An empty car park at the Downs near the former Bristol Zoo Gardens could reopen soon despite the threat of an expensive legal challenge. The north car park, off the Clifton Down road, would become a pay and display site, restricted to people visiting the Downs.
The Downs committee, made up of councillors and members of the Society of Merchant Venturers, approved the changes on September 16.
Michael Bothamley, master of the Merchant Venturers, said: “It’s absolutely not our purpose to bring the north car park back into use so that people can park there for non-Downs activities.”
Bristol City Council will now choose a company to operate the pay and display car park. Signs will be put up, advising drivers that the car park is only to be used by people visiting the Downs, and not anywhere else nearby, although there will likely be zero enforcement of this rule.
Elsewhere, the committee has asked the council to make parking on other Downs roads pay and display, and in the longer term is planning to close the Circular Road to motor vehicles. These measures are a way of trying to move on the people living in vans in the area.
A court order made in 2021 says the north car park, technically part of the Downs, cannot be used for anything other than people visiting the park. This came after an expensive legal row about overspill parking on some of the grass near Ladies Mile.
The court order does not oblige the council to check why anybody has parked at the car park, or whether they are “undertaking non-Downs activities”. The court order also doesn’t require the council to enforce any restrictions on parking at the north car park, or elsewhere on the Downs.
The legal row was started by the Downs for People campaign, who challenged the overspill parking. The group did not attend the committee meeting, but issued a written statement. This warned the committee could be in contempt of court, if it breaches the order.
It said: “The committee cannot expect that the main users will be engaged in Downs activities when free parking is available on the roads on the Downs. The car park will be much more attractive to commuters, and to those going to Clifton College; the proposed conservation centre at the zoo; the housing to be built on the zoo site; and elsewhere close by.
“Creating an enclosed pay-and-display car park that is available to all risks another expensive High Court challenge. Our challenge to zoo parking on the Downs cost council tax payers well over £400,000, and the zoo a further £50,000.”
However, Green Councillor Paula O’Rourke said: “We are doing all of this in good faith. We are offering a car park for people who want to arrive on the Downs, park there, walk up and spend five hours having a picnic or do whatever they want to do.”
By Alex Seabrook, Local Democracy Reporting Service