As has been covered in previous issues (see also Housing and planning pages, the existing Vision (large file: 2.2Mbytes) offers us three options:

• build lots of houses and roads on our greenbelt
• build loads of houses and roads on our greenbelt
• build enormous numbers of houses and roads on our greenbelt

We responded to this vision here.

Unfortunately the visions of high growth appear to have been accepted and are being assumed by many of the decision-makers in the West of England Partnership and the Regional Assembly (see here). However no formal decision has yet been made, and there will be further rounds of public consultation soon.

The FOE vision is for Bristol to be the happiest and most sustainable city in Europe, not the fastest growing. We want to end up with a low population growth, high quality of life option:

• an urban area much the same size
• beautiful countryside round about (just cycle round the Avon Cycleway to see how lovely it is round Bristol)
• build only high density apartments in the centre on brownfield sites where employment growth is predicted and public transport can work.

1. build only on urban brownfield sites where there are already shops schools and buses.
2. create urban villages, i.e. tight clusters of homes within walking distance of shops and buses.

• massive change in local transport:
  • great bus service: regular, reliable, everywhere, cheap, clean etc
  • build an unbroken network of bus lanes (and improve bus operators) to make public transport feasible.
  • reduced car traffic (50% less vehicle miles per annum than today)
  • significant road charging in Bristol
  • traffic free shopping streets
  • perhaps trams/light rail. Would these be most effective from Thornbury and Yate to N. Bristol fringe and city centre?
• lowest unemployment in the country
  • new businesses in alternative energy, e.g. tidal, wave, solar (wind is already sewn up by germans etc)
  • increase existing North Fringe hi-tech centres
  • increase in film/media business
  • support local shops and services!
• best quality of living in the country:
  • clean (see transport above)
  • lower noise (ditto, and particularly little or no aeroplane noise)
  • lots of cultural stuff fuelled by media businesses, universities
• great transport links
  • electrified high speed railway from South Wales and South West to London and on to the channel tunnel.
  • Bristol airport remains small, does not expand
  • improved rail service marketing to Devon/Cornwall. Also improve Devon/Cornwall local public transport after Bristol has shown the way: serve and market tourism by this rather than todays private car and motorway holiday hell
• focus government investment on regenerating midlands and northern towns to reduce migration south.
• overall growth (which can be fitted in existing urban area):
  • population growth: 70K adults max
  • dwelling growth: 50K max

The planners' dream of low-density housing leads to Los Angeles, where everyone travels by car, there are almost no local shops or services, and two thirds of the land is taken up with roads and parking. The only shops are mega-stores with vast car parks. The problem is that local services needs lots of people within walking distance, or they are not viable.

Much better is a more European, people-friendly town. Here homes are clustered very tightly round a traffic-free centre of local shops, jobs, services and bus and tram stops. Most people could then be within walking distance of services, and most people could manage without cars. This allows space between the urban villages for playing fields, allotments and parks.

This sort of town has quiet clean centres that are very pleasant and where people can chat and relax. Buildings that are tightly clustered can be more energy-efficient and sustainable. It also gives more homes and jobs per acre, so we can stop the spread of sprawl into the countryside.

This is what we (South Glos FOE) want to see actually done…

• cast the greenbelt in stone (sic)
• new house building is confined to brownfield sites within the urban area
• new house building is sustainable…
  • high quality (not 50's style blocks of flats!)
  • high density (apartments: population growth is going to be predominantly single person households)
  • high energy efficiency (we need to reduce energy consumption to combat global warming. See our energy write-up: house and water heating consume about 30% of energy used)
  • served by great public transport and local shopping, schooling and other facilities
• ensure no new road building
• stop further airport expansion
• build a high speed direct rail link to Heathrow and perhaps Gatwick
• stop the massive house building plans South of Bristol since employment is predicted in North Bristol and city centre. Therefore this will just create more long distance commuters!

We accept that some growth will take place (after all, if we envisage a lovely place to live in, other folks will definately want to join us here!). But this has to be done in a truly sustainable way, not with just the lip service currently paid to sustainability.

We need to

• sign up other green groups to support it with us (other FOE groups, CPRE…)
• present this vision to the councils (starting with South Glos)
• sign Steve Webb MP up to help champion it for us
• get other local MPs to support it (via other local groups)
• lobby the Regional Assembly directly

Can you help? If so contact Alan Pinder or Jon Buckingham ASAP!

Jon Buckingham

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