Fishponds Park 10 a City with Good Quality, Snuff Mills and Ham Lane 11 Attractive, Enjoyable and 2

Ideas and Options Paper Eastville, Frome Vale and Hillfields Area Green Space Plan

Ideas and Options Paper Eastville, Frome Vale and Hillfields Area Green Space Plan A spatial and investment plan for the next 20 years

• raising quality • setting standards • providing variety • encouraging use • 1 Ideas and Options Paper Eastville, Frome Vale and Hillfields Area Green Space Plan

If you would like this Vision for Green Space in infoBrimstoaltion in a different format, for example, Braille, audio CD, large print, electronic disc, BSL Henbury & Southmead DVD or community Avonmouth & Kingsweston languages, please contact

Horfield & Lockleaze us on 0117 922 3719 Henleaze, Westbury-on-Trym & Stoke Bishop Redland, Frome Vale, Cotham & Hillfields & Eastville Bishopston

Ashley, Easton & Lawrence Hill St George East & West Cabot, Clifton & Clifton East

Bedminster & Brislington Southville East & West Knowle, Filwood & Windmill Hill

Hartcliffe, Hengrove & Stockwood Bishopsworth & Whitchurch Park

• raising quality • setting standards • providing variety • encouraging use • Ideas and Options Paper Eastville, Frome Vale and Hillfields Area Green Space Plan

Contents Park Page Eastville Park 8-9 Section Page Vision for Green Space in Bristol Wickham Glen 10 1. Introduction 2 Fishponds Park 10 A City with good quality, Snuff Mills and Ham Lane 11 attractive, enjoyable and 2. Background 3 Oldbury Court Estate (Vassall’s Park) 12-13 Hillfields Park 14-15 3. Investment ideas and options to 7 accessible green spaces which improve each open space within the area Begbrooke Park 16-17 Ridgeway Playing Fields 18-19 meet the diverse needs of all 4. Proposed open space disposals in the 31 Eastville, Frome Vale and Hillfields Meadowsweet Open Space 20 Bristol citizens and visitors. Neighbourhood Partnership Area East Park Housing 21

Source: Parks and Green Space Strategy 2008. 5. Future opportunities 35 Gill Avenue 22 Duchess Way Open Space 23 Bracey Drive, Shimsey Close, Crescent Road 24 Appendix 1 36 and Sidelands Road

How the Area Green Space Plan would meet Lodge Hill Open Space 25 the standards set out in the Parks and Green Royate Hill 26 Space Strategy Coombe Brook Valley 27 Appendix 2 43 Other sites 28-29 How the Area Green Space Plan would meet Links 30 the policies set out in the Parks and Green Space Strategy

• raising quality • setting standards • providing variety • encouraging use • 1 Ideas and Options Paper Eastville, Frome Vale and Hillfields Area Green Space Plan

Section 1. Consultation on the Ideas and Options Paper for Eastville, Frome Vale and Hillfields - how to make your comments. We would like your views on all the ideas and Paper and cd versions In addition to Eastville, Frome Vale and Introduction options presented. You can make comments and Alternatively paper and cd versions of the Ideas Hillfields, Ideas and Options Papers are give us your own ideas. We will not be able to and Options Paper and questionnaire are also available for comment on the This draft Ideas and Options Paper afford all the ideas presented in the plans so we available from: following areas: would also like to know which spaces and types is for the Neighbourhood Partnership Bristol City Council, Parks, Colston 33, ? Knowle, Filwood and Windmill Hill; of facility you would like to see us invest in first. Area of Eastville, Frome Vale and Colston Avenue, Bristol BS1 4UA ? Your views will inform a final Area Green Space Hengrove and Stockwood; Hillfields. It sets out ideas for investing Or by telephoning: 0117 922 3719 Plan which will set down improvements and ? Hartcliffe, Withywood and Bishopsworth; in green spaces over the next 20 years to Or by e-mailing: [email protected] priorities over the next 20 years. ? Bedminster and Southville; ensure everyone has easy access to a Drop in sessions ? Cabot Clifton and Clifton East; range of good quality green spaces with To make the most of your opportunity to A drop-in session is being organised for each ? Henleaze, Westbury on Trym and Stoke new and improved facilities, such as comment we suggest you look at the Ideas and Neighbourhood Partnership Area - this gives the Bishop; children's playgrounds, sports pitches, Options paper before you start to complete the questionnaire. You can chose to comment on all opportunity to see the document and talk ? Avonmouth and Kingsweston; young people's facilities and wildlife through the ideas with council officers. For the spaces or select those you are most ? Henbury and Southmead; areas. It will also identify if any green details about when these drop-in sessions will be interested in. ? space is no longer needed and can be held go to www.bristol.gov.uk/agsp, call Redland, Cotham and Bishopston; disposed of to fund improvements to The public consultation is open for 20 weeks and 0117 922 3719 or email: ? Horfield and Lockleaze; other spaces. will end on 29th October 2010 [email protected] ? Ashley, Easton and Lawrence Hill; ? Brislington East and West; and In drawing up these options local groups and Available to view ? experts have given their views. We would now All ideas and options are open for Paper versions of the Ideas and Options papers St George East and West. like feedback from all Bristol residents - your comment. are available to view at all Bristol libraries, Other consultations you may be interested in views are important and will inform a final customer service points and The Council House, The Site Allocations and Development Area Green Space Plan for your area. How to make your comments College Green, Central Bristol, BS1 5TR. Management Options Document is also out to consultation up until Friday 29 October 2010. There are a number of ways you can submit What happens next This document suggests specific sites in the city comments to us; via a questionnaire online, by which may be developed to provide new homes, obtaining a paper copy of the questionnaire or by The views put forward during this consultation jobs or shops in your area. It also proposes land visiting one of our drop in sessions. will help to inform a final Area Green Space Plan to be protected for open space, industry, nature for your area. All views put forward by the public Online at www.bristol.gov.uk/agsp conservation and shopping. In terms of green will be analysed and carefully considered, space, while the Area Green Space Plans cover You can view the Ideas and Options paper and following the close of the consultation on 29th publicly accessible green space only, the Site complete a questionnaire online. If you do not October. Final Area Green Space Plans will be Allocations will include consideration of a wider have Internet access you can visit any of our drafted and further comment will be sought range of green space in the city including libraries or customer service points which offer from key stakeholders and Neighbourhood allotments and grazing land. Visit free Internet access. Partnerships. The current aim is to adopt the www.bristol.gov.uk/siteallocations or email final Area Green Space Plans early in 2011. [email protected] or call 0117 903 6725.

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Section 2. How does the Ideas and Options Paper fit into the plans for green space and wider citywide planning?

