Cabot and Clifton won't lose green spaces under Bristol City Council's proposals
Bristol City Council’s 16-week consultation on a plan to sell off 62 green spaces is due to come to an end on Friday. Today, local government reporter SAM RKAINA looks at the plans for the Cabot and Clifton areas
CASTLE Park in the city centre could be revamped as part of the green spaces plan, with a new footbridge crossing the River Avon.
This section of the city is the second of four that would not lose any green spaces under Bristol City Council's proposals.
Not a single plot of land in either Cabot or Clifton has been put forward for sale, but they have one of the longest lists of parks that could be improved.
The council has put forward a number of ideas for areas that could be improved when money raised from land sales is reinvested over the 20-year period of the £87 million project. Although it won't have the money to fund them all, the authority wants residents to say which they would prefer.
Castle Park could see a number of changes.
The new footbridge would stretch from the middle of the park to the back of the Finzel's Reach housing development, currently being built.
The striking design is called Mobius Bridge, presumably named after the "Mobius strip", which is a twisted loop with only one side.
Other ideas include moving the children's play area to a new location, and restoring the castle keep near the entrance to the Galleries car park.
The waterfront parks depot building could be redeveloped into a restaurant and the vaulted chambers next to the play area could be turned into an information point.
Access from the Broadweir end of the park – near Harvey Nichols – could also be improved.
The height would be reduced, the mounding removed and the frontage opened up at the junction.
New seating, bins, play equipment for teenagers and a play trail around the park could also all be added.
The council also wants to "look at options" for the open-air St Peter's Church but does not go into any detail about what they might be.
Work already is being carried out to restore Cabot Tower at Brandon Hill following a successful Evening Post campaign.
The green spaces plan also proposes clearing and stabilising the Civil War ramparts on the hill, and restoring the cascade below the tower.
St James' Park is another area that could see some changes, including new seating, bird boxes and an arch over the central path.
The boundary walls, railings and gates could all be repaired and a number of trees felled to make the park brighter.
A performance area or stage could be added to the middle of Dove Street Park, with an upper lawn area for games.
A play area for children could be added to Victoria Square Park, with more seats and bins.
Council spokeswoman Helen Hewitt said: "We know people are very passionate about their parks and open spaces and many want to see improvements in the parks near where they live.
"At this stage no decisions have been made. We are urging local people to take a close look at the options and have their say about what they think should happen."
To view the detailed proposals go to www.bristol.gov.uk/agsp.
● What do you think of the proposals for your area? Email s.rkaina@bepp.co.uk or write to Sam Rkaina, Evening Post, Temple Way, Bristol, BS99 7HD.
9 Comments
by phil, clifton
Tuesday, October 26 2010, 5:19PM
“Most of the land in question is either the downs (which is protected by law) or has been previously sold off eg the grove in stoke bishop in the 90s.The rest is mainly community gardens and squares (mainly owned and maintained by residents assocaitions) and listed,preventing any house building.”
by Richard, Bristol
Tuesday, October 26 2010, 2:37PM
“Bristol Council made one of the best business decisions I've ever read about this year. By purchasing St Ursula's school for £2m and the land alone has to be worth £15m of any investors money.. what is whrong with selling some of this land for private development? Surely this will help in many ways to pay for improvements to Clifton and Redland and at the same time will easily put the £2m back in the taxpayers purse..”
by Marcus, BS2
Tuesday, October 26 2010, 2:23PM
“Surely if the Council are to receive the windfall of an additional 42 acres of untouchable village green in our city they can afford to sell off as much green space as they need to meet their housing targets without falling foul of any green space standards?”
by John Michaels, Sneyd Park
Tuesday, October 26 2010, 1:38PM
“I am happy for the city council to make the right decisions about which land should be sold. I don't believe in conspiracy theories. The council is interested in doing anything that makes money to get them out of the debt nightmare they find themselves in. Land in Cabot and Clifton is significantly more valuable than in other areas of Bristol. Presumably the council would have preferred to sell open space in these areas to maximise the amount earned for residential development but declined to do so because of the density of residents (especially in Clifton and the central areas) who would otherwise be left without access to open space, the multiple benefits of green space in city centre areas which benefit all residents, visitors and workers and / or because the public spaces in these areas are very well used.”
by ParkBoy, Cabot
Tuesday, October 26 2010, 1:24PM
“Unfortunately Cabot has no-where near the standards for access to green spaces set out in the Parks and Green Spaces Strategy. Therefore no selling of land can be considered as it would further reduce the amount of green space available. The council should be actively creating new open and green space in the city centre so the standards can be met.
Other areas of the city have more open green space than set out in the strategy, therefore to meet the strategy some low value amenity land may be sold of.
It is nothing to do with robbing the poor to pay the rich. If you look at it as far as green space is concerned then the 'poorer' areas of the city are in fact a lot richer with respect to green space.
Play equipment for teenagers might include areas for skate boarding, parcour, bmxing and the like,,,,,”
by Birbeck, Montpelier
Tuesday, October 26 2010, 12:56PM
“Can someone please tell me what 'play equipment for teenagers' is?”
by Papa Capyn-Yeraz, Bristol
Tuesday, October 26 2010, 12:33PM
“Nothing wrong with that at all John. Middle class areas should receive investment for their parks as well.
However, where's the green spaces being sold off in your area? Or are you happy to keep all of your parks and green spaces intact, for other areas to lose theirs to pay for the upkeep of your local park?”
by John Michaels, Sneyd Park
Tuesday, October 26 2010, 12:17PM
“What is wrong with investing in parks in wealthier areas of the city? Don't hard working, high levels of tax paying, middle class people and their children deserve decent outdoor public space? Many of the better parks in the 'better' areas of the city are in great condition as a direct result of hard working local volunteers and local fund raising. Redland Green, Cotham Gardens, Montague Green, St Andrew's Park to name but a few have been transformed over recent years as a direct result of local fund raising and work being carried out in the community. Residents in other areas of the city could try this too; it's called getting off your backside and making a difference instead of moaning about what 'they' aren't doing for you and being resntful of people who do make a difference in their local area.”
by Papa Capyn-Yeraz, Bristol
Tuesday, October 26 2010, 10:50AM
“By selling off green spaces for housing in poorer areas, then taking that money and investing it in parks in wealthy areas, isn¿t the council simply robbing the poor to pay the rich?
Sure, sounds harsh, but when you see that not a single green space in Henleaze, Stoke Bishop, Clifton, Cotham, Redland, Sneyd Park etc etc is being sold off for development, yet their parks will receive cash raised from the sell off of parks in Brislington, Stockwood, Southmead etc then surely there¿s something very wrong here?”