Protest over Bristol green belt homes
Crowds of protesters turned up to make their feelings known about plans to build hundreds of new homes on green belt land in Oldland Common in Bristol.
About 120 people took part in the demonstration at the site off Barry Road, where an outline scheme has been drawn up for 450 new homes.
They were lobbying the councillors who will help decide whether the scheme goes ahead and were visiting yesterday to see the site for themselves.
Developers have also allowed for a new primary school, 60-bed care home for the elderly, shops and offices on what are currently five fields.
The application will be determined at a later date by South Gloucestershire Council's development control committee.
But members of its sites inspection panel went to see the location and to hear the comments from local people and parish councillors before their views are considered by the committee.
Anne Upton, of Oldland Common Save Our Green Spaces, said: "Even I was surprised at how many people turned up. Lots of them had even taken a day off work to be there but that is because they are livid at what is being proposed.
"Everyone feels very strongly about this. The land is in the green belt and should not be used for housing."
More than 1,500 letters have been sent to the council in response to the scheme drawn up by Devon-based Strategic Land Partnerships, with only two of them in support of the plan. Opposition has also come from Oldland and Bitton parish councils, the Campaign to Protect Rural England, Hanham and Shortwood green belt campaigners and individual councillors who represent the area.
But the developers have already said they will lodge a formal appeal if the application is rejected, leading to a public inquiry.
The site is part of a huge area of green belt which could be developed if Government moves to take away its protected status are agreed.
Under proposals contained in the controversial South West Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS), more than 117,000 new homes will be built in the former Avon area by 2026 if given approval, many of them on green belt land. They include 38,500 new homes for Bristol, 32,800 for South Gloucestershire, 26,750 for North Somerset and 19,300 for Bath and North East Somerset.
The final version of the RSS document has yet to be published after being sent for review by the Government but campaigners fear that green belt land in the Bristol area will have to accommodate thousands of extra homes, come what may.
Those opposed to the Barry Road scheme have raised a number of objections, including increased traffic congestion, pollution, flooding and the effect of new shops on existing businesses.
They are also worried about the effect of such an increase in the population on local services.
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by Trymriverman, London
Sunday, October 04 2009, 1:31PM
“Derek, building 450 cheaply build & over priced new homes on a green field is easy. I suppose the jobs, youth facilities, shops, leisure facilities, new roads etc, will just happen like magic. But I for one don¿t want Bristol to turn into just another sprawling, urban blight ridden conurbation ¿ I don¿t see the necessity, or the point. If more accommodation is needed in Bristol, why not re-develop Broadmead with good quality flats and promote city living for example. If more accommodation is needed in our overcrowded island generally then perhaps better & cheaper to have a Government run campaign to promote, encourage and support people to live in other parts of Europe where there might be job opportunities and space. I just think a little more imagination is needed on this issue.”
by derek, Nürnburg,germany 90478
Sunday, October 04 2009, 4:40AM
“Trymriverman. I just cannot follow your arguement. I f you took a plane and flew over the whole of the West Country,apart from afew large towns,eg Bath,Swindon,Reading etc,there thousands of square miles of unspoilt countryside,rivers,fields,trees etc.I cannot see for the life of me that a certain amount of building in Oldland is going to make one atom of difference to the Flora & Fauna of the West Country.”
by woe britannia, south bristol
Saturday, October 03 2009, 9:04PM
“last summer i was on some land in Clapton owned by some friends.My friend remarked how quite it was.Yet i could hear the noise of the m5 motorway not far off.I thought the greenbelt was the line not to cross.With 90% of our forests now gone and flora and fauna in trouble.What a legacy for future generations.”
by Trymriverman, london
Saturday, October 03 2009, 2:53PM
“Derek, There are other European countries with much more space than England. You can't go anywhere here and not see buildings - unlike Spain, for example. It isn't being selfish to want to preserve a reasonable quality of life. As for asking: "As for flimsy houses how do you know this?" Well, perhaps things are different in Germany but here...show me a developement build in England during the last 20 odd years that isn't.”
by derek, Nürnburg,germany 90478
Saturday, October 03 2009, 1:35PM
“Usual screams from the huge? crowd.Primary school,care home for the elderly,shops.None of this matters to a few people in Oldland.What we have we hold!As for flimsy houses how do you know this?”