Parks and Green Quality standard: a level of quality which Playing Pitch Strategy Space Strategy all spaces should attain The Bristol Development The Playing Pitch Strategy (PPS) is a Bristol's Parks and Distance standard: how far people should Framework sub-strategy of the Parks and Green Green Space Strategy was have to travel to reach a particular type of Space Strategy and is the technical document which adopted by Cabinet on 21st February 2008. space Bristol City Council is producing a new suite of contains proposals for formally organised outdoor sport The strategy sets out an ambitious plan planning documents to guide development across Bristol. Quantity standard – how much green over the next 20 years for ensuring that decisions in the city over a 20-year period. The It is based on a careful evaluation and review of demand space of different types there should be people have access to good quality parks Bristol Development Framework (BDF) will set and supply based on a full audit of pitches, users and and green spaces of different types, close These standards have been applied during out how the city will grow to accommodate providers within the city. The evaluation included all to where they live. the development of Area Green Space 30,000 new homes for an increasing population. pitches in Bristol including parks, school playing fields, Plans and the ideas and options paper New employment and commercial opportunities private sector facilities and those run by further The strategy contains service management associated with them. will be needed and new transport links are education organisations. The PPS advocates the creation policies and a set of standards for the expected to connect growing residential and of larger multi-pitch and multi-sport sites and greater provision of publicly accessible green To view the strategy and find out more employment centres. Together these use of school playing fields. The Playing Pitch Strategy space. There are three specific standards: about the standards go to documents make up the BDF, which will replace can be viewed online at www.bristol.gov.uk/parkstrategy www.bristol.gov.uk/parkstrategy the Local Plan. The council has undertaken and commissioned a range of studies and assessments to provide a robust evidence base for the preparation of the Bristol Development Framework. The Parks and Area Green Space Plans Step 1 Step 2 Green Space Strategy will act together with Area Area Green Space Plans are one of Ideas and options paper Final Area Green Space Plans to provide the evidence base for the first steps in implementing the Currently out for consultation Green Space Plan publicly accessible open spaces. Parks and Green Space Strategy. The Ideas and Options papers put forward ideas for making these Feedback from the Ideas Area Green Space Plans are being drawn up at the They will detail changes to green changes in each area of the city. They are based on the policies and and Options paper same time as the Council develops two key space over a 20 year period – setting standards adopted in the Parks and Green Space Strategy, as well as consultation will inform documents within the BDF - the Core Strategy and out what space is required, what responding to the specific proposals for active organised sport laid a final Area Green Space the Site Allocations and Development type of investment is needed such as out in the Playing Pitch Strategy. They have been put together taking Plan which the council Management Plan. children’s play and sports pavilions into account the views of local stakeholders, expert advice and the aims to adopt by early and identifying any significant The Site Allocations and Development needs of other projects such as Cycling City. 2011. change such as new entrances, Management Development Plan Document will footpaths or car parking. establish site-specific planning policies, allocate sites for development, and set out the protection of areas sensitive to change. If you require any further information please Park Improvement Plan Park Management Plans contact the Strategic Policy Team on These will be produced for parks over the 20 year period as money (Capital Spend and 0117 903 6725 or [email protected] becomes available and according to the priorities set out in Area Green day to day management). These will be Space Plans. These will be subject to further local consultation. subject to further local consultation.

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What green space will the Area What isn’t included in an Area Green pieces of land that don’t serve any recreational Green Space in Eastville, Frome Vale and Green Space Plan cover? Space Plan? purpose such as road verges and small areas Hillfields within housing. The Area Green Space Plan will not consider The Area Green Space Plan is defined by the An Area Green Space Plan will consider only green spaces that are not freely accessible to the However the contribution of all these spaces to boundaries of the Eastville, Frome Vale and green spaces for which there is legitimate public public, including allotments, city farms, school the urban green infrastructure of the city for Hillfields Neighbourhood Partnership area - access and which provide recreational benefit grounds, or Sites of Nature Conservation in wildlife, leisure and gardening is recognised and itself defined by the two electoral wards. (publicly accessible green space). In line with the private ownership. In addition it excludes small taken into account when drawing up these plans. Parks and Green Space Strategy the Area Green The Eastville, Frome Vale and Hillfields Neighbourhood Space Plan will consider five different types of The publicly accessible spaces considered by the Parks and Green Space Strategy as outlined in 2008. space described below. This Ideas and Options Partnership Area has a wide range paper has been drawn up using these categories of different green space. The public and definitions. open space includes the spaces around the Frome Valley Corridor Type of space and key attributes Map key (Legend) from Eastville Park to Oldbury Court Children and young people’s space Estate, there are also the spaces These are spaces specifically designed to within Hillfields Estate and the increase opportunities for children and playing fields in the south of the young people to play or meet safely within equipped and unequipped environments. area. Sub-types include, wheels parks, games There are a number of small areas, children’s play space. holdings and allotments. Formal green space Sites with a consciously organised layout The main areas of privately owned whose aim is aesthetic enjoyment. This open space are those associated can include sweeping landscapes such as with the UWE campus at Glenside the Repton landscapes of the historic estates, to ornamental gardens which and St. Matthias and also at include flower beds and features such as Blackberry Hill Hospital. There is statues. agricultural land to the south of he Informal green space M32. Informal in layout and character, where the emphasis is on informal recreation. The Area Green Space Plan They generally have few or no additional considers only the public open facilities. space element. The map of green Natural green space space that will be considered by the Sites providing people with access to, and plan, and therefore by this Ideas experience of nature. and Options Paper is shown here. It includes woodland, grassland, scrub, These spaces are categorised into hedgerows and wetland. five different types as outlined in Active sports space the Parks and Green Space Strategy Those areas which are used for a variety of organised and competitive sports. 2008.

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Spaces that have been included How does the Area Green Space In developing the Ideas and Options Paper or excluded in this Area Green Plan link to other neighbouring green links have had a strong influence and care has been taken to ensure that different Space Plan Neighbourhood Partnership Areas Area Green Space Plans 'talk to each other'. Specific cross boundary influences have been Following further analysis of the spaces, no Although Neighbourhood Partnership Areas are considered for: additional spaces have been adopted as used for open space planning, it is recognised publicly accessible in this area but the they provide an artificial boundary in terms of ? Stoke Park and Purdown following space identified originally as publicly where people visit. In drawing up this Ideas and ? Frenchay Common accessible is no longer considered to be and Options Paper, the proximity and use of spaces will not be considered as part of an Area Green in neighbouring areas has been taken into ? the strong cycle/pedestrian routes Space Plan for this area: account. through the area, It is also recognised that people from across the ? the provision of different types of space Space Why? city use the destination parks of The Downs, where the boundary between Ashton, Blaise and Kingsweston, Hengrove Play Neighbourhood Partnership Areas is easily Frenchay Park These fields are used almost Park, Oldbury Court Estate & Snuff Mills, city crossed Playing Fields exclusively by Stapleton Football centre spaces and sports facilities for organised Club who have a long lease on the sport, and that often people travel to visit other ? Eastville Park and the use of all its pavilion and on part of the site. spaces outside their Neighbourhood facilities by a large catchment area The space is mostly in South Partnership Area. During local stakeholder outside the Neighbourhood Partnership Gloucestershire and is not needed consultation it was evident that people in Area, to comply with standards. Eastville, Frome Vale and Hillfields visit parks ? The sports pitches at Ridgeway and Argyle such as Victoria Park in Bath and Page Park in Playing fields, Oldbury Court Estate and Kingswood. Eastville park, all used by people from a Eastville, Frome Vale and Hillfields are also wide area. connected to the wider area through long distance footpath networks and cycle routes - whether they are specifically marked out or just in common use. Strong connections exist through the Frome Valley, west towards the city centre and east through Frenchay as far as the Cotswold Way. There is a link between this corridor and Stoke Park in the north via a subway under the M32. There is also the Bristol Bath Railway Path that runs across the area. Frenchay Park Playing Fields

