Campaigners' joy after green spaces saved to help schools
TWO green spaces in Bristol which were in danger of being lost under controversial plans by the city council have been earmarked to help expand nearby schools.
In one case, land near Begbrook Primary School in Stapleton was proposed as a possible official travellers' camp which sparked an outcry among nearby residents.
The other saved area is Ridgeway Road playing field which backs onto dozens of homes in Abingdon Road and Honiton Road.
Chris Hollis, a leading campaigner to save the open space in Begbrook Drive, said: "We're obviously delighted the site has been saved.
"Everyone in the area was rock solid against the plans for a gypsy camp – the whole thing has been hanging over our heads and now we can breathe a sigh of relief."
Mr Hollis, 57, a retired financial adviser, praised ward councillor Lesley Alexander who took up their cause and fought on their behalf.
The Evening Post revealed in June last year that the Begbrook Drive site was earmarked for up to seven pitches for travellers which led to an orchestrated campaign by residents.
A pressure group was set up to save Ridgeway playing field after the council revealed plans to sell off part of the land for redevelopment.
The future of both sites was under threat because of citywide proposals by the ruling Liberal Democrats to raise revenue by selling off strips of parkland to pay for improving nearly 200 parks and open spaces.
The issue turned out to be one of the most controversial in the city for years and led to many campaigns and pressure groups being set up to save much-loved open spaces where children play and people go for walks.
In December, the Lib Dems saved nine sites from the bulldozer and promised that others should have their decision deferred or treated as a special case, including Begbrook Drive and Abingdon Road.
The Lib Dems lost overall control during the local elections in May and were forced to agree to a review of its green spaces strategy in return for continuing in power.
This led to a cross-party working group being set up which has been meeting weekly to discuss how to take the council's Green Spaces Strategy forward. The group will be issuing a report which sets out its recommendations in September.
But in the meantime, it has emerged the working group is keen there should be "no delay" in saving both Begbrook Drive and Abingdon Road sites for expanding nearby schools.
A council spokesperson said: "There has been constructive agreement on many issues and the working group has collectively agreed that it will wait to publish proposals in a final report in the autumn.
"However the issue of these two school sites cannot be delayed to help meet the urgent need for school places in the city."
8 Comments
by Meetwee
Thursday, August 11 2011, 12:43AM
“I am devastated that the beautiful green space that is Ridgeway playing fields upon which I, and many others, look and walk every day is going to disappear under a school. I feel that the campaign to save our green spaces has failed and that the council has ignored the wishes of the people. Gary Hopkins being the most heedless of all.”
by Hparkfriends
Tuesday, August 09 2011, 8:28PM
“Good news about not siting a gypsy camp by Bedbrook school. What a stupid idea it was. Those responsible for the idea in the first place should not be aloud to make decisions like this in the future. Remove them from their jobs please as they are not fit for the job.
Great news about Abingdon Road also. This again shows that the original decision was wrong. Another example of poor decision making.
The council could now take a lead on this with parks, Neighbourhood partnership and local people and help to make a good park for the local children using Horfield and Hillfields as good examples. Let's get some positive action to improve the area.
Councillors, what are you going to do?
Terry King”
by sheila2010
Tuesday, August 09 2011, 10:50AM
“I actually don't believe that the council were seriously considering a travellers site for this land but everyone was so against this suggestion that the aim to keep the land 'green' was overshadowed by the resolve to prevent the travellers site. Now, residents are 'joyful' but are still losing a facility. Perhaps this was always the council's plan!”
by Chollis54
Tuesday, August 09 2011, 10:06AM
“sheila... I am a local resident too and totally agree with your comments, but my "delight" was that the threat of a Gypsy camp has now been permanently removed from the agenda. Quite why our community was considered for one in the first place is a mystery to me and anyone else that I speak to. The actual location of it was bizarre - right next to a primary school, opposite residential dwellings mostly inhabited by elderly persons and adjacent to the Frome Valley walkway?
I also agree that the expansion of the school will not benefit our loacl community as the majority of existing pupils in the school come from outside of Stapleton (typically they come from Easton I am told) and I have also been reliably informed that over 50% of these pupils do not speak english as their first language when they go home after school.
All of our local children are catered for by the existing school facilities, so by expanding the school we are only going to attract more pupils from a wider area and therefore add to the congestion both locally and Bristol generally. Why not build a school in Easton to cater for their own needs and avoid all this unecessary travel?
In order to keep BDOS green, I cannot understand why the campaigners have not pursued the possibilty (certainty) of getting the land designated as a "Village Green" which would absolutely stop any further development of any kind. I know there are plenty of local residents that can testify that the land in question has been used regularly for recreational activities for almost 50 years, which is well in excess of the amount of time needed to grant village green status. My wife and I have been walking dogs on that land since 1988 and would be willing to testify to that fact.”
by Aizoon
Monday, August 08 2011, 9:31PM
“Excellent news. Now can we PLEASE have the rest of the 'temporary' fences cleared from Wellington Hill Fields?”
by Brizz_Tony
Monday, August 08 2011, 2:39PM
“Thanks Councillor, for clearing up any misunderstanding. At least, I think so.”
by CllrJonRogers
Monday, August 08 2011, 2:17PM
“Cllr Gary Hopkins has sent the following letter to the Evening Post about this inaccurate report:
Sir
On 16 December 2010 in its decision on the Parks and Green Spaces Strategy the Cabinet specifically identified two sites, Abindgon Road and Begbrook Drive, as suitable for school expansion/relocation. Officers have been busy on these proposals since then.
Last week the all party working group endorsed these decisions and sent out a press release to say so. This was necessary as further delay could be damaging to the education service.
The Evening Post reported a completely different story on Monday 8th August which attempted to suggest that the all party working group has opposed and changed the Cabinet decision.
The original officer recommendations for disposal were based upon the February 2008 decision by the Labour Cabinet supported by all parties.
Yours sincerely
Cllr Gary Hopkins
Cabinet Member for Targeted Improvements”
by sheila2010
Monday, August 08 2011, 11:43AM
“Not everyone is delighted that our open space is going to be used for the expansion of Begbrook School - it will still be lost to the community! The school has a lot more space than many other city schools and the children attending seem to travel from a very wide area therefore this will not benefit people living in the area. More cars will speed up Frome Valley Rd from 8am (breakfast club) 'till 9.15am and again from 3.15pm until the end of after school clubs. The parking by parents in the surrounding streets causes hold-ups and blocks roads. The campaign was to keep Begbrook Open Space Green and this has failed!”