Hundreds of protesters are fighting plans to build a five

storey building over fears it will cause parking chaos and ruin

Easton's only green space.

Campaigners will confront the council tonight at a public

meeting in Lower Ashley Road where they will present a

200-strong petition to halt the plans.

The mixed use building will house 53 flats, but only have 36

parking spaces. It will be built on the M3 at Junction 3 near

Millpond Road.

Residents fear the lack of spaces will cause drivers to park

further from their homes - leaving them vulnerable in what is

already a troublespot for crime.

Moreover, the building will replace one of the only green

spaces in the area.

And there are fears that its financial cost will cause other

council funded projects to suffer amidst current economic

downturn.

Construction worker Tim Martin, 30, who has lived in Easton

for 12 years, is fronting the campaign.

He said: "It seems quite crazy even with the credit crunch

and the construction industry is being suffering from that.

"There will be a ripple effect, not just in Easton, but in

other deprived areas like St Paul's where parking far away from

home means people are more vulnerable.

"Plenty of single mothers and parents are very angry about

the change. Parking is already a problem round here during term

time at Millpond Primary School.

"The traffic congestion is a nightmare. And my girlfriend

was sexually assaulted walking home after she was forced to

park her car far away from her house."

The plans are part of the Junction 3 scheme which was

launched in 2002 and backed by residents to build a new

community centre and library.

Mr Martin said: "All of us welcomed the initial plans. But

now things have changed, hundreds of us are up in arms about

it.

"I got a letter explaining the decision, but not all of us

were informed by the council."

"This area is notorious for drugs and sex workers on the

streets. There are a lot of single mothers who live around this

area.

"It'll also ruin a green space which is used by about 30-40

people all of whom are middle aged.

"They are worried about walking the streets and others are

worried about the dog mess that will end up on pavements."

The Junction 3 project is partly funded by £1.3 million of

lottery money which is then matched by the council.

The library will work with community organisations such as

museums, arts, and youth services.

It will replace the existing library in Trinity Road.

The Scarman Trust and the Single Parents' Action Network are

partners.

However, residents feel they have won a phyrric victory in

securing the initial funding for the project.

Lib Dem councillor for Lawrence Hill Sue O'Donnell is

backing the residents' protestations and will attend tonight's

meeting.

She said: "I fully back the protests by the residents of

Easton. There are certain elements to these plans that will

cause a lot of distress.

"For instance the development could be turned into 53

residential properties with only 36 parking spaces.

"That will have a knock on effect on the surrounding areas.

It's a case of not just being told what's coming, but a case of

the residents coming along to the meeting and to have their

say.

A Bristol City Council spokesman said: "All planning

applications considered by Bristol City Council on their

merits."

Mother of two Wendy Whiting, 43, lives on Seymour Road next

to the development.

The care assistant said: "It's the parking that I'm mainly

upset about. There's a clinic down the road and it's a

nightmare for parking.

"I've been fined £100 before by the police for double

parking when I was taking my shopping into the house.

"As a care assistant I work nights and I feel threatened by

the gangs of youths who hang out on the corner.

"We've had trouble before with them chucking bins down the

street and smashing car windows."

Manager of the Seymour Medical Practice Diane Price said:

"There are 13,000 patients in our practice alone and we have

very little car parking space. Patients have to use the

road.

"I understand there will be less than 40 car parking spaces

on site for this development which means the road and possibly

even our own car park may be used by people living and working

at this development.

"The impact on the health centre and other residents in this

road will cause too much

congestion."

The meeting will take place tonight at 7pm in the Greek

Orthodox Church on Lower Ashley Road.