Vision to transform neglected dumping ground into community space

Set back from the pavement with small concrete bollards, the space on the corner of Marling Road and Bell Hill Road is currently another neglected urban patch.

Often strewn with litter, dumped items and the odd parked Voi, the cracked paved area next to a busy St George street is a “magnet for rubbish and fly-tipping”.

But a vision for the site could change all of that and transform it into a vibrant space with the potential to benefit the wider community and bring some much-needed wildlife into the existing grey.

It was Amy Harrison, a nearby resident, who raised the idea of turning the compact site into a thriving local space this week.

Previous attempts to transform the concrete patch and plant trees and flowers there have been thwarted by its previous owners. Now under new ownership, there is hope the vision could become a reality.

Amy says the neglected area – which is on the busy thoroughfare between the Two Mile Hill shops and Church Road – could be really beneficial as a ‘staging post’ for both local people and pollinators.

“The recent high temperatures in the UK have highlighted how we really need to adapt our cities to cope with extreme weather caused by climate change,” says Amy, who is the head of community partnerships at Bristol Green Capital.

“One of the simplest ways to help reduce inner city temperatures is to rapidly increase tree cover on our streets. This is what we would like to try and do with this scruffy, under-utilised piece of land which has real potential to improve our neighbourhood.”

Amy says the idea for the underused space could help break up the polluted urban streetscape surrounding it and create a pocket of biodiversity.

“Lots of St George residents support local shops by walking down the main road to shop locally on Church Road,” adds Amy.

“If the Marling Road space had seating as well as planting, it could act as a safe and pleasant ‘stopping off’ point for older residents and those with children when they are lugging their shopping back up the hill.”

Amy Harrison with her daughter, Poppy, ten, and Nicola Beech at the neglected site on the corner of Marling Road and Bell Hill Road

The idea is supported by Nicola Beech, a Labour councillor for St George Central and cabinet member for strategic planning, resilience & floods.

“Since 2017, we’ve been appealing to the landowners to allow us to plant up the area at the bottom on Marling Road,” Nicola tells Bristol24/7.

“At the moment, the area is a magnet for rubbish and fly-tipping but I think it has a huge potential. We are also really keen to prevent pavement parking, which is a real problem in this area.

“We’re now in touch with the current owners and looking forward to discussions to see what can be done. An injection of nature here could do wonders for ecology and our residents’ wellbeing on this busy area of St George. If anyone locally wants to get involved please don’t hesitate to get in touch.”

The neglected space on the corner of Marling Road and Bell Hill Road could be transformed into a thriving community space

Wildstone, the outdoor media infrastructure company that now owns the site, has indicated a willingness to get behind the vision for the land.

“We would be willing to work with local residents and councillors to address the fly-tipping issues and to explore what opportunities there might be to improve the site’s appearance,” says Wildstone’s chief operating officer and planning director Philip Allard.

“I have reached out to councillor Beech to ask to meet with her to discuss the issues and possible solutions.”

The next step will be to consult with the local community before bringing any new plans to life.

Anyone who would like to give initial feedback or get involved can contact Nicola via cllr.nicola.beech@bristol.gov.uk.

All photos: Ellie Pipe

Read more: Calls for community action on Kingswood fly-tipping 

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