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Who has been involved so far? It is important to note that the options Funding the proposals Sale of some green space to raise set out are the council's interpretation, money to re-invest To inform the Ideas and Options Paper, a series and they take into account not only The Parks and Green Space Strategy projected that achieving a ‘good’ standard of provision of participation events took place with local stakeholder views but the policies Area Green Space Plans will propose which across the whole Bristol parks and green space community representatives and groups as well outlined in the Parks and Green Space green spaces the council might dispose of to network will cost £87million in capital funding as relevant experts and professionals. These raise money to reinvest back into park Strategy, the emerging Bristol (at 2006 prices) over 20 years. This is the cost events included information sessions, improvements. The council’s usual policy is Development Framework requirements of putting in new facilities (e.g playgrounds, meetings, workshops and site visits to gain that all receipts from disposals should go into a and other council initiatives. The sports pavilions) and infrastructure (e.g information and thoughts about sites, to gauge ‘single capital pot’ for distribution to overall options have not necessarily been footpaths, railings) in to parks. The Strategy their value to local people and get feedback on priorities but in this case 70% will be ring endorsed by any of the above laid out how this funding would be raised investment opportunities as well as possible fenced for reinvestment in to parks. Section 4 stakeholders, who also have the based on knowledge in 2006. It identified the disposal sites. gives options as to which sites in Eastville, following funding sources: contributions from opportunity to give their views through Frome Vale and Hillfields could be disposed of. Those that we asked for comments in Eastville , this consultation. developers, external funding such as lottery Frome Vale and Hillfields included: grants, money from the disposal of green space In some cases the value of a space could be ? representatives of the Neighbourhood and the council core parks and estates budget. improved by the partial development of it - Partnership Area, Taking into account the more detailed work allowing housing to be built facing onto the The role of park groups that has been done in drawing up this paper, space and providing natural surveillance. In ? local park groups; the current economic position and changes to this case, what is often a misused or underused ? Area based interest groups There are some well established parks groups developer’s contributions through the backland site, can become of greater value to operating in this area to include Eastville Park Community Infrastructure Levy these figures the local community with the opportunity to ? the police and Safer Bristol; Action Group, Snuff Mills Action Group and will need to be revised following this make improvements which attract more people ? local youth workers; Hillfields Park Group. All were involved in the consultation. to use it. One partial open space disposal is put participation events. forward for Eastville, Frome Vale and Hillfields, ? Bristol City Council officers including park It is important to emphasise that that falls into this category at Duchess Way There is also the Stapleton and Frome Valley managers, landscape designers, investment will take place as and when Open Space. Details of which you will find in Conservation Group who have a particular archaeologists, ecologists, highways funding becomes available based on Section 4, but you will also find in chapter 3 the interest in open space issues and a local group engineers, the cycling team, planners and priorities which will be identified investment options for the remainder of the of residents who meet with the police to sports development workers following the response to this space. discuss issues at Coombe Brook Valley- an area consultation. If not enough funding is All ideas were considered and we are very also known as the Gozzie. grateful for the input from all those that available then options which are least attended sessions to discuss their green spaces. There were a number of interested local important may not be taken forward. residents who contributed to discussions about The consultation questionnaire We are now asking all residents and interest Begbrook Park. accompanying the Ideas and Options groups to give their views . Paper is designed to not only allow respondents to state whether they support ideas or not, but also to help them prioritise.

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Section 3. Park Page Eastville Park 8-9 Investment ideas and options Wickham Glen 10 Fishponds Park 10 This section presents a range of spatial and investment ideas and options for all accessible Snuff Mills and Ham Lane 11 green spaces within the Eastville, Frome Vale and Oldbury Court Estate (Vassall’s Park) 12-13 Hillfields Neighbourhood Partnership Area, setting out what facilities are needed and where. The aim Hillfields Park 14-15 is to meet the policies and open space standards Begbrooke Park 16-17 set out in the Parks and Green Space Strategy and Ridgeway Playing Fields 18-19 respond to ideas gathered from members of the local community and professional stakeholders Meadowsweet Open Space 20 from consultation carried out in 2008/9. East Park Housing 21 Area Green Space Plan Officers considered all ideas against Gill Avenue 22 any constraints and an analysis of individual open spaces and for each open space or park, the ideas and options Duchess Way Open Space 23 highlighted are a result of this. Bracey Drive, Shimsey Close, Crescent Road 24 Your comments, ideas and priorities will be used to inform and Sidelands Road a final Area Green Space Plan for Eastville, Frome Vale and Lodge Hill Open Space 25 Hillfields. Royate Hill 26 There is already an adopted improvement plan for Eastville Park and the proposals for the park are here for Coombe Brook Valley 27 information. Other sites 28-29 Parks or open spaces for which proposals would result in Links 30 significant change are presented in this section as 'concept plans'. Aside from the approved Improvement Plan at Eastville Park, no decisions have yet been made and all ideas and options are open to comment and influence throughout the consultation.

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Eastville Park Boating lake 'Boating lake should be 'returned' and young people's area provided'. Resident’s comment

Eastville Park is an example of a grand Victorian city park. It is well known for its splendid lake, which was built in 1909 and is surrounded by wildlife areas. Much of the original boundary to the park, along with gates and walls, has been lost through local road building, the drinking fountain has also gone. An original lido dating from 1905 was turned into a community garden in the early 1980s and the bowling greens, also dating from 1900s are still very popular. The original benches and toilets remain. View west to M32 Eastville Park is a permanent sports location with football played regularly, there is an established bowls club and well used tennis courts. There are aspirations to increase the amount of cricket played with the establishment of a cricket league. There is a friends group Eastville Park Action Group, who play an active role in moving improvements forward. Following consultations with local people in 2002, an Improvement Plan was drawn up for the park. This plan has now been formally adopted and is will support its recreational use and resulting • Demolition of existing nissan buildings and • Renovation of the play areas and possibly shown opposite. This is for information and not toilets used by the bowls club and erection of a provision of a multi-use games area (MUGA) open to further consultation. increases in levels of activity will deter the anti- social behaviour that parts of the park suffer new buildings to provide the following uses: • Renovation of the Old Swimming Pool Garden Works to improve the riverside path for cyclists from. Cafe, toilets, bowls changing rooms and club have been undertaken and an on site park keeper house, changing rooms for tennis players and a • Reinstatement of some historic elements of the has been confirmed. It has been suggested that Ridgeway Cemetery meeting and events/classroom for local park, including railings and drinking fountains be included in the park and links between the community and school groups Bids for Heritage Lottery funding to pay for the two opened up and improved. This is an • Repairs to the footpaths, walls, railings and conservation elements of the plan were attractive historic space and its inclusion would • Provision of improved football changing other hard landscaping unfortunately unsuccessful. Alternative funding open up another entrance to the park. No facilities • Increased links with the Frome Valley Walkway. sources must therefore be found for the decision has been made regarding this at the • A new boathouse, with a kiosk and outdoor • More benches and picnic benches improvements in the plan. time of writing. seating are. The possibility of Sports grants to fund the sports • Improved planting, with colourful shrubs and Key elements of the existing Improvement Plan • Improved planting and management of the lake flowers elements will be investigated. These works are are as follows: very important to the park as a whole as they • Provision of leaflets and information signs.

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Eastville Park

Weir on river

Entrance at Eastville roundabout Boating lake

This plan is for information only

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Fishponds Park Wickham Glen This is a well loved and well used formal Victorian park situated This is the part of the Frome Valley close to the main shopping street in Fishponds. It contains corridor between Eastville Park and both formal gardens and a children's play space. There is a Snuff Mills. The footpath through public toilet adjacent to the park on Fishponds Road. the site is in poor repair and there is a flight of steps leading up to What we want to achieve Broomhill Road in the east. The A welcoming traditional park serving all sectors of the Cycling City Project are consulting community. on a proposal to install a ramped section to bypass the steps and Ideas and Options make the route more accessible. There are no recommended significant changes but the following are suggested: It is a site of nature conservation value. • Repair of boundary walls and railings What we want to achieve • Upgrade of children's play space To maintain the green route along • Review and improve formal planting scheme the valley and improve connections. Reinforce the wildlife value. Ideas and options • Create an attractive and improved path through the site. • Appropriate scrub clearance to increase the range of natural habitats.

Entrance to Wickham Glen from Broomhill Road

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Snuff Mills and Ham Lane Both spaces form part of the River Frome corridor and lie between Oldbury Court to the east and Eastville Park to the west. They are both Sites of Nature Conservation Interest. Snuff Mills is well known for its historic mill building and formal gardens that provide an inviting entrance into one of the key sections of the Frome Valley Walkway within Bristol. A car park and cafe makes it a favourite venue for families and dog walkers. Maps dating from 1610 show a mill on this site, served by the flow from the weir upstream. The mill building was restored in the 1980s and the Friends of Snuff Mills are a well established group who take an active role in maintaining the gardens. 1 The group have been successful in a bid for lottery funding through People’s Millions which is funding improvement works including resurfacing of paths, repair and replacement of seats, making bird boxes and making oral history projects. It is proposed to provide new toilets in the car park and demolish the existing toilets this year. The future of the cleared site had not been decided at the time of writing. The ideas and options set out below are in addition to the above works. Ideas and options Ham Lane is an open space perched above the car 1 Provide a new, enclosed childrens play area in park, forming part of the upper slopes of the natural materials adjacent to the car park. valley. A steep path links the two spaces. Public access to this space is limited due to the narrow The alternative site for consideration of a access roads and as a result it is used mainly by children's play area is Duchess Way open nearby residents. space - see page 23. There is a lack of childrens play in this part of the • Continue to improve paths Neighbourhood Partnership Area. • Continue to improve formal planting beds. What we want to achieve • Improve appearance of car park. To repair the historic buildings and walls, improve • Manage and maintain Ham Lane to keep it as access and provide facilties for the community as it is and improve the footpath link between whole. Reinforce the wildlife value. the two spaces.

