Bristol action group 'racist' claims

The owner of Grove Wood, Stapleton – which is at the centre of a long-running row over tree felling – claims some of his critics are racists.

And the self-styled Lord Houshang Jafari has accused Bristol City Council of "bowing to mob pressure" when it slapped a tree preservation order (TPO) on the wood last October.

That order has to be confirmed by the council's development control committee (south and east) on Wednesday.

Mr Jafari, of Hamilton House, Downleaze, has written a letter of objection in which he says there are "errors" in the preservation order and it includes trees that are already dying or dangerous.

He says he was granted permission to fell a number of such trees "scattered throughout the wood" by the council last year.

His letter says: "The council has bowed to irrational and at times racist public pressure and voted to apply a TPO on the very trees which, during the past 10 months, their employees and officials have granted permission to fell.

"This is a gross breach of administrative procedure."

Mr Jafari also accuses critics of conducting "a slanderous campaign", bullying him and preventing him "from free enjoyment of my property".

Council officers have produced a report to tomorrow's meeting in which they deny Mr Jafari's claims of "errors" and injustice.

And Steve Micklewright, of the Snuff Mills Action Group, told the Post: "We are really sad when somebody tries to play the race card when we are motivated by the need to save a very precious woodland for both wildlife and the people of Bristol.Our group is not at all racially motivated and we are very saddened by the attempt to smear us in this way."

Committee chairman Sean Beynon said: "I'm confident that councillors always make decisions at development control committee in good faith based exclusively on sound planning principles.

"It would not be appropriate for me to comment in detail ahead of the meeting, but Mr Jafari's objections will be considered.

"And he or anyone with an interest in the case is free to make a statement to the committee, should they wish to, as long as they give notice by noon today (Tuesday)."