Castle Park Users Group Bristol

Central Area Consultation - Pedestrian Route through Castle Park, St Mary-le-Port Development

Bristol City Council is currently consulting on a major new plan for development in central Bristol until 20th April 2012. They are also consulting on the Public Realm and Movement Framework that looks at how people will move around the city centre in the future and what could be done to improve its streets and public spaces. Maps relating to Castle Park in the Central Area Action Plan (CAAP) and Public Realm and Movement Framework (PRMF) now show a proposed pedestrian route intersecting the park, dividing it into two areas, The Old City and Broadmead (Map below) (CAAP Page 66).

What can I do?
Given the close proximity of both Bristol and Temple Bridges is this path/bridge needed or wanted? Let the council know your views via the consultation or by contacting the council directly by 20th April.

Councillors for Cabot Ward. alex.woodman@bristol.gov.uk mark.wright@bristol.gov.uk

Pedestrian Route 4 (PRMF Page *36) would run over the delayed £3.6m Mobius Bridge to Union Street cutting the park in two, creating another area for people to simply rush through and not an atmosphere for leisurely activities. In addition the change in level from the Finzel's Reach through Castle Park to Union Street has presented engineering difficulties and could mean a significant changing of gradients, layout and re-landscaping of a popular part of the park. We believe another paved path would therefore not 'improve public spaces' as stated in the PRMF.

The CAAP also shows the whole St Mary-le-Port area as a development opportunity (Old City Map Page 114). While Castle Park Users group has never been against redevelopment or refurbishment of the derelict Norwich Union/Bank of England site, this can take place without the grabbing of land from the park and felling of established trees on Wine Street and High Street.

A more sympathetic design on the issue of redevelopment has been offered, although this would by no means be the only idea for the area. On the contrary many would like to see the expansion of the park around the St Mary-le-Port, however given the high monetary value of land in the city centre this is extremely unlikely to happen for the foreseeable future.

Finally, when a developer comes forward with plans for the St Mary-le-Port site we ask that the council hold a full and unbiased consultation.

There are further pages of interest in both CAAP and PRMF relating to Castle Park which can be found on the links page.

Keep Castle Park Green

Castle Park Users Group was formed in 2006 when development proposals were unveiled to develop on up to 25% of the existing parkland. While we do not oppose refurbishment or redevelopment of the existing derelict buildings to the west of Castle Park, we are against any plans to expand the buildings on to the park. Having spoken to various users of the park over the past few years, many would in fact like to see the park expanded to incorporate the area around St Mary-le-Port. The council maintain this is not a viable option.

Following a biased consultation and public outcry in which thousands petitioned against the plans, original proposals were dropped. There have been no official plans since a review was announced in October 2007.

The user group has effectively opposed the development proposals to date with a 6,495 signatures petition being presented to the council.

Castle Park Town Green Public Inquiry

In order to try to stop further plans to build on the park, Castle Park Users Group submitted an application to the council to register Castle Park as a Town Green in 2008. Following a prolonged inquiry the report stated that all criteria needed to officially register the park as a Town Green had been met, yet the independent inspector recomended that Bristol City council should not adopt town green status. The council accepted this recommendation. This means that the city council have rejected this application, so Castle Park can now be built on if they choose to allow it.

The User Group expects that when new proposals are revealed they will still include development on the valuable land of Castle Park. It is unfortunate that, Bristol City Council cannot seamingly see anything beyond the immediate sell off value of land belonging to Castle Park and the still want to build on our city's green spaces.

Thank you to those of you who have supported, and continue to support Castle Park.

Development Lastest

Bristol City Council has not renewed to its contract with Deeley Freed. At an informal council meeting on 18/11/2011 Graham Sims stated, 'The buildings on Castle Park at the end of Bristol Bridge are not going to be developed anytime soon. Largely if I'm honest because of the economic situation, it's just not viable for developers at the moment.' In an aside Barbara Janke added this was also due to the legitimate concerns about access to green space.


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