These are ideas and options. We cannot afford to do all of these suggestions. Please tell us what your Ham Lane Snuff Mills priorities would be and give us your ideas by completing the questionnaire at www.bristol.gov.uk/agsp

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Oldbury Court Estate (Vassalls Park)

Oldbury Court Estate is one of the city's destination parks, attracting visitors from across the city as well as locally. Originally designed by Humphrey Repton, the estate contains winding drives and paths, with occasional glimpses of the river and city through the trees.

Oldbury Court House no longer exists but many people still know the site as 'Vassalls' after the last family who lived there. There are some remnants of other original buildings on the Estate.

The Estate comprises a large area of open parkland to the south and the wooded valley of the River Frome along its northern boundary. Some of the parkland is laid out as sports pitches, (for rugby, cricket and football), while the pathway that runs through the valley forms part of the longer Frome Valley Walkway. The Estate as a whole is rich in wildlife.

More recent additions to the park include changing rooms, toilets and parks depot buildings. Views around Oldbury Through funding from the Play Pathfinders Court Estate Project, replacement play facilities were installed in March 2010, including water play, toddlers play and equipment for older children. A pre-fab building has been sited next to the play area to provide a cafe with an outside seating area. Replacement toilets are planned for 2010. The Frome Valley is a key area for improving access to nature in line with the Biodiversity Action Plan. New play area and cafe

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Oldbury Court Estate (Vassalls Park) What we want to achieve To restore and improve this important historic park, achieving a balance between the interests of the historic landscape, its nature conservation value and the provision of recreational facilities to serve the wider community to include young and older people.

Ideas and options A much more detailed improvement plan will be drawn up following consultation but the proposals set out below are for consideration: 1 New visitors centre, staff accommodation, shared use pavilion and cafe. 1 These could be accommodated in one building on some of the land currently used by the depot, 5 reusing the remains of nearby older buildings. Alternatively they could be sited around the estate, with the visitors centre close to the main entrance together with the existing cafe, 4 rehoused in a permanent building.

2 Redesign main car park At present this is a uninterrupted area of tarmac with no clear pedestrian routes. There is scope to make it a more interesting shape, resurface it to create a ‘shared use’ area where pedestrians 6 have priority over cars and soften the appearance 2 with appropriate planting. 3 3 New entrance gates and signage A large entrance feature is suggested.This could be of a modern design or replicate what might have been there originally.

4 Open up of the entrance off Goffenton Drive - • Restore the original landscape design. This would • Repair of riverside path creation of a secondary parking area involve the removal of some trees planted since • Repair of walls and bridges These are ideas and options. We the Estate was originally laid out and may give cannot afford to do all of these 5 Creation of a new formal area with seating • Signs from Fishponds Road rise to concerns regarding the loss of natural suggestions. Please tell us what your habitats. • Review sporting use and the creation of a new 6 Introduction of a wheels park or cricket square priorities would be and give us your • Reinforce wildlife interest. Within the framework ideas by completing the questionnaire Multi-Use-Games-Area for young people • Signs and information throughout the estate. of trees it may be possible to carry out low level at www.bristol.gov.uk/agsp planting of native perennials to add to the wildlife value of the Estate. • raising quality • setting standards • providing variety • encouraging use • 13 Ideas and Options Paper Eastville, Frome Vale and Hillfields Area Green Space Plan

Hillfields Park KEY Community buildings do not have any Area of disused land 'There is a need for teenage facilities for relationship with the park as they are separated by a security fence and Existing footpath young people in Hillfields' dense boundary hedge Existing views Resident’s comment Residential properties back on to the park and only offer limited GORSE HILL Boundaries and Edges surveillance from upper floors A Limited surveillance due Hillfields Park was laid out to form the recreational to residential properties heart of the surrounding housing estate, which A /development backing was one of the first housing estates in Bristol. A onto park Housing backs onto the park on all sides. B Limited surveillance due The main entrance is to the north of the church on to density of vegetation Thicket Avenue and the church building partially Football club pavilion blocks public views into the park at this point. B Access / Entrances Narrow paths between houses provide entrance P Parking points to the park at each corner and to the west. Youth centre

There is a collection of community related Ball Court and youth shelter buildings in the north eastern corner of the park; a BEE EN DRIVE BMX track childrens centre, a youth club and a football A pavilion. Next to these buildings is a vacant site, where there used to be a community centre. New Children's Play Area Children’s centre These buildings are physically and visually separated from the park by a hedgerow and A security fencing. There is a significant difference in Park entrance is low levels between the front and rear of these key and does not buildings. B announce the park There is a history of anti-social behaviour in the vicinity of the buildings, which is partly attributed HICKET A UE to the screening provided by the hedgerow. Panoramic views across north- west Bristol (and beyond) from There is a central path and one that runs around the higher areas of the park. the edge. Many local landmarks can be seen The northern half of the park contains a new childrens play area funded through the Play A Pathfinders Project. There is also a small BMX Surfacing on central path is track and a hard- surfaced play area with a shelter. breaking up, damaged and vandalised. Seating is poor. Gaps The southern half of the park is laid out as playing in the tree avenue. pitches Playing pitches Due to its high vantage point there are great views A out to the west across the city as far as the Welsh hills. FOREST AVENUE The Friends of Hillfields Park are active in raising funds for improvements. Monies have been N secured to pay for a new multi-use-games-area and Youth Shelter in 2010/2011.

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KEY Introduce a variety of mowing Proposed BMX track, skateboard area and ball Remove boundary fence and hedge to open Hillfields Park regimes and plant native trees court within this area, precise location and up this area onto the park and improve Existing around the perimeter of the park details subject to community consultation facing wall youth centre Trees What we want to achieve to increase biodiversity and wildlife value Hedge To increase the uses and functions within the park, to include more youth facilities and Create a new seating area to take GORSE HILL Footpaths a formal area with seating. To form a better advantage of the views over Play area visual and functional relationship with the Bristol and beyond Incorporate vacant site into park Views / Vistas Youth Centre. Existing ball court to become Ideas and options redeveloped as a multi-use- Proposed games-area Tree planting Please refer to plan for all ideas and options. Re-stock lime avenue either side Footpaths enhanced of the path where there are gaps Footpaths

Hillfields P Parking Youth Centre New entrance Enhanced entrance Close mown grass BEECHEN DRIVE P Improve primary entrance to form a park gateway Long/meadow grass Childrens Centre Resurface/repave incorporating new signs Seating area path and new and information seating Youth centre hidden behind hedge

Signs and information at each of the entrances to announce the park and encourage people into it Rear view of the youth centre from within Hillfields Park - existing THICKETCreate AVENUE new seating area/gathering point at park BMX/skateboard area Youth centre Seating area Extended play area entrance

Retain sports pitches as existing, improve seating around perimeter FOREST AVENUE Plant infill sections of hedge to reduce opportunity for vandalism/ graffiti on adjoining buildings N

These are ideas and options. We cannot afford to do all of these suggestions. Please tell us what your priorities would be and give us your ideas by completing the questionnaire at www.bristol.gov.uk/agsp Rear view of the youth centre from within Hillfields Park - proposed

• raising quality • setting standards • providing variety • encouraging use • 15 Ideas and Options Paper Eastville, Frome Vale and Hillfields Area Green Space Plan

