News / Clifton
Legal action could be taken over proposed reopening of former car park
Multiple groups have raised objections against the proposed reopening of a disused car park.
Groups including Downs For People, Bristol Tree Forum, Clifton & Hotwells Improvement Society and the Open Spaces Society have collectively called for Bristol Zoo’s former main car park in Clifton “to be restored to a more natural state”.
Their suggestions include a linear park, a tree-lined avenue to rival the nearby Promenade, an eye-catching floral display, a wildflower meadow and temporary refreshment outlets.
is needed now More than ever
The disused car park is legally a part of the Downs – photo: Hannah Massoudi
Downs For People’s Susan Carter said that the Downs Committee and Bristol City Council’s “primary objective is to make money” by reopening the car park.
She said: “When we discontinued our High Court challenge to zoo parking on the Downs, the Downs Committee and the council gave an undertaking to the court that they would not make arrangements whose purpose is to allow persons to park on the North Car Park to undertake non-Downs activities.
“This is very obviously the purpose here.
“The primary objective is to make money, irrespective of where it comes from or the payee’s purpose in parking. This will not be an attractive place for Downs visitors to park.
“With only a polite notice to deter them, the car park will be used mainly by commuters and those going to places nearby, such as Clifton College, the proposed conservation centre at the former zoo entrance, and the new housing on the old zoo site.”
Bristol Tree Forum’s Mark Ashdown is hoping that if the car park does reopen, there will be “enforceable and strong restrictions in place to limit use just to those visiting the Downs”.
This arises from fears of the groups that if the car park is reopened, it will allow van dwellers to re-occupy and stay put on the Downs.
Ashdown added: “Bristol Tree Forum would like the site restored and integrated back into the Downs and the commons which it forms part of.
“Steps must also be taken to protect the valuable trees on the site and plant more where space is available.”
Kate Ashbrook from the Open Spaces Society has called the situation “worrying” and something that has “concerned” the group for very long.
The car park which is legally part of the Downs, was embroiled in a legal dispute in 2021 when campaigners won a court order that specified the area could be used temporarily for “non-Downs activities”, until the end of 2023.
Bristol24/7 has contacted Bristol City Council for a comment.
Main photo: Hannah Massoudi
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