Bower Ashton Residents Association (BARA)

Dear Sir

Application ref: 10/04952/F
Proposed erection of a new 12.5m high telecommunications 'Telegraph pole' type mast, plus equipment cabinet on Kennel Lodge Road, Bristol

Thank you for your consultation letter dated 26 November 2010 regarding the above application.

This reply is on behalf of Bower Ashton Residents’ Association, which currently represents residents from sixty-seven of the seventy-nine dwellings in Bower Ashton, that part of the City most affected by the above proposals. We have consulted local residents regarding this application and write to inform you that we OBJECT to the proposals for the following reasons:

1. The inappropriate location within a Conservation Area and impact on a valued landscape within the City; and
2. The location within close proximity to domestic residence.

In addition, we remain far from convinced by the argument of need made by the Applicant.

Location with a Conservation Area and Visual Impact

The proposed mast location is within a Conservation Area, on the main approach to the listed house and grounds of Ashton Court. The land surrounding the proposed mast site is flat ground, just outside the floodplain of the River Avon and is occupied by allotments and gardens. With a height of 12.5m the proposed mast is significantly taller than the surrounding ground and any other built structure within the vicinity, with the exception of the UWE university buildings. It will protrude above the skyline of the Ashton Court landscape on the main approach into the House.

Much is made in the application of the disguise of the mast as a telegraph pole, however its height and form will clearly indicate it to be different to the other telegraph poles within the Conservation Area. With the exception of this 'disguise', the application contains no mitigation for the visual impact of its location recommended by planning guidance.

The application clearly does not respect the character of the local area and should be rejected.

Proximity to Dwellings

In addition, a great amount of concern has been voiced locally that the mast should be sited so close to residential properties, the nearest being less than 50m away. In addition, there are other family dwellings in very close proximity with small children. We consider this to be a material consideration.

Need

Furthermore, it is far from clear to us who will benefit from the proposals. Free WiFi is already available at the University (who have objected to the proposals) and local residents and staff within Ashton Court who use Vodaphone have stated to us that they have acceptable service. Whilst we appreciate the need for infrastructure development to meet future need, it is far from clear what benefit would be brought by the proposals, particularly within an area with such low population density.

Summary

The location and impact of the proposals are clearly inappropriate and unacceptable. The application would have a detrimental effect on the locality generally, and on amenities that ought, in the public interest, to be protected. It should not be granted, therefore.

Yours faithfully

Alasdair Groves
Chairman

Sainsbury's at Ashton Gate

Take your pick of the pro and against websites:

• Sainsbury’s plans for regeneration of Ashton Gate
• Stop Sainsbury's at Ashton Gate

Tree Planting Plan

Bristol Council: Plan.

For Bower Ashton Roundabout and Blackmoors Lane.

Vodafone/O2 Telephone Mast

Bristol Council: 10/0452/F planning application.

On Kennel lodge Road.

Ashton Court Cycle Path

North Somerset: 10/P/0992/F - Rejected, the last 70m of the path has not been given planning permission.

However the Bristol section is going ahead, see below ...

Ashton Court notice of footpath closure

Sainsburys at Ashton Gate

Sainsburys invites you all to view their second application at their existing store on 26/27 November (10-5) and Southville Centre on the same dates from 2.30-7 on the Friday and 10-5 on the Saturday.

You can comment or object here if you wish, but also to Bristol Council's planning office to perhaps better effect up to the 20th Dec 2010.

Planning Application: 10/04777/P

BBC Bristol: Bower Ashton Police Horse Monty retires

Monty retires to Horseworld in Whitchurch on 3rd of November 2010. There is a small photo of Monty on the services page, police section.

Tree Planting Sunday in early 2011

More details to follow when dates are confirmed.

Thanks to the Greater Bedminster Community Partnership

2010 AGM: Notes of the meeting on the 24th of Sept 2010 are now online.

Clanage Road Closure Notice: Please could you distribute through your relevant organisations that access will be limited between the hours of 18.30 and 6.00 on the 6/7/8th October. There will be no access for through traffic along Clanage Road during there hours, although access will be retained for residents/businesses. However, short delays are to be expected. A signed diversion will be in place throughout these hours.

From John Usher, Bristol Council.

Open Evening with Skanska & Chris Gardener at Ashton Park School, 4th Oct 2010. Start at 6pm at the school reception.

This is a chance to look round the new buildings and discuss the final demolition plans.

Letter from Skanska

Ashton Vale recommended for town green status

Bristol City stadium blow as Ashton Vale recommended for town green status

Clanage Road Toucan Crossing

From: Jon Usher
Project Officer, Infrastructure, Bristol City Council

All the legal orders are now complete and I have written orders to contractors today for the works at Clanage Road to provide a new 'toucan' light controlled crossing and improvements to the bus stops on both sides of the road. I would be most appreciative if you were able to post the information below on your website to help inform your members and local residents.

Work is due to commence on 16th August (this coming Monday - apologies for the late notice) as we wanted to avoid causing further disruption over the Balloon Fiesta weekend. We were unable to bring forward the works sufficiently to fully avoid the busy weekend. It is anticipated that the works will last for a period of approximately 6 weeks, and there will inevitably be higher levels of noise and traffic during the works, for which I apologise in advance.

