Bristol site
Hi does anyone know what is happening regarding the replacement site for Baltic wharfe in Bristol ,is it going ahead or a non starter it would be nice to know. There is no information coming from the club about it
Comments
-
There was a virtual meeting on 20th July with the Planning Inspector appointed by the Secretary of State, when , I assume, further evidence was submitted. The notification didn't give any indication on when a decision was likely to be made or published. Whilst the local Council were in favour of the proposal their planning and environmental officers seemed not to like elements of the proposal and that was why it was called in by the Secretary of State. I don't know if the Club have a "feel" for the way things are going?
David
0 -
Anyone got the Case number? Makes it easier to search The Planning Inspectorate youtube channel.
The Inspectors closing should give their proposed ways forward and likely timescale.
Been aware of 3 inquiries so far this year. The first started 6 months ago, ran for 2 weeks, then adjourned for a site visit 2 months later, still awaiting the Inspectors verdict. One was last week, scheduled for 4 days, ran to 7. The appellants had no legal representation hence it over ran. No indication of verdict but we expect at least 4 months until we hear. Currently we expect 6 months to get a slot allocation and up to 2 years for trial.
If just 1 person objects a Planning Inspectorate trial can be brought. Counsel costs are c£150k a pop for us at special rates.
Often Council Officers who hold Professional Registration status will go against their Council, it's amusing to watch. Other times individual Councillors will use the time to grandstand from their soapbox with no actual evidence, just bluster.
Another archaic system and jobs for the boys/girls.
0 -
Appeal Ref APP/Z0116/V/12/3270776
0 -
Yawn. Hello! Helloooo?
0 -
There is probably no official update because its an ongoing process. The latest documents on the planning portal from from the Club's employed specialists who are taking the task, quite convincingly to me, the evidence presented the the Planning Inspector by the Environment Agency. I don't think the Club will comment until they have something to say and that probably won't be until the Secretary of State makes a decision?
David
0 -
I saw that post but it seemed a bit premature to me as the decision is still before the Planning Inspector/Secretary of State. As I mentioned in the post above yours if you look at the submissions to the Secretary of State by the Club's experts they seem to me to convincingly rebut the Environment Agency evidence. I am not sure a decision has yet been made?
David
0 -
In browsing for updates, I note there is quite a lot of public opposition to the councils proposals for housing on the Baltic Wharf site not least from the Bristol Tree Organisation. The Club may yet be able to retain Baltic Wharf or at the very least get yet another extension to the lease. Planning applications for the new site and for the new housing on the existing site seem to be going nowhere fast.
I also found >this<, a history of the site if anyone is interested.
peedee
1 -
There are flood defence works going on around Baltic Wharf at present Peedee. Both sites are in areas where money is being spent to improve and protect the areas concerned, whether this has slowed up or changed planning proposals remains to be seen.
0 -
Just looked a the Bristol Planning Portal and I note there have been nearly 700 documents lodged for the housing proposal with the overwhelming majority being objections.
Thanks Brue but I cannot see flood defense work making any difference to the planning outcomes especially for Baltic Wharf where the majority of objections are about retaining green space and trees. I think in the current climate of the drive for carbon emission reductions, I am hopeful that the objections would win the day. If that is likely perhaps that is the reason for the delay in planning for the Police Training Ground site?
peedee
0 -
Baltic Wharf is such an attractive and lucrative site to developers they’ll do whatever it takes to secure planning and access - contacts, money and a few ‘affordable’ homes thrown in to the mix will eventually win the day.
trivial aside…. the location featured prominently in a recent BBC Drama ‘Showtrial’.
0 -
How did they get Christopher Walken & Claes Bang in the cast, I was pleasantly surprised(I’m guessing it was Merchant)👍🏻👏🏻👏🏻
0 -
Yes, I saw that, and the ‘badlands’ of Barton Hill & St.Paul’s 😉 Great TV, mixing comedy with gritty drama isn’t easy to pull off.
0 -
Its interesting that Peedee found that link,as we have visited BW in November.We were "recommended " a Pub called the Orchard,it is directly behind the SS Great Britain on the walking route from the Club Site into Bristol centre,its on the corner behind the industrial units.
It does not really look like a pub to recommend ,but there is a themed Cider menu on the right of the bar,on the right of the menu board is a petition saying "Keep the Baltic Wharf Trees" basically it would seem the locals have had enough of development ,and the Club Site is the only section of greenery around the harbour.
There is also the "New" massive development, going up near the SS Great Britain.I just hope in future years the Council don't regret the amount of buildings in Bristol Harbour side.
0 -
peedee, thanks for the link. I’ve had an on-off association with Bristol since the late 1970s, but hadn’t seen any pictures of the original caravan site - fascinating.
Those of us who’ve enjoyed BW over the years should count our blessings that the City Council didn’t proceed with plans in the late 60s to fill in the floating harbour and stick a huge roundabout at the bottom of the M32 there. Maybe that bodes well for current plans to cover over green spaces?
0 -
A photo of the old site has always been on the office wall at BW. Have to say I love the harbourside area, so much variety on the waterfront and interesting history. Something about boats and water is a great attraction. The new site, if it happens will be very different.
1 -
I must pay more attention🥴 Underfall Yard mentioned in a previous post is one of my favourite spots for sitting outside the cafe with a cup of something watching all the varied life taking place on the water. Hopefully the Harbourside Festival will be back in 2022 🤞
0 -
Just found this link on a Facebook Group about the timing of a decision on the new Bristol site. https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/caravan-club-forced-out-baltic-6302433?fbclid=IwAR1BKvpHljOdPdABq9I89fLcMT90Ytbp3PVk8SmJOSKijI8ycBcr06GYTc4
David
1 -
A Bristol Low Emission Zone could change everything.
0 -
There’s a big new park and ride opened today at Yate - 10 miles north of Bristol. The sensible future is for caravan/motorhome sites at places like that, not anywhere near the city centre.
0 -
If you access the new site from junction 19 on the A369 there is not really any penetration into Bristol. The new site is under the star, next to the word Toll. Even the existing site accessed from the M5 via the Portway, doesn’t impact on the city to any great extent. Personally if we were visiting relatives and there wasn’t a site in Bristol, we would take the car as well and stop at Cirencester. We have done this in the past when we couldn’t get in to Baltic Wharf.
0 -
Problem with those places is too many of them have height restrictions and overnight closures (we all know why). I think Yate is 2.1m, and it’s also small. The 1500 space Long Ashton P&R just a short distance from Baltic Wharf doesn’t (I think) have any height restrictions but is closed at 21:00. The land opposite the entrance to Ashton Court Estate is habitually used as a pop up campsite during the Balloon Fiesta and similar events. It’s got huge capacity. Given its occasional campsite use, I wonder if it has some potential as a casual site in the future?
0 -
I agree absolutely.
0
