CAMPAIGNERS claim that a strip of land next to the Bristol to Bath cyclepath is set to be sold off without proper consultation.

Developers Squarepeg want the land to build five "cycle houses" which would have direct access to the cyclepath.

The plan is part of a redevelopment scheme for 267 homes, offices and shopspace on the former Elizabeth Shaw chocolate factory site at Greenbank.

Cyclist Chris Hutt, 57, of Clifton, who raised his concerns about the provisional deal on his greenbristol blog, has written to the council to formally object and started a campaign website – www.keepthebankgreen.blogspot.com.

He said: "The land forms an intrinsic part of the green corridor of the railway path.

"There does not appear to have been any consultation on whether the land should be sold.

"The city council has apparently taken the view that it is not required to consult.

"This may be technically correct, but given the controversies that have arisen in relation to most previous attempts to develop elements of the railway path it would, I suggest, be prudent to consult before a final decision is taken."

Earlier this year campaign group Save The Cycle Path successfully petitioned the council to abandon its plans to convert the path into a bus route.

Founder member Steve Meek, 45, of Montpelier, said: "Our concern is this sets a dangerous precedent.

"The strip of land is quite small but the idea the council can sell it off to a developer almost in secret seems completely wrong.

"It will change that area fundamentally, and part of the complex will be seven storeys high.

"I'm sure it's nice for the developer to have extra land as it will make the properties more profitable but I fail to see how it's good for the area.

"It seems to be against the council's own policies on green spaces, and seems to suggest the planning application is a foregone conclusion."

Residents and cycle path users have criticised the potential loss of green space.

Fred Miller, 44, of Easton, said: "A piecemeal degradation of the quality of the railway path has been going on.

"Local residents have been helping to maintain this stretch of railway path with gardens, at the Ruce Road junction, fruit trees and oak trees, and bramble maintained around the trees, near the allotments.

"These features are all part of the local heritage, which are threatened by this development."

Gloria Moore, 66, of Whitehall, said: "Whatever we say, they're going to do it but I don't really like it. I don't like them taking away green spaces."

David Nugent, 61, of Eastville, said: "I use the cycle path quite a lot, so I would say I disagree with this. It's eating at the resource all the time.

"But there is a bit of nimbyism about this kind of thing."

A spokesman for the council said: "The developer of the chocolate factory is negotiating with the council, which is finalising an in-principle agreement to sell a small strip of land, so that some houses may be accessed by bikes from the cycle track.

"The agreement is subject to planning permission and the resolution of all legal issues.

"A planning application is due to be considered by the council so it would not be appropriate to comment further at this stage."

A spokesman for Squarepeg argued the company had been open about its plans for the site, adding that response to public consultation had been positive.

She said: "This is not a surprise, this has been in the public domain for quite some time. There is nothing underhand about this

"This particular piece of land is the gateway from the cycle path to the chocolate factory. It will have five cycle houses set four to seven metres back from the path.

"We're also planning to create a cycling hub, including a cafe.

"There will be sympathetic landscaping, we're not creating a stark urban landscape. Whatever we take out will be replaced."