which does little to minimise vehicle exhaust emmisions in the area. Outside Downend, South Gloucestershire council transport policy has resulted in dual carriageways being reduced in width to single lanes and bus stops placed to block following traffic in an attempt to encourage drivers to walk, cycle or ride a donkey to get around so Downend is still well off, for now! Oh, by the way, Downend's Claim To Fame is the famous, but deceased, cricketer, W.G. Grace who lived in the village. == http://freespace.virgin.net/jill.hewett/wggrace.htm
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