Begbrook Park KEY Narrow unpaved park entrance Steps and footbridge Footpath ‘It’s a beautiful oasis in the neighbourhood. No matter what the Views weather it is appealing' A Boundaries and Edges Resident’s comment A Limited surveillance due to residential properties /development backing onto park This large park is sited close to the city boundary. To its south is the steeply D B Limited surveillance due wooded Frome Valley, a tributary to to density of vegetation which forms its eastern boundary. FRENCHAY PARK ROAD D No surveillance of park Otherwise the park is surrounded by Teen play area from beyond boundary housing developments. B FIVE ACRE DRIVEB Access / Entrances The park shares a vehicle access and car Club House D park with the Stapleton and Begbrook P Parking Community Association, who has a club house next to the car park. Bowling green CLARK DRIVE Vehicle access is off Frenchay Park Road, there are no park signs at this point. Changing rooms A From the car park views into the park are blocked by an electricity substation, the B rear wall of a block of changing rooms P and the hedge around the bowling green. The main path from the car park into the A park runs between the bowling green and the ball court next to the changing rooms. A D Ball court There are a number of pedestrian entrances into the park, none have park Park entrance signage and all are low key. To the east WREN DRIVE Changing rooms one entrance crosses the tributary to the Bowling green Electricity sub station River Frome via steps and a wooden bridge, the entrance off Frenchay Park Low key park entrance Road is narrow and muddy. Formal planting area Childrens play area Within the park,the bowling green and ball court, there is an area of formal N planting with seating and a children’s play space which has been rebuilt through the Play Pathfinders Project. The majority of the park is grass with some trees There are some paths that link the park to the There is a new teen- play space further into the and mounding. There is a central path and an Frome Valley but these are in poor condition and park. area to the south is laid out as a full-sized football overgrown. pitch, which is used by a local club.

16 • raising quality • setting standards • providing variety • encouraging use • Ideas and Options Paper Eastville, Frome Vale and Hillfields Area Green Space Plan

Begbrook Park KEY Improve path link over river Existing Improve park entrance with signs and create a new park What we want to achieve and information entrance with signs and Trees information To make the park more welcoming and Footpaths accessible, to improve boundaries with its Close mown grass surroundings, (including the Frome Valley), to New path link to Frenchay Park New riverside walkway increase the range of uses and reinvest in the Road connecting to Oldbury Court Proposed positive elements of its existing character. with signs and information Footpaths about the River Frome and Ideas and Options Parking New perimeter walk around the Frenchay Common P Please refer to the plan for all ideas and park options Play area Enhanced entrance New path system to Five Acre FRENCHAY PARK ROAD MUGA Drive FIVE ACRE DRIVE Create high quality promenade

CLARK DRIVE Car park Enhanced Club entrance P Vary mowing bowling regimes, plant new green native shrubs and play Re-located sub station area flowers

Retain changing rooms

Bowling green MUGA w picnic area Re-plant formal garden WREN DRIVE with ornamental shrubs and flowers

Reorganise park entrance to Enhanced create a high quality welcoming entrance entrance with signs and Replant formal gardens New seating and bins information with a mix of flowering New trim trail and health walk and scented shrubs- N improve seating Existing trees retained

These are ideas and options. We cannot afford to do all of these suggestions. Please tell us what your priorities would be and give us your ideas by completing the questionnaire at www.bristol.gov.uk/agsp Create new seating area Extension to formal gardens

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Ridgeway Playing Fields KEY Long distance views Footpath 'requires improving and afforded over city Views refurbishment' Boundaries and Edges Resident’s comment Existing 3rd Team pitch A+ Good level of surveillance from adjoining This large site is a mix of rough grass, Existing 2nd Team pitch residential properties sports pitches with some trees, a few Youth club centre which face towards the seats and bins. It is high up and there park are good long distance views to the Existing 1st Team pitch west. A Limited surveillance due B to residential properties A It was the site of a former quarry and C /development backing subsequently a council landfill site, onto park which was closed in 1966. B A A+ B Limited surveillance due To the west is the Bristol Bath Cycle A+ A to density of vegetation Path and to the east the space links Existing play area is small and C Boundaries in poor into the Coombe Brook Valley, which poor quality and a focus for condition is a designated Site of Nature B anti-social behaviour Conservation Interest. Access / Entrances As part of the Cycle City Project a new Parking cycle path has been built across the southern part of the site connecting P Bristol Bath Cycle Path the Bristol Bath Railway Path east to A B B Holly Lodge Road and Moorlands B Cycle way Road. New trees have been planted alongside the path. Coombe Brook Valley At present the sports pitches are used for rugby and football. There is a detached club house belonging to the Limited surveillance from rugby club. There is existing planning industrial units Club house permission for the extension of the club house and its car park. N As well as the sites use for sport, the site acts as an informal area of open space and is popular with dog walkers. There is a small run down children’s play area space close to Moorlands Road, the other side of which is the Harry Crook Youth Centre, run by Young Bristol. This end of the playing fields has a history of anti-social behaviour in the evenings.

18 • raising quality • setting standards • providing variety • encouraging use • Ideas and Options Paper Eastville, Frome Vale and Hillfields Area Green Space Plan

Ridgeway Playing Fields KEY What we want to achieve New path around Proposed new Formal planting Multi-Use-Games- Area to Existing To reinforce the sporting use of the site, edge of park training area area with seats introduce more sports, i.e. netball increase the range of sports played at Trees LODGE CAUSEWAY the site, provide a greater range of Close mown grass facilities for the community, Views / Vistas encouraging positive use by young people. Footpaths It is proposed that the land to the rear Entrances of Abingdon Road be developed for Thin vegetation to Possible housing. This would result in houses improve views and disposal site overlooking the site in the vicinity of link with Bristol Proposed RIDGEWAY ROAD Moorlands Road. Bath Cycle Path Trees Ideas and Options Enhanced footpaths Please refer to the plan for all ideas and Footpaths options. Tree & shrub clearance to create glades and views Circular walk to connect Cycleway to Coombe Brook Valley Potential development Enhanced entrances Potential entrances to Existing view development site Orchard area Roads Play area MUGA Seating area AD D RO Youth area and shelter Proposed footpath FIEL TE HI Signs and information Locating new children’s W playground centrally within the space N

Existing view from Ridgeway playing fields to Bristol Bath Cycle Path the city These are ideas and options. We cannot afford to do all of these suggestions. Please tell us what your priorities would be and give us your ideas by completing the questionnaire at www.bristol.gov.uk/agsp Thinning of vegetation to allow view of cycle Existing view Thinning of vegetation to allow view of Ridgeway Playing Fields path and city beyond

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Meadowsweet Open Space This wide sweeping valley provides views of the city centre skyline to the west. The lower slopes of the valley towards the river channel are kept as 1 meadow grass and are valuable to wildlife. The cul-de-sacs within Trendlewood Estate adjoin the northern boundary of the space. The newly constructed sports pitch to the rear of the Metropolitan Academy lies to the east of the space. The valley is crossed by a couple of key footpath links; one going west to Colston Dale and one going south to Grove Road. Both routes link into Snowdon Road Open Space to the north, where there is a shortcut running north to Small Lane. There was a play area in the space towards the southern boundary but this was removed several years ago. At present the only play area locally is a small collection of equipment on a corner in Trendlewood Estate.

