Castle Park Users Group Bristol

The App is a location-based audio tour of the forgotten cinemas in Bristol's once thriving cultural centre, Castle Park, which was destroyed by the Blitz during WW2.

Closing the Park for Commercial Event - Have your Say

Licensing Consultation ends Wed 20th Feb 2013

Make your views known to the council by 20th Feb 2013. Write to Site Permissions, Bristol City Council address here or the Licensing Office address here. Email licensing@bristol.gov.uk or parks.events@bristol.gov.uk

There are currently licensing consultation notices in the park relating to a music festival to be held on Sat 25th May. The majority of the park, footpaths and part of the Bristol-Bath cycle path (National Route 4) will be fenced off for a couple of days for this one day event.

The same event was held for the first time last year over the Royal Jubilee Bank Holiday weekend. The 2012 consultation notice gave the impression that the event was music festival for the Jubilee. It now appears however that this festival may become a yearly event.

Is it right that the majority of a public park can be fenced off for a commercial event?

Should a public park not be open to all members of the public not just a paying minority?

Castle Park Users Group has been told that we can object to the closure to due to the disruption created before, during and after the 2012 event, and to prevent 'public nuisance'. Our main concern is however, that a public park will not be available for public use.

Last year's event caused much disruption to the park and many areas were churned up by heavy vehicles: See pictures.

Castle Park is in an area that is lacking in green space as stated in the council's Parks and Green Spaces Strategy and therefore should remain open.

We ask Bristol City Council to refuse a license for a closed event at this site and offer somewhere more suitable for large scale private events in the future.

Jubilee Weekend Park Closure for Music Event

Hope a great weekend was had by all. The majority of the park was enclosed over the Jubilee weekend for a commercial music event held on Sunday.

While such events are usually popular and those who attend clearly enjoy them, many park users have voiced their concerns over the lengthly clean-up time, possible damage to park, and most importantly, that the park has not been available for normal public use.

Selection from Bristol Parks Forum Update no.99 - 'Do you think it is right to close off the whole or part of a park for an event? Would it be acceptable so long as it was only on a limited number of days per year? Is it acceptable so long as routes through the park are kept clear? Is it acceptable in areas with more green space than the P&GSS standard but not in areas such as the City Centre where green space is limited?'

Community Events

Information on holding small community events can be found on Bristol City Council website. Or by contacting Peter Watts, Events Licencing Team, Council House. 0117 9223466 Opening Hours 9 - 4 Mon, Tues, Thur & Fri.

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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