Bristol Baltic Wharf Site
Just seen this on a Facebook Group.
https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/harbourside-caravan-park-blasted-nonsense-1944802
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Based on comments by some councillors...I think this is a certainty...just when, will depend on the clubs contract with the council and if any 'deals' are in the offering....and damn I've just recently booked a few days there...will the club give an update ?
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It's been on the cards to be used for building for a long time... The site belongs ultimately to the council and they have to do what is best for their community. They wouldn't be doing a good job if they didn't.
The CMC has lost a few sites in other areas of the country, one more won't really affect their business profitability.
K
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No mention of the "yacht club" next door? and we have stayed there on several occasions and not noticed it being used by workers,it is great for visiting the city,and the landlord of the pub next door is set against it being converted into flats,
It was mentioned some years ago that a move to the Park was on the cards but then ,the city council were against that as well
Also where have all the "plans" for the school gone that was first put forward as the "excuse?" as to why the ground was needed
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It matters not whether it looks like, feels like or is a car park, it has always been very popular for the purpose of what many visitors needed it for. And that was not to sit outside to listen to the countryside sounds but to easily visit the riverside attractions and the city itself, all within walking/biking distance.
Very rare to see anyone on site during the day, it served its purpose very well.
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Am I right in thinking the Club were looking to, or indeed did, purchase some land not far away, used to be a police training centre or such like? Can't recall all the ins and outs, but thought it was to ensure a presence for pitches in this popular location?
Edit: just read article, bid failed I see.
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I’ve not seen them in other city central areas. From the people I’ve talked to it’s used a lot by agency workers as an alternative to B&B or serviced apartments, as well as tourists instead of hotels,” he added.
Not noticed the agency workers on any of our visit. A bit of a red herring me thinks. They would have to be very well organised, given the difficulty of getting a booking.
Wonder if it will stay open until my booking next May.🤞
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It looks like the council are determined to use the site and the long term future is dire for us.
If the council do decide to build it takes a considerable time to get the development planned and ready to build so I assume the site will remain for some time yet as the council will not want to lose the income until they have to.
If the club have purchased an alternative site it takes time to get through planning and building and you very rarely get an update on these things. Given that the council have suggested an alternative site it looks as though the club have not purchased another as if so the article should have mentioned it and the council would be less likely to be so keen on finding one.
If councilors have any doubt as to using a stately home park then they could be taken to Longleat or Chatsworth to see what the club can do for them.
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Well that is my last post in this forum! I opened a similar discussion on a different area and was locked out with no explanation. Manners do not seem to exist on here at all!
Farewelll
Moderator Edit:
You opened a duplicate thread and this is clearly stated in the thread you opened. Please go back and check. No apology required. Why open a second discussion on the same topic.
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What is ridiculous about the present situation is the refusal to let the club have the old Police Horse site which is fairly close to Baltic Wharf. This particular site has now become derelict and overgrown and the council certainly haven't done anything about selling that on either. Bristol is also becoming increasingly full of road side caravans and motorhomes parked up for residential use. A member of my family now has a large ex prison van parked outside their home in Bristol. Meanwhile the club site remains neat and tidy and brings income to the local area and as far as I am aware it's not a site used by workers who want cheap accommodation, there are no seasonal pitches.
Ashton Court is mentioned, just over the road from the Old Police Horse unit. There are huge festivals there, often used by vans and also rallies held nearby. The council will be aware there is room in the park for a more permanent site however it would probably involve another lease from the council and the insecurity of tenure this brings.
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Houses for locals versus a caravan site for visitors; no contest!
There is a desperate need for affordable houses in Bristol, which is a very expensive area, so I think that the council is justified in not renewing the lease and building houses. Especially as there are many other caravan sites in the area within easy distance of Bristol.
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The city council were in the first instance not looking to put "social" housing on this site it was "needed ?" to enable a school to be built,to get some local "sympathy with the idea,when the locals put them right with what was a heirbrained scheme,they are now pushing the "social housing"idea which if they were really seriose have had opportunities with the several river front luxury appartment blocks already built in recent years
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So where do you draw the line? Considering all the sites along the water front including the club, does this mean demolish the museums, remove the SS Gt Britain, the rowing club, the cafes and restaurants? Personally I think inner city neighbourhoods flourish with a mix of things and are culturally poorer without a mix of accommodation and other types of social outlets even a small holiday complex like the club site. Just along from the club site there are huge warehouses that could have been converted for domestic rather than commercial use plus vast areas of student accommodation, often empty for months at a time.
