THE CAMPAIGNS TO IMPROVE AND PROTECT TOTTERDOWN
SUPPORTED BY TRESAcic
TRESAcic gets many thanks and emails about the campaigns we run or support. Thank you. However, unless more of the Totterdown residents get involved, TRESA may not win every time. Add your voices to petitions, get along to meetings, join us and help support the campaigns directly. The truth is that there are, at the moment, only a small core of dedicated people who give up their time and put in sustained effort to make a difference. So, if you love this place like we do, then Totterdown needs your social action too!
This is Totterdown and this is your home...
Strategic Waste Management Facility now unlikely to go ahead!
There are proposals to build a very large waste management facility on Totterdown's doorstep in Albert Road. The Environmental Resources Management / West of England Partnership are recommending the site (currently occupied by W.H.White waste transfer) be considered for the building of a huge waste facility that could include an heat incinerator. It recommends the site as there is expansion possible into the SITA bin and truck depot next door. TRESAcic has been approached by local residents and the owners of the Fruit Market to highlight and campaign against these proposals. Rollover the image to see our possible future neighbour.
At the public meeting on 8th July 2009, organised by Wholesale Fruit Centre in Albert Road, there was strong local opposition to the proposals. There would be increased smoke emissions across St Anne's, Barton Hill, St George and probably as far as Kingswood. Concerns were also raised about the increase in traffic in the area and comtamination of the food at the well established fruit market. Philip Horner represented TRESAcic and spoke about the concerns from the residents of Totterdown.
Any new development would need to have planning permission from Bristol City Council, if the site was confirmed as a possible site. Bristol cabinet councillor Gary Hopkins, who is in charge of the city's waste strategy and is against large-scale incinerators, said: "This is not a sensible place for something like this. "I think it is extremely unlikely that it will be acceptable." Needless to say, TRESAcic will continue to monitor the stituation and report any further developments.
The full planning consultations are available here... and the large ERM/WEP report is available here... (Be warned it's a large 31mb download and the proposal is buried within it).
However, an edited version with just the Albert Road plans are available from TRESAcic here... (2.45mb)
Why TRESAcic opposed the Bath Road Tower Block Development and WON!
Appeal Decision: Dismissed! Thanks to....
Mr G Davis, Dr Jonathan Williams, Philip Horner, Martyn Trowbridge, Sarah Zastava and councillor, Mark Bailey, who attended the public enquiry to present the views of TRESAcic on behalf of the residents and helped protect the long term interests of Totterdown. Also thanks to Allan Keen for printing the large scale photographs to illustrate our key points.
The Planning Inspectorate dismissed the appeal by the developers against Bristol City Council's original rejection of the planning application.
What was is it?
The plans proposed an '11 story block of flats' on the site of the old Esso garage at Totterdown Bridge. It was actually a 12 storey building as the top part was a double height section, for the lift mechanics, that slanted downward to the '11th storey'. It included 3 other smaller blocks along the Bath Road as far as the current Paintworks development. Click here for the plans...
What had happened?
The plans were rejected by Bristol City Council on the 02/07/08. The decision was made on five key points:
1. The 'excessive bulk' of the development that would be 'incongruous and out of character' of the area. Namely the Totterdown escarpment.
2. It is a poor amenity area close to two small waste transfer sites. The noise levels and associated dirt are a constant source of complaints from the current residents of the area. The development would be even closer to these sites.
3. Failure in the plans to link an extended riverside development except 'via convoluted route' to the current roads and paths in the area.
4. The proprosal fails to supply 'adequate affordable housing' which must be part of all new residential developments.
5.Failure to apply funds under Section 106 to 'off-site recreational activities, education, libraries, public art and off-site highways and transport improvements.'
Read the original judgement in full here...
Why we opposed this development?
TRESAcic felt that this development was not in the interest of the community of Totterdown, particulary on point 1 of the original rejection. TRESAcic were not opposed to the development of the area for housing or other development such as Paintworks. The 'excessive bulk' of the buildings was an issue; note that the other planned blocks were at least of a sensible height because they overlooked the current housing on the Bath Rd. Block 1 (the 11/12 storey building) was, we believe, an attempt to make as much money as possible by cramming in as many residences into a small area. Under the Tall Buildings Policy in Bristol, such a tall building should not be placed where there are no other tall buildings. The view to and from Totterdown would have been impacted by this development. If this building had gone ahead there would be little to stop future developers putting up equally tall buildings on the other side of road from Totterdown Bridge all the way down to the currently undeveloped 'arena' site. TRESAcic also argued that the plans did not reflect the current or historical height of buildings in this iconic part of the city.
The developers made some concessions on point 3 of the rejection but we felt that the links would only benefit the residents of the development and not improve access to or benefit Totterdown as a whole.
TRESAcic opposed again the appeal on points 1, 2, 4 and 5 of the original rejection at the Public Enquiry on 18th March 2009 at Bristol City Council Offices.
The full report on the Planning Inspectorate website and the final Appeal Decision can be found here...
Planning Issues
We live in a vibrant, thriving city, so it is only natural that from time to time developments are planned and the area changes. Before any significant change (for example a new building) can take place, Bristol City Council (BCC) has to grant permission. They are obliged to seek the opinions of immediate neighbours, but not to necessarily survey the entire neighbourhood. If you spot something the Totterdown community should know about, let us know about it too.
The advent of web technology has made it much easier to find out what is being planned in your area. We have found three sites particularly useful.
Planning Finder allows you to register your e-mail address and the postcodes you are interested in and receive feeds of applications as they arise. It is best used in conjunction with the council planning portal to ensure information is up to date.
Bristol City Council's mapping system is a useful resource for finding out facilities and activities near to any postcode in Bristol. BCC also run a planning portal site to interface with planning activities.
As a general rule, TRESAcic opposes conversion of houses into flats, of shops into residential dwellings and any developments that will be detrimental to the built environment.