Villagers to fight 10,000 new Bristol homes
Villagers in Long Ashton have issued a "hands-off" warning to property developers besieging their community.
The Hands Off Long Ashton (HOLA) campaign has been launched to protect the green belt around the village.
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10,000 new homes are planned for south Bristol
The group, which now has more than 100 members on its mailing list, has been launched to fight off plans being put forward as part of the region's planning blueprint for the future, which could see thousands of new homes built on green belt land around the village.
Proposals have already been put forward by developer LandTrust to build 10,000 new homes on a swathe of green belt land from the slopes of Dundry near the Barrow Tanks right down to the A370 Bristol to Weston-super-Mare road, which borders the village.
The proposed new development, expected to cost around £2.5 billion, would be called Ashton Park and be a town the same size as Clevedon.
Thousands of people across the Bristol area have already objected to the planning blueprint, known as the Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) .
It identified the land on the slopes of Dundry and Ashton Vale as a potential area for growth, with the Government receiving more than 35,000 responses to the recent consultation document.
The RSS has yet to be agreed, with a final decision due in the summer.
HOLA group spokesman Bill Roberts said: "Our village is being threatened by excessive development and loss of the green belt, driven by central government madness and developer greed.
"We already have a lot of support for the group and are working with other campaign groups that have been formed to draw up a strategy to fight off the proposals to build on the green belt."
An inaugural meeting of HOLA was held earlier this month and a further meeting is planned for next week where campaigners will be drawing their battle plan to fight off the development proposals.
A website – www.handsofflongashton.org.uk – has also been set up for people to log on to, pledge their support and get involved in the action group's fight.
Mr Roberts, a 52-year-old self-employed music teacher, who has lived in Long Ashton for eight years, said: "We do not want Long Ashton to just become another suburb of Bristol and are determined to stand up and fight to protect the green belt around the village.
"It is important that Long Ashton retains its own identity."
Mr Roberts said HOLA was not only concerned about the proposals being put forward as part of the RSS, but other potential developments threatening the village.
There are also proposals to build 500 homes on land at Failand, a further 1,400 homes on land belonging to Bristol University between the railway and the A370 and plans to build new homes and offices at the former Barrow Hospital site.
Mr Roberts said: "HOLA can actively oppose all of these developments and although we may not be able to stop all or any of them, we may contribute to delaying them and reducing their impact.
"We are also planning to lobby MPs, work with the parish council and contribute to any relevant consultation comment on planning applications."
For more information about HOLA contact Mr Roberts on 07932 623672.
9 Comments
by redman, Ciderland
Thursday, March 26 2009, 9:33PM
“Never mind at least you'll be housing Bristol City F.C.There will be two teams in Somerset then!!”
by Gareth, warmley
Thursday, March 26 2009, 5:38PM
“so how many houses need to be built for joe foreigner and countryside ruined till we say sorry were full up. no more room in the uk. we cant just keep acomodating every tom wick or harry that comes over here. eventually there will be no greenbelt left. what then? build out to sea?”
by Captain Obvious, Obvious HQ
Thursday, March 26 2009, 4:22PM
“i keep more records than the Government Tom :)
This may sound harsh, but the problem with developing run down areas is that you're still stuck with the dross that bring them down (and before anyone cries, that is a small minority).
As for the "green belt" around long Ashton, it's hardly an area of AOB and could hardly be classed as rural.”
by Tom, Warmley
Thursday, March 26 2009, 3:48PM
“Captain, I didn't realise you followed my comments so keenly. You are correct though, and I still think we should bring back into use the thousands of unused homes in the South West before concreting over our green belts.
The area in question here is hundreds of acres of green belt land. That is not regeneration ... it is unnecessary vandalism of the countryside. Regeneration is about bringing new life into the less desirable areas of our city .... and let's face it ... there are quite a few!”
by Captain Obvious, Obvious HQ
Thursday, March 26 2009, 1:24PM
“What is it Tom, the other day you were telling us we should re-use new homes, and now we should curb immigration to save Long Ashton (although I do tend to agree with the need for curbs).
Long Ashton is cleary a vital aspect of the South bristol regeneration scheme, which will benefit tens of thousands of people.”
by Tom, Warmley
Thursday, March 26 2009, 12:00PM
“Actually I think North Bristol is the place to build such large developments. This area has easy access to the M32, M4 and M5.
Do we really need all these houses though when the natural British population is in decline? If we curb immigration we can keep our green space without the need to build build build. Do we really want Bristol to become the size of Birmingham?”
by Louise, Long Ashton
Thursday, March 26 2009, 11:30AM
“I too am in favour of this developement. Whilst it's a shame to lose green space, we have to start thinking more about our economy now. My family have lived in Long Ashton since I can remember and whilst it's lovely to enjoy the space and greenbelt, with the way things are we need to stop being so selfish. Imagine the amount of jobs this developement will bring to the area. Not just the buiding work (which will be great, my husband got made redundant just after Christmas and this will be great news for us) but also the new schools. It will create a wider community and will sustain our economy. Those who are more worried about land need to wake up a bit and start living in the real world. Time to stop wasting your time and move on!”
by Nigel, North Bristol
Thursday, March 26 2009, 9:25AM
“This comment section is getting on my wick, I type out a long comment and it doesnt appear !!!!! whats going on?”
by Nigel, North Bristol
Thursday, March 26 2009, 9:23AM
“I am 'one' person on favour of this development. Its a good location to create a future community which would include a execllant transport link to the Temple Meads. Why does every village think it has the right to remain inclusive and exclusive? What these 'cosy communities' do not understand is that there is a whole urban demagrapgic that needs housing, Bristol's boundry's can not cope with expansion population, we all have to move over and share this lovely country.”