Castle Park Users Group Bristol

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News and actions Speaking at the Bristol Civic Society Joining Up Bristol meeting David Freed of Deely Freed stated that building on park land was the only way for viable redevelopment of derelict buildings at the west end of Castle Park. He proposed a mixed-use development adjacent to the existing Lloyds TSB building there by creating an endless facade of shops, cafes and empty office blocks on Wine Street. This plan would result in the loss of a very popular green area and felling of established trees. In a slip of the tongue he spoke of 'cementing' as opposed to connecting Bristol's supposedly disjointed areas. The Bristol Civic Society newsletter also comments on this meeting and Castle Park and St Mary le Port
Cllr Simon Cooks's comments at the neighbourhood partnership meeting: The improvement of Castle Park is dependent on, and won't happen without, the development at St Mary le Port The plans will be taken to the PGSS working group before they are made public to ensure cross party support The cabinet has to take a decision on continuing with Deeley Freed as the preferred development partner A decision is expected in September
Bristol Parks Forum Update 71 Castle Park was put on the agenda to raise BPF members awareness of the fact that revised proposals are likely to be put forward soon for redevelopment at the St Mary Le Port end of Castle Park. The meeting (16/07/2011) reiterated the BPF opposition to any development on Castle Park.
Castle Park Users Group (CPUG) recent actions Following local elections CPUG sent a letter reminding Bristol City Council of the right to fair and proper consultation for future development plans and the importance of protecting green space especially as the city centre is already well below the Council's adopted standards for quantity of green space. New leaflet produced highlighting the continuing concerns about development in Castle Park.
Bristol Parks Forum Update 71 Castle Park was put on the agenda to raise BPF members awareness of the fact that revised proposals are likely to be put forward soon for redevelopment at the St Mary Le Port end of Castle Park. It had been reported that Cllr Simon Cook had told the Cabot & Clifton NP meeting "The improvement of Castle Park is dependent on, and won't happen without, the development at St Mary le Port". This goes against the principles of the P&GSS. The meeting reiterated the BPF opposition to any development on Castle Park. No disposals at Castle Park were listed in the AGSP consultations and the NP is below the P&GSS standard for quantity of green space (despite the fact that well known green spaces such as Millennium Square and other areas around the Docks are included in the P&GSS calculation). The P&GSS map for the area can be seen by following the links from www.bristol.gov.uk/parkstrategy. The NP area also includes the part of the Clifton Downs south-east of Bridge Valley Rd. It was also noted that the 'depot' area at the south east corner of the park is included as part of Castle Park under the P&GSS, as are depots in other parks. Some of those at the meeting wanted more discussion on this subject. It was eventually decided that a separate BPF meeting would be held once any proposals are published. I will let you know dates for that via these updates.
CPUG letter to Council (June 2011) On behalf of the Castle Park User Group I am writing this letter to update the new committee on the position of our group and to ask a few pertinent questions. Firstly I would like to express our appreciation to the committee for the fact that the park remains in its entirety and to the efforts of all who have worked to this end. I am sure the committee are all aware of the huge asset which Castle Park represents to our city. For example, we all know of the deficit in green space which the central area of the city has, indeed the council, in its ‘Green Spaces Strategy’, document, acknowledges the centre as a ‘priority area’ for the need for green space. Castle Park constitutes the only park in this area and acts in effect, as a hugely valuable green lung. The park is unquestionably a peaceful haven in the heart of the city; it is used by thousands of people on a regular basis and is home to a myriad of wildlife. It is perfectly accessible from so many of the various city centre sectors, for example Cabot Circus, Broadmead, Victoria Street and residential areas such as Finzels Reach and this is one of the reasons it is so hugely popular with office and shop workers and of cause shoppers alike. It is for these reasons and more that our group is committed to protecting the whole of the green space of the park from development. While our group are gratified to see that no development has taken place and are hopeful that this state will continue; we would be very interested to know the position of the various councillors on the committee, on the issue of ‘development’ of any area of the park and how they would stand regarding the taking of any of the green space. We would also like to know on what date the contract with Deeley Freed, the councils chosen developers, will expire. Finally, in the unfortunate situation that development is again proposed we would like assurance of full and meaningful public consultation from the outset. In conclusion, I would state that Castle Park is the birth place of this city and the council must leave all the green space of the park as it is.

