News / Bristol Zoo Gardens
Disused zoo car park could reopen soon
A disused car park at the old Bristol Zoo could reopen soon despite a legal wrangle about the Downs. The car park, north of the former zoo, has been left empty for months and barricaded off.
There were concerns the empty car park would become a temporary home to van dwellers. But instead a parking company will be brought in to turn the area into a pay and display, specifically for people using the nearby parkland.
The car park was at the centre of a legal battle in 2021, when campaigners won a court order saying the car park could only be used temporarily for “non-Downs activities” until the end of last year.
is needed now More than ever
A committee report said: “The land was used for car parking by Bristol Zoo for a number of years and is currently unused, with the zoo having closed to the public. Commercial providers have expressed interest in using this land as a pay and display car park for Downs users.
“With no feasible alternative use, this will provide an annual revenue stream which will contribute towards the upkeep of the Downs. While signage would be put in place to designate the car park as being for use by users of the Downs only, it is recognised that there is no feasible way to police this and [it’s] the only proportionate measure available in this regard.”
The car park is legally part of Clifton Down, but is separated from the large grassland area by a busy road. The legal battle also involved zoo visitors parking on the grassland, which was successfully challenged by the Downs for People campaign.
In a written statement to the committee last year, campaigners said: “The financial benefit cannot outweigh the fundamental unlawfulness of what is proposed. Parking on the Downs can only be provided for those using the Downs.”
No doubt the council will have to take time to address more challenges, with the Save Bristol Gardens Alliance, made up of local residents, campaigners and environmentalists, having successfully raised funds to submit a judicial review to challenge the plans to construct 200 homes on the site.
The Downs committee will hear the latest update on the plans on Monday, September 16.
Main photo: Bristol Zoological Society
Read next:
- Campaigners say fight starts now after homes approved on former zoo
- Disappointment after government refuses to call in Bristol Zoo Gardens plans
- Van dwellers ordered to leave the Downs
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