Ramblers want ban on Bristol Zoo's Downs car park
Ramblers hope to stop Bristol Zoo using part of The Downs as a 600-space car park.
The 1,000 members of Bristol Ramblers' Group are objecting to an application by the zoo for visitors to park at Ladies Mile on 60 days each year.
The group will speak at Bristol City Council's planning committee when it meets on Wednesday to discuss the application.
"The Downs are one of the glories of the city, dedicated more than a century ago for people of Bristol and surrounding areas to enjoy," said the group, which is part of the national Ramblers' Association.
"Successive planning committees have acknowledged that permanent use as a zoo car park would be unacceptable.
"They have nonetheless allowed parking to go on and on. The zoo has little incentive to find an alternative while the council continues to give permission.
"We trust that this time the council will decide to restore this beautiful part of The Downs to its proper use – as parkland for the people of Bristol, not as a car park for visitors to another attraction."
Amenity associations have also objected, including Bristol Civic Society, Clifton and Hotwells Improvement Society and the National Open Spaces Society.
Councillors at a previous planning meeting said they were dissatisfied the zoo was continuing to use temporary applications for a car park.
They said it should have been banned from doing so years ago.
Permission was given, but councillors warned bosses at the zoo they must do more to encourage their visitors to use public transport.
Dave Harley, Bristol Zoo Garden's head of estates, said the zoo works with the council to try to encourage visitors not to come by car.
"Bristol Zoo Gardens is a conservation and education charity that supports over ten conservation projects both locally and overseas, including the Avon Gorge and Downs Wildlife Project," he said.
"The zoo is also the city's leading visitor attraction.
"However, during the summer months the zoo requires overflow parking to meet visitor demand.
"Under agreement with Bristol City Council, the Zoo uses Ladies Mile for overflow parking only when ground conditions permit."
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by Alex, Bristol
Wednesday, October 22 2008, 6:00PM
“While we're at it, (not "it", I mean driving to the Zoo!) let's tarmac the area!!”
by Steve, Southville
Wednesday, October 22 2008, 5:55PM
“"I totally agree with Tim of Clifton, there should be no need to use a car to get to the Zoo when there is an ADEQUATE PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM. Leave the cars at home. "
Oh my aching sides!! This is proof positive that Susan doesn't live in, and probably hasn't even visited Bristol!
The Zoo attracts visitors for many miles around and is visited by many families on Sundays where our "adequate public transport system" (stop, stop - I'm still laughing!) is even more inadequate then ever.
Add to this the fact that large areas of the city are no longer served by public transport thanks to First Group and Labour, then you can hardly be surprised if people travel to the Zoo by car.
The area concerned is miniscule compared to the overall area of the Downs and this practice has been going on for years.
The professional busybodies and their apologists should shove off and find another pointless cause to whine about.”
by Tim, Bristol
Wednesday, October 22 2008, 3:01PM
“Should Tim Clifton be I'm all right Clifton?”
by colin, Bristol
Wednesday, October 22 2008, 2:58PM
“Tim Clifton,or is it Jack of i'm all right fame,Jo Jo from Kingswood is quite correct,bus travel is too slow,and expensive,ie,Kingswood yate return by bus 21/2 hours,by car 25 minutes,we rest uor case.”
by Zoofan, Beyond Bristol
Wednesday, October 22 2008, 2:56PM
“Tim / Susan ... one big point you are missing is that this is the famous Bristol Zoo and many families will travel from beyond the city boundaries to come and visit.
For these people the adequate public transport you talk of is not as appealing as you think. Folk from the city who are happy to hop on the 8/9 bus may be happy to leave the car at home, but for a lot of Zoo visitors this may not be a reasonable option.
How many potential visitors to the Zoo have decided to have a day trip elsewhere rather than face the prospect of limited parking at Bristol Zoo.
A few hundred cars parked up on a little used part of the downs is not a problem.”
by Danny, Bristol
Wednesday, October 22 2008, 2:53PM
“Ramble somewhere else.”
by JoJo, Bristol
Wednesday, October 22 2008, 2:43PM
“I took my daughter to the zoo one Sunday morning in August. I live in Kingswood and needed to catch two buses - one to the centre and another one to the zoo. It took me an hour and a half! Total travelling time of 3 hours to visit an attraction in my own home town. Next time I'll take the car and do the journey in less than half that time.”
by SUSAN, Bristol
Wednesday, October 22 2008, 1:36PM
“I totally agree with Tim of Clifton, there should be no need to use a car to get to the Zoo when there is an adequate public transport system. Leave the cars at home.”
by Tim, Clifton
Wednesday, October 22 2008, 1:24PM
“I agree that there should be no parking on the Downs.
One isn't allowed to cycle on the downs so why on earth should people be able to drive on it?
Also there is a bus stop right outside the zoo - there's really
no excuse for driving a car to the zoo at all.”
by Alison, Bristol
Wednesday, October 22 2008, 12:26PM
“It's do gooders getting involved in what they don't understand again. I am sure that the Zoo are using only a small part of what is considered to be quite an adequately large open green space in the centre of Bristol. I am sure that it's only for the Merchant Venturers who own part of the downs that they aren't built on.
The Zoo is doing excellent conservation works and it's for the Bristolians to support them and visit and go by bus, there are plenty that go near the area and hey why not visit the lovely shops in Blackboy hill for a change as well.
Why don't these ramblers do something about the 'cottaging' and various unsocial 'activities' that are going on in the bushes rather than picking on honest businesses trying to earn their keep.”