What we want to achieve 2 To improve the space for recreation by improving access and focusing on better facilities for children. Ideas and options To install a new children's play space to replace that existing in Trendlewood Estate. Two possible locations are suggested. There are sites that are overlooked or be overlooked in future. Overlooking has the benefit of deterring anti-social View east View west behaviour and making the space feel safe: 1 Towards the northern boundary where existing housing faces the space

2 In the southern section of the space. Housing development is proposed for Hendy’s Yard off Grove Road and may provide overlooking. • To improve the north to south footpath along the eastern boundary to create a shared-use These are ideas and options. We cannot afford facility open to cyclists. This will be done in to do all of these suggestions. Please tell us conjunction with the surfacing of the route what your priorities would be and give us your across Snowdon Road Open Space. ideas by completing the questionnaire at www.bristol.gov.uk/agsp

20 • raising quality • setting standards • providing variety • encouraging use • Ideas and Options Paper Eastville, Frome Vale and Hillfields Area Green Space Plan

East Park Housing

This steep, 'dry' valley was left behind when the river that previously flowed here was culverted. At present it is in use as informal space and as a cut-through. The space lies alongside the boundary to the Neighbourhood Partnership Area of Ashley, Easton and Lawrence Hill, where there is a shortfall in open space. There is a lack of children’s play area to serve the surrounding area. What we want to achieve To reinforce the recreational use particularly for children and young people and improve the 1 existing footpath link. Ideas and options 1 Install a children's play area, focusing on the level part of the site but making use of some of the sloping land. • Build a path through the space across the most level area connecting Greenbank View and Rosemary Lane. • Plant a wildflower meadow along the upper slopes.

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Gill Avenue These two spaces were apparently part of the original layout of the Oldbury Court Housing Estate and form the setting for the pub and rank of shops, which together make up the local centre. There is little recreational use of the space and some history of anti-social behaviour around the shops. There is a lack of children’s play area to serve the surrounding area. What we want to achieve To improve the space for recreation with a particular focus on children. To dispose of part of the site. Ideas and options • Install a children's play area on the triangle of land. • Develop the rectangle of land for housing. This will increase overlooking of the proposed play area and shops. • Introduce seating with planting/flowerbeds in vicinity of proposed new play area. See Page 31 for more information on proposed disposal sites.

22 • raising quality • setting standards • providing variety • encouraging use • Ideas and Options Paper Eastville, Frome Vale and Hillfields Area Green Space Plan

Duchess Way Open Space This space serves as an informal area of open space. Some of the land is used for kickabout and there is a route often used by dog walkers, connecting Duchess Gate entrance to Stoke Park Estate. The land forms part of a wildlife network site. What we want to achieve To reinforce the recreational use of the site and provide an improved link to Stoke Park Ideas and Options • Installing a children’s play area, this could be in natural materials. An alternative location for a play area to serve this part of the Neighbourhood Partnership Area is Snuff Mills car park- see page 18 . To surface the footpath link to Stoke Park with appropriate materials. • To develop part of the site for housing. This would increase overlooking of the remainder of the space making it feel more inviting. See Page 31 for more information on proposed disposal sites

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Bracey Drive, Shimsey Close, Crescent Road and Sidelands Road These four open spaces were part of the original layout of the surrounding housing estate. Bracey Drive is a square, Shimsey Close is a wide grassed verge and there is no obvious recreational use of either space. Crescent and Sidelands Road are both landscaped and contain some children's play equipment. Of the two children's play spaces, Sidelands is the larger, contains more play equipment and is better located to serve the surrounding area. What we want to achieve Good quality open space with one children’s play area. Ideas and options • Develop Bracey Drive for housing. • Maintain Shimsey Close as an informal green space. • Remove the play equipment on Crescent Road when it reaches the end of its life. The site will be maintained as informal open space. • Install new play equipment and resurface the play area at Sidelands Road. See Page 31 for more information on disposal sites

Shimpsey Close Sidelands Road Crescent Road

24 • raising quality • setting standards • providing variety • encouraging use • Ideas and Options Paper Eastville, Frome Vale and Hillfields Area Green Space Plan

Lodge Hill Open Space This roughly rectangular area of land slopes steeply down from Lodge Hill, occupying a gap between a terrace of Victorian housing and some more recent housing. At the bottom of the slope the land backs onto a Wessex Water depot. There is a public right of way along the eastern boundary.

Ideas and options • To develop part of this site for housing. See page 31 for more information on disposal sites. • To convert the remainder of the space to allotments to address a known demand in the area.

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Royate Hill

Royate Hill is a highly unusual wildlife site, most of which is situated on top of a seven span railway viaduct. The site has a fascinating history with great views over the city, and is a designated Local Nature Reserve. The land was compulsorily purchased from the owners who attempted development in the 1990s. It is managed in partnership with Avon Wildlife Trust. Due to it's steep slopes and difficult access it is a challenging site to manage. What we want to achieve To manage the space as a Local Nature Reserve, support community involvement and improve access to the site. Ideas and options • Manage the site to encourage biodiversity and support its wildlife value. • Improve footpaths • Provide new signs and information boards based on what has already been developed with the community. • Create a new safe entrance at Clay Bottom Road. . Improve footpaths through the site.

26 • raising quality • setting standards • providing variety • encouraging use • Ideas and Options Paper Eastville, Frome Vale and Hillfields Area Green Space Plan

Coombe Brook Valley (The Gozzie) This natural space sometimes known as ‘The Gozzie’ contains the remnant of a valley which previously would have run through the site of Argyle playing fields and what is now Ridgeway playing fields. These sections of the valley were quarried and then tipped. The space is now a hidden gem in amongst the surrounding development. It is a designated Site of Nature Conservation Interest. There is however a history of anti-social behaviour in the form of fly tipping and motorbikes and cars having been driven into the western end of the valley from Ridgeway Playing Fields. There is a path from Ridgeway into the valley and a couple of connecting paths up the valley slopes to neighbouring houses. At present there is no path that runs the full length of the valley to Whitefield Road in the east. The Police organise regular walks with residents through the valley and surrounding area to discuss issues regarding crime and anti-social behaviour in the area. What we want to achieve A space rich in wildlife with good pedestrian access throughout the year. Ideas and options • Improve the maintenance of the site to encourage wildlife with a particular focus on managing scrub. • Improve the existing paths and explore the possibility of extending the existing path in the valley east to Whitefield Road. . Create a circular walk from Ridgeway Playing Fields. • Introduce signs and information boards at key These are ideas and options. We cannot afford points. to do all of these suggestions. Please tell us what your priorities would be and give us your ideas by completing the questionnaire at www.bristol.gov.uk/agsp

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Other sites Eastville, Frome Vale and Hillfields have a number of small green spaces. The following management is proposed for the sites listed below: Name Description of site Ideas and options

Quadrants East These spaces are key elements of the formal Introduce a children’s play area on Market and West, layout of the Hillfields Estate. They are all focal Square. Add seating and bins. Market Square points along the main roads through the estate and contain a number of large trees.

Stapleton This disused burial ground is maintained but No proposals Churchyard not owned by Bristol City Council. The church is a focal point in the historic village of Stapleton and is a Grade II* listed building.

Duchess Way This small area of open space is part of the No proposals Estate Amenity formal street layout of the housing estate. It is Area apparently little used for recreational purposes but not large enough to be put to any alternative use.

Snowdon Road This triangular grassed area, while large No proposals Green enough for informal play/ kickabout, is to all intents and purposes a traffic island.

Sheldrake This is a long narrow space alongside the road, No proposals Drive it is mainly grass but with some trees. It backs onto a heavily wooded section of the River Frome valley.

Marshfield Adjacent to the Bristol and Bath Railway Path. Maintain in a way that supports wildlife. Road Open A long thin area of grass backed by brambles. This will involve some scrub clearance to Space Part of a designated Site of Nature increase the range of habitats. Conservation Interest. Some of the land has been fenced off and is being developed as a community garden run by local residents.

28 • raising quality • setting standards • providing variety • encouraging use • Ideas and Options Paper Eastville, Frome Vale and Hillfields Area Green Space Plan

Name Description of site Ideas and Options

Trendlewood This is a small space within a modern To remove the play equipment once it Park Estate housing estate sited close to nearby reaches the end of its natural life and dwellings. It contains some items of subsequently maintain it as informal children’s play equipment. open space. Alternative children’s play space is proposed on Meadowsweet Open Space.

Lawn road This is a discretely located area of open To explore how this space could better space, it contains a path and is fenced off serve the community. from the road.

