WHY ARE WE CAMPAIGING?

Ashton Vale fields are very important to Ashton Vale Community.  In addition to being a Site of Nature Conservation  and an important Wildlife Corridor, the area is also described as The Lungs of Bristol.

To lose this precious resource to not just one but four major planning development is a tragedy.  The loss if this land is irreplaceable.

There are laws to protect the Green Belt and we have to ensure that they are used to ensure these fields do not become part of a sprawling urban extension.

WHO IS CAMPAIGNING:   A group of local residents from Ashton Vale, supported by many people who use the fields and also local and national organisations, including.  CPRE, Save Our Green Spaces, The Avon Wildlife Trust and many more.

The first part of the application has been heard in Bristol and has been given outline, but conditional consent.  There are strong conditions attached to the permission.  The next stage is with North Somerset Council who rejected the development proposal when discussed at their planning committee meeting in October. 

However a unanimous decision by North Somerset Planning Committee saw the application for access rejected.  The reasons were the inappropriate development in green belt and major concerns about the validity of the transport analysis and the adverse impact on North Somerset Residents, particularly those living in and near Long Ashton.

This was an overwhelming victory, but is not sadly the end of the story.  The developers are determined and will apply again in February 2010.  The North Somerset Planning Officers had supported the application which was turned down by the local planning committee. 

 

Application update:

Did you know, there is a plan to close Ashton Drive, pre and post matches on Saturdays and for evening matches to enable fans to walk along the carriageway.  During this time all traffic will be diverted to the top of Winterstoke Road and will join traffic trying to get parking in Ashton Vale.  Its ludicrous and they know it.

Thursday October 1st 2009 - update

Bristol City Football Club have launched a campaign to move from their current football stadium to develop a new stadium in Ashton Vale Fields, not just a 42,000 seat stadium, but 243 houses, fast food drive through and hotel and more buildings yet to be defined.

This development is proposed for Green Belt and within a Site Of Nature Conservation.  Its an important area, on the edge of the city. The last remaining Green Belt and an area which is valued by not only local people but by many people living in and visiting South Bristol.

Local residents know the plans are folly, totally unworkable and unsustainable.  

Recently residents have been advised that a plan exists to close vehicle access to Ashton Drive on match days including some evening matches. Anyone needing to access Ashton Vale on match days and evenings, can enter it via South Liberty Lane.  Of course there is concern about how people will cross the junction at the top of Winterstoke Road on the junction with Duckmore Road.  The traffic is known to back up along Winterstoke Road,  the traffic light system on South Liberty Lane single carriage bridge will mean cars may be unable to get through quickly enough leading to potential problems, particularly when residents are trying to get home and football fans trying to park. 

So what now aren't you beaten?

The outcome at The Planning Committee was disappointing expected, it is rare for Councillors to vote against the 'Officers' or planners.  Planners like to build things, so are interested in styles and design, so its not surprising that the engineering challenge is what excites them.

It's only the first stage and there is a long way to go until full permission is given.  There are a lot of conditions to attend to first, including more information about the finance, the transport infrastructure and some other details about sustainability and the management of the former landfill mass.

The next hurdle is whether or not North Somerset will be minded to also approve the application (9.12.09)

In the meantime, we continue to learn as much as we can, try and find out more about the plans and look at what the impact on Ashton Vale will be.  We are heartened at the support of important environmental groups and know we have an up hill battle and of course that people are angry that we are not just accepting what has been handed to us.  But once gone this beautiful land will be gone forever, so its worth protecting for future generations.

 

If you want to know more about Ashton Vale Heritage Group then please leave us a message or email us on mail@ashtonvaleheritage.co.uk

Why are we so bothered?

We want to  protect Green Spaces around Ashton Vale and all areas covered under Green Belt Policy.  Green Belt was established in the 1960's At a time of unprecedented  post war building.  Its purpose is to prevent urban sprawl and to protect communities from losing their identity.  Once Green Belt has gone, communities lose their distinctive characteristics.  Locally Nailsea, Bradley Stoke and Weston Super Mare of examples of where Green Belt has been lost and has developed into large urban areas with a loss of their village or community. Ashton Vale is a small residential area, situated on the edge of the city on the boundary with North Somerset.  The area is seriously under threat from development which will change its character and identity forever.

We want to retain Ashton Vale fields as a boundary between Bristol and North Somerset. We want green space and place to walk, think and allow children to enjoy what residents have enjoyed.  Across the country Green Belt land is being offered up for grabs to developers, once gone its gone forever. 

