Castle Park public inquiry adjourned until January
The legal battle to save part of Castle Park from development will run into the New Year.
After five days of hearings at the Old Council House, in Corn Street, the public inquiry into whether the area should be given protective "town green" status was adjourned last night.
Lawyers for the city council and developers Deeley Freed, who are opposing the application, spent yesterday making their final submissions.
The applicants' barrister, Daniel Bennett, will not get his chance to do the same until the resumed hearing on January 7 next year.
The independent inspector, Vivian Chapman QC, said the venue for the completion of the inquiry had yet to be decided.
With the formal proceedings over, Mr Chapman will then adjourn – possibly, for some months – while he deliberates on what course of action to recommend to Bristol City Council.
The council – which makes the final decision in its role as the commons registration authority – is unlikely to differ from the inspector's recommendations, despite opposing the application as the landowner.
Whether the St Mary le Port end of the park, opposite Corn Street and St Nicholas Markets, is granted town green status, will affect whether development there can go ahead.
Redcliffe resident Mary Bannerman is leading the fight to stop the council and Deeley Freed, its chosen developer.
They want to knock down the disused Lloyds Bank and Norwich Union buildings and put up shops and offices on the Wine Street site.
But protesters say the scheme would mean an unacceptable amount of green space was sacrificed and sold off by the city council, which owns the land.
Mrs Bannerman has applied to give the park official town green status, which could see development of any green space banned and mean the entire site – including the derelict buildings – could stay as it is for years.
She said: "We want Castle Park to have the total protection that other town greens have."
Mrs Bannerman said there is no reason why the buildings cannot be redeveloped more or less as they are.
3 Comments
by JPC Bannerman, Redcliffe Cottage, Clift Place, BS1 6SS
Thursday, December 11 2008, 6:10PM
“Posh water front house - two up two down.
She doesn't wear lipstick.
She didn't "instigate" alone but is one of many similar minded people.
Go home to Chipping Sodbury, Tony D and enjoy the readily available space and air.”
by TonyD, Chipping Sodbury
Sunday, December 07 2008, 11:30AM
“"What frightens me about this story is the comment that the Council are unlikely to differ from the Inspector's findings."
Are you for real? "Dear Old Mary" (in her posh waterfront house) instigated the inquiry so she obviously thought that she would win in - but you are "frightened" because the council might follow its recommendations?
Surely you should be "frightened" if the council had turned round and said they were going to ignore the recommendations of the inquiry?
Why do I get the feeling that you are already preparing the ground for a "conspiracy theory".
By the way, it is heartwarming that you feel it is important for the city centre workers to have a park to relax in during their lunchhour. It will help prepare them for their long drive home in single-occupancy cars spewing out exhaust fumes into the lungs of those who actually live near the city centre!
Lipstick environmentalists must be the fastest growing social group in the UK!”
by Patrick, Bristol
Saturday, December 06 2008, 11:29AM
“Keep up the good fight to preserve Castle Green as it is and free from developers, Mary.
We need all the green spaces we can get in our city centres to help keep people fit, and healthy - a place that they can go to relax in their lunch hours and refreshed, work better in the afternoons, or later in the day.
What frightens me about this story is the comment that the Council are unlikely to differ from the Inspector's findings. Given that it seems that Government policy already allows intrusion into our Green Belt land I hope that it is not a foregone conclusion that the Inspector is going to side with the Devlopers' plans for greed, and profit?
If greed and profit are to be allowed to win the day it would be well for the Developer to think twice given the current recession and the prospect that we are falling into a deep World wide depression.”