I would say this site will no doubt be developed, but it won't be social housing, the site is too expensive for the council to resist a developer's offer.
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What you say is of course correct but I agree with Brue in that you can't cover every single square inch of open space with housing you have to have a mix of housing and amenity. By my calculation there are potentially 30000 visitors to Baltic Wharf each year, assuming it is full all the time which it seems it is. Where are these 30000 visitors to Bristol going to go when Baltic Wharf goes? A small percentage might have a need to go to Bristol but the majority will be lost to the Bristol tourist trade. I do also contest your view that there are many campsites in easy distance of Bristol. The beauty of Baltic Wharf is that you can wander along into the centre of the City have a meal and return with using any form of transport. Likewise during the day it is an easy walk to the SS Great Britain. I think we all realise that Baltic Wharf is on borrowed time and if it does not close this year or next year we would be lucky if it was still open in 2020. I think everyone would have more sympathy for Bristol City Council if they were a bit more proactive in helping establish an alternative campsite near the City Centre. One could say their actions thus far have been the complete opposite?
David
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My view is very straightforward I'm afraid. If Bristol council don't need these estimated 30,000 visitors and the income they bring to the city, let them go and spend their monies elsewhere at other towns and cities that do value and welcome their custom.
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It does sound a bit like that!!! The site has been a political football for the last few years with various members of the Council trying to make their name by how many houses they can build. They are probably arrogant enough to think the tourists from Baltic Wharf don't matter much and or will come from elsewhere. Given the situation of Baltic Wharf and all the touristy things there are on the way to the City Centre a campsite is not really out of place. Imagine the uproar if they proposed building on the car park at the SS Great Britain!!!
David
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I'm sure that CMC customers are not happy with the constant " Will they or Won't they close the campsite". The CMC should put the question to Bristol Council. How long will the site remain open?. If the council refuse to answer or say they don't know, then the CMC should threaten to terminate the lease ASAP and find another site within the Bristol area.
The CMC need to be proactive in this issue, not sit back and be messed about.
K
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As it is the lease is already on a year by year basis if my understanding is correct. Making it too easy for the Council would probably only back fire and would likely be a bit like shooting oneself in the foot. I am sure the Club are dealing with the sensible people that administer the Council rather than the politicians who have a greater interest in making noise to look as if they are doing something and from that point of view I expect Baltic Wharf is an easy target? As things stand at the moment even if the Council decide to build housing on the site the planning and tendering process could take some time and if we are lucky the site could stay open for another couple of years. If we throw in the towel before we need to members lose an excellent site and the Council lose the valuable lease fee and get nothing from the site. So for both sides there is an advantage in keeping the site open until the last minute.
David
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Yes David I'm sure most people realise that. But the point is The site is closing - No if's or But's - and as long as the council string the CMC company along, the CMC head office will never contemplate finding and developing another site in the Bristol area. Which as you know will be necessary. It takes time for this to happen to allow a smooth transition from the existing site to the new one when the time comes. ---- Otherwise the CMC will be left with egg on it's face.
K
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I think IMHO that as the club were looking at numerous other prospective areas when it was first "noted" that Baltic Wharf was not getting a long lease renewal, as the city was looking at building on the club site,and sailing club,the park was one place but at the time was "not available" and then their application to relocate to the closing police training school was rejected,the "out of touch as usual counciler" has "suggested" the park could now be back on the agender,,
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Three hundred and sixty five nights times fifty five pitches gives twenty thousand and seventy five pitch nights (365*55=20075). Assuming an average three night stay the pitch nights occupied is divide twenty thousand and seventy five by three equals six thousand six hundred and ninety pitch nights occupancy(20075/3=6092)
Assuming two persons per caravan, six thousand six hundred and ninety two becomes thirteen thousand three hundred and eighty three(6692*2=13383)
Another way of looking at it is that every three days throughout the year the City of Bristol will benefit from the spending power of fifty five couples staying at Baltic Wharf.
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Put like that one can see what income a top quality 100 room hotel on that site would generate - and how much more employment it would provide for local people.
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Like York, where a new hotel is being built alongside the CAMC site, the two will successfully exist alongside each other rather than closing the one type of tourist accommodation. I think owning a leisure vehicle and wanting places to stay will need to go hand in hand with supporting the club in keeping places open. Rather than suggesting alternatives...
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A number of posts have been removed because they are clearly aimed at antagonising other posters and contributed nothing of real value to the discussion.
Please stick to our T&Cs and keep the discussion on topic.
Thank You.
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