 What is the RSS? It's a new government policy due to be published this year which sets out the Country's housing needs for the next 20 years.  The RSS is a hated document because it vastly over -estimates the numbers of homes needed and it will allow precious green belt to be built on. The figures were established at a time of economic boom in the 1990's but those figures are out of date and councils everywhere dispute the figures required.  The RSS also stipulates where houses should be build, even deciding on the exact location and timescale for building.  This is totally wrong, it ignores any council planning and council targets.  It does not ask the council where houses could be built, but tells them where to put them. 

The RSS is the developers friend and encourages developers to choose Green Field sites, (previously undeveloped land).  This is very attractive to developers as they pay less VAT and don't have to clear previously used commercial sites.  Its a disincentive to build on former commercial land.  The RSS may become law this summer, although its now delayed because of the massive response from people objecting to it. 35,000 objections to date and another 10,000 on the way.  This week (June 09) the RSS had a further blow when it was legally challenged by people living in the South East of England.  This gives us just a little more time to make this campaign stronger and more committed.

What can YOU do to help?

Join our campaign, write to your MP and your Councillors, write to your local paper, tell everyone you know that your local heritage is at risk. Object to the proposal for the New Football Stadium.  Its planned to be built on Green Belt Land and what is currently open fields and the 'lungs' of Bristol will soon have 243 houses and flats, 3-4 stories high, alongside a fast food drive through, hotel and other retail outlets.  It's not needed and not wanted.  If you don't act now it will be gone forever. Come to our meeting every two weeks at Ashton Vale Community Centre at 7.30pm (next meeting on Thursday 16th July). Keep looking at this web site for news.  Keep watching whats going on in the fields and let us know.  You can also phone us Tel: 07972 558117

Who else is campaigning?

Thousands of people, all over the country are campaigning.  The RSS in the South East of England has had a major blow and due to campaigning, the South East RSS is under Judicial Review and is being help up.  This is great news for the South West as it may cause a further delay in this unjust policy.

This campaign is at the heart of local communities.  Every community is being affected by bad planning policy, lack of concern for green space, air to breath, wildlife, bio-diversity all the things that maintain balances in our community.  Its essential to balance urban dwellings with open natural green spaces.  Please don't give up yours.   Check out web sites protecting Green Belt, including CPRE (Campaign for the Protection Of  Rural England.  The National Trust, saveourgreenspaces.org   and many many more.

 ¨       Building on the Green Belt should be the  last resort use  Brown field first.

 ¨       Ashton Vale is an active flood plain and should never be built on.

 ¨       Quality of life due to the noise, light pollution, blaring floodlights, helicopters, crowds, dust, dirt, misery  created from the development and subsequent activity, seven days a week, for the next two years and that's just while its being built. Then the true costs really kicks in.

 ¨       Wildlife is important to all communities, we have an abundance of it and we should be protecting it.

 ¨       The loss of rare breeds of birds and bats. Over 13 different species of bats are present in Ashton Vale Fields and surrounding area support all kinds of amazing, often rare and endangered species, including rare birds, dragon fly's and butterflies.  There are also otters, badgers and deer recorded in the fields and surrounding area.

 ¨       It's catastrophic to lose our natural green space, places for people to walk and air quality and green lungs to our city will be greatly affected and lost forever.

 ¨       It has not been proved that the existing stadium is no longer suitable or could not be improved to meet their aspirations for the future. 

 ¨       There is concern about the explosive nature of the gases on the landfill sites surrounding Ashton Vale and the disturbance of the waste the land contains.

 ¨       Silbury Road has been designated as the pedestrian entrance and termination for the bus route. This represents over 7,000 pedestrians walking through the Vale to get to the pitch.

 ¨       There is a potential for problems from some fans using the new bus terminal at Silbury Road and the potential for fans to gather at Silbury Road and other entrances causing a problem with crowd control.

 ¨       There will be increased Police presence in Ashton Vale on match days turning this quiet residential area into a busy and potentially tense atmosphere.

 ¨       There will be increased inconvenience and noise from helicopters over the site and nearby streets. Pollution from coaches and cars travelling into the area.  It will be a rat run through South Liberty Lane. 

 ¨       There will be year round disruption, noise, flood lighting and late night musical events once the site is used for as a venue for other large scale entertainment.

 ¨       An increase in litter, pollution and street vendors in Ashton Vale, leading to fans collecting in certain areas.

 ¨       The stadium's height and the size will overpower Ashton Vale, blocking out all views of Long Ashton Church, Long Ashton Village, the suspension Bridge and Ashton Court where thousands of people watch the balloon fiesta every year.

 ¨       This quiet residential area is simply not a suitable place to build a new stadium.

 ¨       Once gone, this unique area will be lost forever, please help us to save this area for people and wildlife.