We have, in addition, applied for a road closure on three consecutive nights for the 27/28/29th September. This is in order to carry out a re-profiling of the road around the Kennel Lodge junction to alleviate some of the drainage issues experienced - this was a specific request from a number of residents during consultation -particularly those residing in nos 1-6 Clanage Road. These closures will however signal the anticipated end of the works, and I will notify all affected residents of the closure by letter closer to the time.

To further minimise disruption to residents, as you know we are working closely with our colleagues in Public Transport for the provision of improved bus waiting facilities. New bus shelters are being installed at four bus stops in the vicinity: at the two Clanage Road stops and at the Blackmoors Lane roundabout, as well as on Ashton Rd on the A370. This will involve the removal of the old bus shelters where they exist, and their subsequent replacement by improved shelters once the preparatory civils works are complete. These shelters will have better seating, 'real-time' bus arrival information screens, and raised kerbs to make buses more accessible to the disabled.

I do hope the short term disruption during the works will be far outweighed by the improvements being made in the locality - including of course the new 30mph speed limit.

Bus stop works, Clanage Rd / Ashton Rd
- August-September 2010, Ashton Park School

From: Gavin Smith
GBBN team
Public Transport Group
Bristol City Council

Please note, that as part of the Greater Bristol Bus Network (GBBN) programme, we are improving the bus stops and bus shelters at Clanage Rd, at the Clanage Rd roundabout, and at Ashton Rd.

This necessitates the temporary closure of the outbound and inbound bus-stops on Clanage Rd (just beyond Kennel Lodge Rd) while the GBBN works are underway. The closure will be from 16th August (Monday next) for approximately one month. During this period, one-way-flow will be in operation on a short of the A369 here, controlled by temporary traffic signals. Users of these stops will be able to use the alternative stops at the Clanage Rd roundabout (inbound to town), and at Ashton Rd (outbound).

After the above works are completed, the inbound bus-stop at the Clanage roundabout (Blackmoors Lane) will be improved, with buses able to continue to use this stop but loading within the carriageway controlled by cones. This will last approximately one week, in mid September. Special care by users is advised during this period.

The following week, similar treatment will be undertaken on the matching outbound stop on Ashton Rd (A370), again with buses still able to use the stop. Again, special care is advised.

We apologise in advance for any difficulties this may cause. If you do have any queries, please call me. Thank you.

Ashton Park School: Use of Parklands Road

Chairman's Reply to the Chair of the Board of Governors, Ashton Park School. See the 1st of April entry for the orginal letter, needs Adobe reader software.

Clanage Road crossing update

From Jon Usher, Bristol Council.

The crossing has taken longer than anticipated, but the legal orders that were recently advertised have expired without receiving any objections. We are now obtaining prices from contractors to carry out the works.

The final issue to resolve is the phasing of the works around the Balloon Fiesta. I'll update you as soon as we know a 'start date' for the construction works.

New Bus Shelters for Bower Ashton bus stops

From the Public Transport Group, Bristol Council.

As an early part of the programme, we plan to replace the existing shelters inbound at Blackmoors Lane / Clanage roundabout and outbound on the A370 at Ashton Rd, and install shelters for the first time at the two Clanage Rd stops beyond Kennel Lodge Rd. We are preparing an information leaflet to this effect, to be distributed shortly to all households in Bower Ashton.

Street Party comments and update

See the comments (2010) page.

Ofsted visit proves big success for Ashton Park School.

Ashton Park School was judged to be good in almost all of the 31 judgments made and good overall. This is the first time that the school has received a 'good' rating and comes at a time when the new Ofsted grading system makes it more difficult to do so.

The report said attendance was an issue the school must be seen to improve.

New Website: Bristol's 2018 World Cup bid.

FIFA will decide by the 2nd of December 2010 who hosts the event.

New Website: Ashton Vale Wildlife.

Some good photos of local wildlife here.

Supermarket development at Ashton Gate.

Letter to Principal Planning Officer, Bristol Council.

Chairman's letter to Chair of the Board of Governors of Ashton Park School.

Inappropriate and unsafe use of Parklands Road as an entrance to the school facilities.

Ashton Court: Cycle Path Consultation responce.

From Jon Usher, City Cycling Team, Major Project team.

Landscape plan for Bower Ashton roundabout with tree planting detail.

Topping out at Ashton Park School

The Lord Mayor at the topping out ceremony on 24th of February 2010.

Ashton Park School: Topping out ceremony.

Ashton Court Cycling City Proposal: Ashton Court Link

Before our chairman's reply to this proposal, I must thank the many residents who replied to the last newsletter item on this issue.

The Bower Ashton committee did miss some major problems with our proposed alternative route. We apologise for any concerns raised by this suggestion and will not now be suggesting the Parklands Road alternative route.

Peter

Ashton Court Cycling City Proposal:

Tree Planting Plan

Tree planting on and around the Bower Ashton roundabout. Before and after views of the Residents Association's proposal.

Roundabout views.

Ashton Vale Village Green

Urgent help needed. Have you used Ashton Vale fields in the last twenty years?

Can you help us protect this unique nature conservation site and wetlands on Green Belt land?

If you have visited and enjoyed this area please contact us: Tel: 07972 558117 or email ashtonvalevillagegreen@gmail.com.