March to save Bristol woodland

More than 100 people took part in a march through Stapleton as fears grow about plans to privatise woodland next to the River Frome.

Walkers who use the woods next to Snuff Mills Park are worried that the new landowner wants to fence off part of it for private use.

Temporary fences have been set up around the same part of the woodland bought in November 2007 by Sneyd Park resident Lord Houshang Jafari.

Fears were raised last year that Mr Jafari wanted to build on the land when he applied to fell a row of trees by the road.

The application failed in October when the city council placed a blanket tree preservation order on the woods.

Residents thought they had won the fight to preserve the land but the new fences have prompted fears that Mr Jafari will try to privatise it.

Documents sent to the council by Mr Jafari's agent say the public right of way on the woodland is letting people commit criminal damage to his land. He has always denied wanting to develop the land and was unavailable for comment last night.

Bristol MPs Roger Berry and Kerry McCarthy joined the throng yesterday afternoon to lend their support to the campaign to save the woods.

The residents are planning legal action to win the land "town green" status, which would protect it for future public use. Campaign leader Steve Micklewright said: "Lord Jafari has always said to us that he wanted to turn Grove Wood into an iconic park for the people of Bristol.

"But we have seen documents written by his agent that clearly state that he wishes to turn the land in to private gardens and woodland. The report even argues for the closure of the existing public right of way.

"If Grove Wood becomes a town green his plans will once again be thwarted.

"We have been suspicious from the start and the documents I have seen show that we are right to be.

"We are launching a town green campaign and are trying to get evidence together to stop this community wood from becoming private land.

"More than 100 people have turned out to the march, which shows that there is a lot of support for this idea."

Roger Berry, MP for Kingswood, said: "I have been aware of this row for a long time and now it seems we should look for this land to be taken back into public ownership by the city council.

"This is a woodland area which has been used by local people for a long time and we want it to stay that way.

"Along with my fellow MPs and local councillors here we will continue to give these people all the support we can."

The documents sent to the city council by Mr Jafari's agent say: "We have reported incidents and evidence that the public right of way is being used to further criminal activity and cause public nuisance with associated malicious damage and trespass at our client's private property.

"The council as local authority is required by statute to act in the public interest to prevent crime and anti-social behaviour.

"Thus we believe that far from extending the public right of way to additional parts of the land, the council is required to assist us to prevent the misuse and abuse of the existing right of way.

"There are grounds we would argue for closure of the public right of way to prevent crime and disorder. Such an order would not adversely affect the public amenity or access unreasonably as there is a well-maintained right of way through Snuff Mills immediately adjacent.

"The Snuff Mills path is well surfaced, safe, unobstructed and available to walkers, cyclists and also accessible by persons requiring walking aids or wheelchairs."