Castle Park Users Group Bristol

News and actions

Speaking at the Bristol Civic Society Joining Up Bristol meeting David Freed of Deely Freed stated that building on park land was the only way for viable redevelopment of derelict buildings at the west end of Castle Park. He proposed a mixed-use development adjacent to the existing Lloyds TSB building there by creating an endless facade of shops, cafes and empty office blocks on Wine Street. This plan would result in the loss of a very popular green area and felling of established trees. In a slip of the tongue he spoke of 'cementing' as opposed to connecting Bristol's supposedly disjointed areas.

The Bristol Civic Society newsletter also comments on this meeting and Castle Park and St Mary le Port

Cllr Simon Cooks's comments at the neighbourhood partnership meeting:

The improvement of Castle Park is dependent on, and won't happen without, the development at St Mary le Port
The plans will be taken to the PGSS working group before they are made public to ensure cross party support
The cabinet has to take a decision on continuing with Deeley Freed as the preferred development partner
A decision is expected in September

Bristol Parks Forum Update 71

Castle Park Users Group (CPUG) recent actions

Following local elections CPUG sent a letter reminding Bristol City Council of the right to fair and proper consultation for future development plans and the importance of protecting green space especially as the city centre is already well below the Council's adopted standards for quantity of green space.

New leaflet produced highlighting the continuing concerns about development in Castle Park.

Bristol Parks Forum Update 71

Castle Park was put on the agenda to raise BPF members awareness of the fact that revised proposals are likely to be put forward soon for redevelopment at the St Mary Le Port end of Castle Park.

It had been reported that Cllr Simon Cook had told the Cabot & Clifton NP meeting "The improvement of Castle Park is dependent on, and won't happen without, the development at St Mary le Port". This goes against the principles of the P&GSS.

The meeting reiterated the BPF opposition to any development on Castle Park. No disposals at Castle Park were listed in the AGSP consultations and the NP is below the P&GSS standard for quantity of green space (despite the fact that well known green spaces such as Millennium Square and other areas around the Docks are included in the P&GSS calculation). The P&GSS map for the area can be seen by following the links from www.bristol.gov.uk/parkstrategy. The NP area also includes the part of the Clifton Downs south-east of Bridge Valley Rd.

It was also noted that the 'depot' area at the south east corner of the park is included as part of Castle Park under the P&GSS, as are depots in other parks.

Some of those at the meeting wanted more discussion on this subject. It was eventually decided that a separate BPF meeting would be held once any proposals are published. I will let you know dates for that via these updates.

CPUG letter to Council (June 2011)

On behalf of the Castle Park User Group I am writing this letter to update the new committee on the position of our group and to ask a few pertinent questions.

Firstly I would like to express our appreciation to the committee for the fact that the park remains in its entirety and to the efforts of all who have worked to this end.

I am sure the committee are all aware of the huge asset which Castle Park represents to our city. For example, we all know of the deficit in green space which the central area of the city has, indeed the council, in its ‘Green Spaces Strategy’, document, acknowledges the centre as a ‘priority area’ for the need for green space. Castle Park constitutes the only park in this area and acts in effect, as a hugely valuable green lung.

The park is unquestionably a peaceful haven in the heart of the city; it is used by thousands of people on a regular basis and is home to a myriad of wildlife. It is perfectly accessible from so many of the various city centre sectors, for example Cabot Circus, Broadmead, Victoria Street and residential areas such as Finzels Reach and this is one of the reasons it is so hugely popular with office and shop workers and of cause shoppers alike.

It is for these reasons and more that our group is committed to protecting the whole of the green space of the park from development.

While our group are gratified to see that no development has taken place and are hopeful that this state will continue; we would be very interested to know the position of the various councillors on the committee, on the issue of ‘development’ of any area of the park and how they would stand regarding the taking of any of the green space. We would also like to know on what date the contract with Deeley Freed, the councils chosen developers, will expire. Finally, in the unfortunate situation that development is again proposed we would like assurance of full and meaningful public consultation from the outset.

In conclusion, I would state that Castle Park is the birth place of this city and the council must leave all the green space of the park as it is.