 DO SOMETHING NOW - JOIN US IN TRYING TO STOP THIS DEVELOPMENT.

  Campaign News - Press Release 7th June 2009 

PRESS RELEASE

Save our Green Spaces www.saveourgreenspaces.org

June 7^th 2009

 35,000 'NIMBYs' want a word with Hazel Blears' successor

 Following the departure of the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Hazel Blears, groups across the South West are now calling for the scrapping of her most unpopular policy in this region, the South West Regional Spatial Strategy. The Strategy contains proposals for the construction of 500,000 new homes over the next 20 years, 250,000 of which are destined for the countryside, in large new urban extensions beloved by developers but imposed on unwilling councils and local communities.

 Jo Haywood, spokesperson for the new coalition of South West action groups, Save our Green Spaces, (http://www.saveourgreenspaces.org/) says, "Back in October 2008, local people sent in 35,000 objections to the South West Regional Spatial Strategy but the reply was nothing but an acknowledgement of their comment. The response from one Government Minister was a speech in which those groups actively opposing the SWRSS were attacked as NIMBYs and local councils were urged to stand up to us. Are people who value the green spaces around their towns and cities 'NIMBYS'? Are the rugby players that stands to lose their pitch NIMBYS, and what about the farmer that will lose her family farm? Whatever you want to call us, there are tens of thousands of angry people from across the region, including local councilors, wanting a word with John Denham, Hazel Blears' replacement."

 Georgie Bigg, trustee for the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE), is supporting the Save our Green Spaces campaign, "Support groups are located across the South West from Cheltenham, to Bristol, to Swindon, to Truro, with over 30 active groups. All of them are up in arms about the lack of local consultation and the way that this Government is ignoring previous planning protections." 

 Ron Morton, of Shortwood Green Belt Campaign says "Our cities do not need unsustainable urban sprawl. Whilst we recognize the need for extra housing within the area, it is totally unacceptable to eat into the Green Belt which has the sole purpose of preventing such an occurrence. That's what it was set up for 50 years ago. What about the 6,000 empty homes in Bristol?"

 Save our Green Spaces supporters are fighting for a reduction in the massive 500,000 houses proposed, a commitment to regenerating previously developed land first, for an emphasis on affordable homes and for local consultation on where development is required.

 Jo Haywood continues, "Our groups are planning to deliver thousands of letters, emails and postcards to Hazel Blears' successor to show our increasing frustration at the Government's plan to push ahead with the Strategy against strong opposition. We intend to take our campaign direct to new minister, John Denham in Westminster. We want to be one of the first groups to meet with him and will be writing to ask for an early appointment."

 There are many people in the South West who need green spaces; sports people, girl guides, wildlife enthusiasts, ramblers, to name a few. In some cases the loss of land to development will destroy their very livelihood. 

 Jill Britten, an organic farmer on Green Belt land, stands to lose the family farm, "We have put 40 years of our lives into this farm; planting trees, creating wildlife sites, running an organic dairy herd and now a beef suckler herd. What a travesty to lose all this."

 Helen Wells of Cheltenham is concerned that the government is dictating massive urban extensions for Green Belt and green field land without any real understanding of the local consequences. "The flooding two years ago in this area, caused millions of pounds of damage and massive disruption to families for many months. Concreting over more of this land will simple increase the threat of flooding. We do need housing, but we need to focus on building homes where they are really needed and wanted for the good of the whole town and it's population, rather than in places that maximise profits for the developers. For instance, in small village locations, near to schools and local facilities. We should also prioritise reuse of the many derelict sites to meet new housing needs."

 Pip Sheard of Bristol Friends of the Earth says "The RSS represents an environmental disaster for Bristol. We cannot afford to lose any of the countryside which surrounds our city to development. It represents the resource for the next generation of farmers to produce local food, recreational space, sports facilities, security against flooding in urban areas and a place we can enjoy wildlife, landscapes, peace, fresh air and tranquillity. It is simply vital to the wellbeing, health and happiness of Bristol residents. We must protect the countryside by transforming our urban areas with higher housing densities using land more efficiently, mixed developments and better public transport."

 ENDS

 For further information contact: 

Email: saveourgreenspaces@gmail.com

Pip Sheard, Bristol Friends of the Earth, on 0117 9661364 or 07944290993

Save our Green Spaces www.saveourgreenspaces.org

 Ashton Vale Heritage Objection to Stadium

http://www.ashtonvaleheritage.co.uk/AVHGFinalDocObjection.doc

Ashton Vale Heritage Transport Assessment for new Stadium 

http://www.ashtonvaleheritage.co.uk/TransportAssessment.pdf