Argyle Road This large area of playing fields is sited on Retain and invest in the childrens play Playing Fields filled quarries associated with a former area. brick works, there is a sports pavilion and a well used childrens play area. All but the children's play area has been transferred to Fields in Trust,(FIT), and is managed by a trust made up of local residents and the sports teams using the space. Although it is a condition of FIT that public access should be maintained, the future of this land is outside council control.

Bradestone These two sites are part of the original There are no proposals for these spaces Grove and street layout. Bradestone Grove is a large at present. Given the nature of the Sterncourt square containing a few mature trees, access to Begbrook Park they could be Road Sterncourt Road opposite is a smaller developed to serve residents with limited triangular site of similar nature. There is no mobility. evidence of active recreational use. Access to Begbrook Park is via steep steps and a bridge across a valley.

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Links The partnership also supports initiatives in relation to the Bristol and Bath Railway Path, The important east to west links of the Frome which is the other strong link leading out of the Valley Walkway and Bristol and Bath Railway Neighbourhood Partnership Area. Path have previously been referred to in this The cycle path has high recreational value in its Ideas and Option Paper. One of the best things own right and is a very busy commuter and about these routes is that you are often unaware leisure route for cyclists and walkers. that you are close to built up areas. The section of the cycle path that runs through At present, the main Frome Valley Walkway this Neighbourhood Partnership Area provides starts at Eastville Park and to the west there is a local access as well as longer distance access connection to Castle Park in the city centre, routes. The new cycle path across Ridgeway following the Frome. Playing fields provides a link from the railway In connection with the development of Cabot path to the east. Circus, improvement works are proposed to this To find out more about what is happening on the link to open it up and make it more attractive path please visit and improve safety. www.bristolbathrailwaypath.org.uk From Eastville Park, the walkway runs east Stakeholders have commented that north/south through Wickham Glen, Snuff Mills, Oldbury routes are missing and in particular links from Court Estate, leading to Frenchay, Winterbourne key public transport routes and the railway path Down and beyond, eventually joining up with to Oldbury Court Estate. This Estate is a Bristol Bath Railway Path the Cotswold Way. destination park where improvements have Entry points to the walkway are limited because recently taken place and where there are draft of the steep nature of the valley, where they do proposals to introduce additional facilities. There exist they would benefit from path will be more visitors and an associated need to improvements and improved signage, for enable and encourage alternative modes of example the lane that connects to Stapleton transport. The creation of signed cycle paths and Village. pedestrian links from public transport nodes such as Fishponds Straits Parade and the It is possible to link from Snuff Mills to the path connection to the cycle path near Morrisons system in Stoke Park via the subway under the were mentioned. M32, from here it is it is possible to go south across Purdown and link back to Eastville Park in There is a need to look at how visitors and a circular route. Again this would benefit from players can access Ridgeway playing fields. The improved signposting. new cycle path will provide for cyclists and pedestrians alike but routes to public transport There is an established Avon Frome Partnership, routes on Whitehall Road and Fishponds Road which is funded by Bristol City Council, South should be signed posted. Gloucestershire Council and Bath and North East Somerset Council but also includes the These suggestions mainly affect the public Environment Agency and BTCV. This partnership highway and as such do not form part of this aims to support a coordinated approach to the plan. Their implementation will require working improvement and promotion of the Frome Valley with other parts of Bristol City Council such as Walkway and works closely with The Friends of the Traffic Management Team and the Cycling the River Frome. City Team. For more information on the Frome Valley Walkway visit: www.fromewalkway.org.uk

30 • raising quality • setting standards • providing variety • encouraging use • Ideas and Options Paper Eastville, Frome Vale and Hillfields Area Green Space Plan

Section 4. Possible open space disposals in the Eastville, Frome Vale and Hillfields Neighbourhood Partnership Area

As stated in Section 1 one of the sources of How have disposal sites been A value assessment took place for all sites Control of housing design in relation to funding investment proposals is from the identified? identified for possible disposal in Eastville, partial site disposals. disposal of small amounts of green space. The Frome Vale and Hillfields, checks on its Where it is considered appropriate to partially council is committed to reinvesting 70% of any Green Space Standards adopted by the Parks significance in all the key areas were money raised back into improving parks and considered. Through the stakeholder develop council land in order to improve the and Green Space Strategy guide decision- remainder of the space, the method of disposal green spaces. making on disposals. involvement, views from the local community were sought, identifying amount of use, key will take whatever form is the most likely to Potential green space disposal sites are also One of the main factors determining whether a barriers to use and consideration as to whether bring about the intended benefits of the identified in the Site Allocations Development site should be disposed of is its value as land these barriers could be overcome to make this development within acceptable timescales. Plan Document and Proposals map - which contributes to the local community or space a viable space for the local community. Prior to marketing, the council will issue a documents that are part of the emerging has wider benefits – such as ecological value. It developers brief on which relevant stakeholders Bristol Development Framework. The Site is not based on its financial value. In Eastville, Frome Vale and Hillfields, seven will be consulted. Normally the Council will Allocations is subject to a public consultation at spaces have been identified as low value and proceed by way of a building agreement and the same time as Area Green Space Plans - The table below summarises the key factors are proposed for disposal. In addition there are would only transfer the freehold interest in the ideas and options papers. that have been considered when assessing a three partial disposals proposed. site when an acceptable development had been space – a more detailed description of these completed in accordance with the brief. The Site Allocations will in many instances can be found in the Parks and Green Space In some cases the value of a space could be suggest an alternative use for a potential Strategy - appendix 5. improved by its partial development, allowing disposal space. For example, for residential housing to be built facing onto the space and Your comments housing. If so, its proposed use is also Factors for assessing value providing natural surveillance to the remainder. We welcome your comments on the possible identified here. This applies to a suggested partial disposal of disposal sites put forward here. The following factors have been included in Duchess Way Open Space. If the Site Allocations does not propose an the assessment: alternative use then the future use of the land Level of use would be determined by the purchaser and, if Community views of the space relevant, the application of planning policy in Community involvement the normal way - the future use of a disposal Equalities considerations site is more likely to be for built development. Educational significance Demographic change Level of anti-social behaviour Events potential Local context and significance Accessibility Landscape significance Nature Conservation significance Archaeological/Historical significance Legal Status Contribution to the local economy Sustainability significance

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Map showing proposed whole and partial disposal sites.

32 • raising quality • setting standards • providing variety • encouraging use • Ideas and Options Paper Eastville, Frome Vale and Hillfields Area Green Space Plan

Disposal Sites

1. 2. 3. 4. Part of Land rear of Abingdon Road - Lodge Hill Open Space Delabere Avenue Part of Gill Avenue Ridgeway Playing Fields This steep area of land is little used other than This tear-shaped area of open space lies This comprises two green spaces within This area of land is used mainly by dog walkers for dog walking and as a cut through. Its main within Oldbury Court housing estate. It is Oldbury Court housing estate, neither is well and has a low level of use by other visitors. value is the views from its high location. little used and cars park around its edge. used for any purpose. There is a wide range There is a history of anti-social behaviour of facilities nearby on Oldbury Court, which It is proposed to dispose of the more level part Much of Oldbury Court is within walking including motorbike use and burnt out cars. is also well used by dog walkers. of the site for housing development and distance and this provides a range of facilties. The land is next to a large area of playing fields convert the remainder to allotments to address There is some history of anti-social behaviour which provides alternative dog walking It is proposed to dispose of all of this area for a known demand in this part of the city. This by the shops on Lanaway Road, which face opportunities. It is proposed to dispose of this housing development. will allow some of the view to be retained. part of the land. land for housing development. It is recognised that the allotment use will have There is a need for children's play to serve The development of the site will introduce to respect the existing public right of way that the surrounding area and this is considered a some overlooking of the playing fields and so runs along the eastern boundary of the site. good location given its proximity to the deter anti-social behaviour and create a more estate. A childrens play area on the triangle welcoming environment. The ideas and options close to the shops is included as an option, for investment take advantage of this and which will allow dual purpose visits. propose the introduction of a new play area and a formal garden area in the vicinity of the It is proposed to dispose of the rectangular development site, although this location was part of the space for housing development. also chosen because of its accessibility to a large catchment area. Any development will have to acknowledge the presence of the existing youth centre and include a layout that offsets any potential conflict between this use and incoming residents.

