Residents turned out in great numbers  for a public meeting called by Prospective MP, Charlotte Leslie, and Avonmouth Ward Councillor Siobhan Kennedy-Hall, to ask council officers questions about their possible plans to sell off the Daisy Field and Lamplighters land for housing development.

Charlotte Leslie called the public meeting after around 200 residents were turned away from a closed meeting to discuss the controversial plans, in June.

The meeting, attended by council officers and chaired by Cllr. Kennedy Hall, was an opportunity for residents to tell Council officers directly about the issues surrounding the plans.

Key areas of concern included the contamination of the land, which was formerly a rubbish tip. Members of the community recalled planning applications made by Shirehampton Colts to build changing rooms being turned down by the Council, on the grounds that the land was unsuitable for building, due to what lay below.

Other residents raised the issue of the the Lamplighters land being on flood plain. Several inhabitants of Nibley road described how their houses had been flooded in the recent past.  Concerns were also raised that plans to enhance the play area on the Lamplighters Land, which currently include moving the play area, may be paving the way for an improved access route for potential housing.

Residents overwhelmingly stated that the Daisy Field and Lamplighters land is valued green-space, used and enjoyed by the community, and that the proposed aims of the Council’s  “Parks and Green Spaces Strategy”, to improve access to quality green space, would be best served by maintaining and enhancing these two sites, for the enjoyment of the public.

Council officers emphasised that no definite plans have been drawn up, and that the Daisy Field and Lamplighters Land sites have been part of a scoping exercise to find a list of sites to be classified as of ‘low value’ to the community, to be sold off,  which will go to consultation in the New Year.

Charlotte Leslie and Cllr. Kennedy Hall pledged to take residents’ concerns forward, and to continue to press the council to ensure that these two sites do not appear in the consultation document next year.

Cllr. Kennedy-Hall said,

“I am delighted that council officers  agreed to meet with the public and listen directly to their concerns. Under the strategy, the council say they will be enhancing local facilities – but the council have already demolished Shirehampton’s swimming pool and closed down the Robin Cousins centre, which still lies empty.”

Charlotte Leslie added,

“Local people do not want to be stripped of yet more of their community amenities under the banner of ‘enhancements’. Many residents say that experience has taught them that once a decision goes to a consultation process, it is already too late. That is why we are acting now, while plans are still in early stages.”

If you want to get involved in the campaign,

1. Sign Siobhan’s petition HERE

2. Write to the Council, detailing your reasons for objecting to the possible designation of The Daisy Field / Lamplighters Land as a potential site for sale to housing developers.

The address to write to is:

Rob McGovern
Area Green Space Plan Project Officer
Bristol Parks
Colston 33
Colston Avenue
Bristol, BS1 4UA