“Apparently, as we write, the Landowners are blocking off the Public Rights of Way onto the site.

What a nasty unpleasant bunch they are.

Who would, want them for neighbours.”

“"Whether that be damaging wildlife" (It was drainage, arguably it improves the land for wildlife)

"building on the green belt" (with planning permission obtained through the due democratic process and given by elected officials)

"ignoring the findings of an independent inspector" (which was never legally binding)”

“I remember this well.

I also remember the complete lack of interest shown by the council in fulfilling their legal responsibilities to identify those responsible for damage to a Site of Nature Conservation Interest.

In Bristol it still seems that those with money can ignore the laws of the land that the rest of us have to obey. Whether that be damaging wildlife, building on the green belt, or ignoring the findings of an independent inspector, if you have the money there is no limit on how high Bristol City Council will jump for you”

“I don't understand how Lansdown has got away with this illegal bulldozing of hedgerows.
The man's arrogance is beyond belief:


.....He said: "The surrounding site will be developed for the football stadium – there's no getting away from that. But not that field.
"What we're doing is clearing ditches for grazing purposes for a local farmer and to prevent flooding. That work has been going on over the years.
"Someone has jumped the gun in this case. It's all poppycock.'

What a load of whoppers from the landowner with the whopping bank balance.”

“This is where it all started to go wrong. This was the locals first contact with their new negihbour. Ripping uop hedgrows behind their houses without notice without license without warning and without apology after getting caught.”

“Its worthwhile remembering this event.

This is where it all started.

This was the locals first contact with their new neighbour.

Downhill from here really.

Makes you wonder how BCFC plan to buikld their fan base.”

“Whoever is responsible for this terrible incident at Ashton Vale, (6th Sept 08) may have scored a dreadful own goal. Whoever it may be, if you already have a PR company working for you then I would seriously consider re-negotiating their contract this season. What a disasterous kick off. A golden opportunity to develop a meaningful dialogue with the residents living in Ashton Vale has been lost. In an area about the size of a football pitch every trace of wildlife, fox, deer, badger, heron, buzzards and the beautiful robin along with so many other species have had their habitat totally destroyed within twenty four hours. What could possibly have been the haste? If as quoted in the papers this field is not part of their current plans then whatever the truth is, all traces of wildlife from the area have been removed along with hedgerow and trees to support wildlife. This has a dramatic impact on all amimals, insects, berries which all co-existed very happily in Ashton Vale's natural wetland. But If there is no longer any wildlife then presumably there is no obligation to find an alternative habitat or to spend money protecting it. I, like others have been concerned that this may be the early beginnings of an application by BCFC for the new 'Lansdown Arena'. But Mr Lansdown has been adamant that it was just 'tidying up' and he had no plans to develop the field. That is good news but not for all the animals who lived there. But wouldn't it be ironic if this season there was another injured player off the field, if the affectionaly known 'Robin' synonymous with BCFC heritage and history became the first victim of its aspiration.”

“ok”

“Exactly the same happened beside the M49 and behind Ellinghurst Farm at the end of March. This was the furthest point from the B4055 as possible and done within a week where mature hedgerows and trees were pulled up and burned. The council were not bothered but I know I had birds sitting on eggs in one of my outbuildings at that time. Exactly as John Berry stated - If it was you or I (Joe Public) we would be for the high jump.”

“In a previous incarnation, about 11,000 years ago, I watched in anthropomorphic horror as the habitat of the lesser spotted gerbil was violently destroyed by advancing glaciation. Realising that only I fully appreciated the death of the planet was imminent, I founded what I believe to be the very first conservation society; the Woolley Mammoth Preservation Trust.

It was quite difficult to persuade villagers to abandon food gathering in favour of protest, but eventually I had 200 of them (the entire population of Wessex) standing afore the advancing ice sheet with placards held aloft. Despite harnessing the entire productive output of our community into gerbil relocation, we failed. As did our attempts to re-home the mammoths fail. The planet was having none of it, and this magnificent species perished while we had to decamp to what is now called France, even as the UK was covered by a giant sheet of ice.

Belatedly, I've come to realise that having a gerbil's perspective of the world doesn't help gerbils. And it doesn't matter my help or hindrance, the world will still turn, habitats will change and species will rise and fall. But my daughter, ah, my daughter.... how she wept for her little friends. She even had names for them. I hope this consoles you. ;)”