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Disposal Sites

5. 6. 7. 8. Bracey Drive Open Space Begbrook Drive Open Space Part of Duchess Way Open Space Snowdon Road Open Space This is a square to the front of an area of This area of open space is mainly grass and has This area of space flanks the M32, some is This area of open space lies between Small 1980's housing. There is little apparent use of large boulders around the road frontage. There used for kickabout and there is a well used Lane and Meadow Sweet Open Space. the space and there is alternative space across is little apparent use of this space. footpath route through to Duchess Gate and Other nearby open spaces are Snuff Mills and Frenchay Road at Sidelands Road. There is a the entrance to Stoke Park. Begbrook Green Park is within easy walking Wickham Glen, both provide access to the large area of open space in South Gloucester distance, this contains a range of facilities as It is proposed to dispose of a lesser used part Frome Valley Walkway. within reasonable walking distance and also well as a large informal area for kickabout and of the site for housing. Oldbury Court. The space has some use for informal play but is dog walking etc. The ideas and options for the remainder of mainly used as part of a cut through, south to It is proposed to dispose of the space for The site has historically been allocated for the site includes the possibility of a childrens Fishponds Road and east to Trendlewood housing development. school purposes on the Bristol Local Plan play area but also suggests improvements to Estate. proposals map. the footpath- See page 23. It is proposed to dispose of all of this space for It is proposed to dispose of all of this space. Some development of this space will improve housing. A footway/cycleway will be a overlooking of the remainder, this will deter requirement of any development to link to the any potential anti-social behaviour. routes through Meadowsweet Open Space.

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Section 5. Future opportunities

Eastville, Frome Vale and Hillfields is well served for publicly accessible open space. The ideas put forward by the members of the local community professionals/experts were comprehensive and the proposals in the Area Green Space Plan reflect this. As a result, a good draft strategic vision for open space that meets the aims and objectives of the Parks and Green Space Strategy has been drawn up. However, in addition a number of further opportunities could be explored in the future which haven’t been possible to consider so far. There are some significant potential developments on land outside the consideration on the Parks and Green Space Strategy. In each instance the amount and in particular type of existing public open space in the vicinity will guide whether the opportunity to secure new public open space should be explored. This will also be influenced by the individual characteristics of each site- not all open space is suitable for public use. The sites are included in the Sites Allocation Development Plan Document for comment. They include Blackberry Hill Hospital site, Glenside and St Matthias College Site. Should other sites come forward for residential redevelopment, the open space implications and requirements for each will be assessed according to location and size.

• raising quality • setting standards • providing variety • encouraging use • 35 Ideas and Options Paper Eastville, Frome Vale and Hillfields Area Green Space Plan

Appendix 1. How the Area Green Space Plan would meet the standards set out in the Parks and Green Space Strategy The Parks and Green Space Strategy adopted Quality reasonable to walk to get to the different types Barriers to access new minimum standards for the provision of of space, combined with an analysis of Bristol’s When applying distance standards, barriers to publicly accessible green space. There are three A Bristol quality standard has been devised in layout to ensure the standards are credible. A accessing parks such as railways, rivers, major specific standards: consultation with national advisers and local distance standard has been set for each of the roads, hills, valleys and large industrial areas parks users, which takes into account design, five different types of space recognised by the 1. Quality Standard – a level of quality which have been taken into account. When condition and maintenance, and assesses a Parks and Green Space Strategy. all spaces should attain. comprehensive range of features of parks and considering these barriers any legitimate The maps on the following pages demonstrate crossing points, bridges or pelican crossings for 2. Distance Standard - how far should people open spaces. It takes into account a number of how well the standard for each type of space is example have been located. have to travel to reach a particular type of aspects which are of particular public concern currently met across the Neighbourhood space. such as entrances, safety feel, and facilities. Partnership Area and how proposals to invest In the case of Eastville, Frome Vale and Hillfields, the key barriers that are identified are 3. Quantity Standard - how much green Before the adoption of the Parks and Green in new types of space will improve access the large industrial estates that flank the space of different types there should be. Space Strategy, each park and green space across the area. across the city was assessed for its quality. As a southern boundary of the Bristol and Bath A key aim of this Area Green Space Plan is to When proposing a new type of space the Area result the council was able to know which sites Railway Path. These estates are not accessible propose how these standards will be met in the Green Space Plan ensures that the existing met the Quality Standard and which sites to the general public. Neighbourhood Partnership Area of Eastville, value and character of a site is enhanced and needed improving. On a 1 to 4 scale (poor, fair, The cycle path itself also acts as a smaller Frome Vale and Hillfields. not compromised. If it is clear that the existing good and excellent), where 3, or 'good', is the type is of high value then no change is barrier though there are a number of crossing quality standard threshold, the quality proposed and either an alternative site is found points, some under and some over this former assessment process revealed an average quality or it is accepted that the standards may not be railway line. level across Bristol of 2 (fair). met in that area. In addition, although it allows a strong east The final Area Green Space Plan will be The distances proposed are in the table below: west link, and provides open space in its own informed by a review of the quality of parks Distance Standard Distance Estimated right, the River Frome corridor can act as a and green spaces - to take place this year. This Time barrier to north/south movement, for example, is because the original assessment is now ‘as the crow (minutes residents of Begbrook Estate do not have easy between 4 and 5 years old and does not take flies’ (metres) walk) access to Oldbury Court. Distance to the into account investment to improve spaces over nearest green space 400 9 this time. For this reason an analysis of quality Other main roads through the area such as Children’s play space 450 10 in each Neighbourhood Partnership Area is not Fishponds Road, Frenchay Park Road, Lodge shown here. Formal green Space 600 15 Causeway and Thicket Avenue, will limit access Informal green space 550 13 to open spaces either side but the barrier is not Distance Standard Natural green space 700 18 absolute as there are numerous crossing places. Active sports space Determined by Playing The aim of the distance standard is to protect Pitch Strategy and promote an accessible network of green space. The distance standards are based on research on how far Bristol residents feel it’s

36 • raising quality • setting standards • providing variety • encouraging use • Ideas and Options Paper Eastville, Frome Vale and Hillfields Area Green Space Plan

Children's Play Spaces The other six are very mixed in respect of size To serve the areas currently without children's There is an area to the south of the M32 that and quality. The play area at Argyle Road play spaces and to redress the shortfall that will not be served by children's play space, There are currently eleven play spaces in Playing Fields is comparatively recent and in will result once the space at Trendlewood has however, within this area is a privately owned Eastville, Frome Vale and Hillfields. The one at good condition, at nearby Ridgeway Playing gone, the following new spaces are proposed: and maintained play area that was laid out as Trendlewood Estate is very small and in a poor Fields the space is small and badly vandalised. • Duchess Way Open Space or Snuff Mills Car part of a housing estate. The management location, as is that at Crescent Road. Neither of There are two at Eastville Park, both are small Park company remain responsible for its good these are to be renewed. and poor to medium quality, as are the play • Meadowsweet Open Space condition. Of the nine remaining, three have benefitted areas in Fishponds Road and Sidelands Road. • Gill Avenue There are no proposals to adopt this space but from funding from Play Pathfinder Project. • East Park Housing The improvement plan for Eastville Park • Market Square it does serve the estate in question. These are Hillfields Park, Begbrook Green Park recommends that one play space is improved and Oldbury Court Estate. The result is good There will remain some areas that are outside The percentage of the population that will be and one removed. Elsewhere the intention is to quality, modern play facilities. the distance standard for children's play but outside the distance standard for children's improve the spaces significantly. with no suitable sites to address this. play will go down from 61% to 18%.