We wish to advise you of new plans for the Filwood Quietway cycle path through Victoria Park, and to tell you how you can have your say on the proposals.

After the Council withdrew the previous planning application in January, local residents formed a group called Forward Together and have held three meetings with council officers. During these meetings we have tried to express the opinions of the majority of local residents who objected to the Council’s previous plan.

Route. The Council made it clear that an alternative route outside the park would not be considered. Therefore a route is being proposed (see map) following an existing path. (This would include improving and relocating the entrance to the Natural Play Area so that it would not open directly onto the path.)

Width. The proposed path would be a maximum of 3m wide (except for the section near St Mary Redcliffe Primary School where it is already slightly more than 3m wide). It would continue to be shared-use with pedestrian priority.

Entrances. Barriers would be retained at the entrances, but the design changed slightly to improve access for wheelchairs, mobility scooters, buggies and bicycles.

Trees and wildlife. No trees would be removed and the trees and shrubs in the wildlife corridor along the railway line would not be damaged (but see lighting below).

Lighting. Lighting is a difficult issue because of the impact on bats, other wildlife and the park’s ‘dark sky’ status. The Council said they will not consider an alternative to 4.7m-tall standard lamp-posts, and they propose lighting the whole route. We expressed concerns about the impact this would have on the park. As a compromise, we suggested shorter lamp-posts more in keeping with a Victorian Park, and lighting only part of the route from the school towards St Luke’s Road to allow people to exit the park and use the pavements/roads which are already lit at night.

Timetable for consultation. The Council is undertaking informal consultation between June 12 and 26 to obtain feedback on the new design, before a formal planning application is submitted in July. 

For details of any further developments, please consult the display board near Mrs Brown’s Café or keep visiting the VPAG website at www.vpag.org.uk 

THANK YOU ………….

You will already have heard that as the result of overwhelming opposition Bristol City Council has withdrawn its application for the cycle path through Victoria Park. Thank you to everyone who listened to our concerns, considered the proposal and registered your objections – over 600 of you mostly living within the immediate vicinity of the park, but also including local groups such as TRESA, the governors of St Mary Redcliffe, the Northern Slopes Initiative, Bristol Parks Forum and our MP Karen Smyth.

VPAG believe it is important to encourage cycling and walking in South Bristol, and we support the concept of the Filwood Quietway. We hope that we can find a way forward in which the Filwood Quietway project can proceed for the benefit of communities in South Bristol without negative impacts on our park and local community. In view of this, Forward Together has been formed which is a group of local residents and community groups, with the aim of entering into dialogue with Bristol City Council to explore alternatives to the route proposed in planning application 16/06497/F.

Please continue to visit www.vpag.org.uk or look at the display board by Mrs Brown’s Café for the latest news.

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(Posted 29th May) Wildflower beds news

Thanks #GoodGymBristol for your help again this & last weekend on Victoria Park's community/school pollinator areas and willow tunnel.  You are like a magic wand for conservation groups! 

We now have clear post markers & information signage to indicate where the native planting areas are, needed because they are not always obvious to mowers until they flower, especially as they nestle in among long grass.

These designated pollinator flower areas are important year-round for a wide range of invertebrates, even while they look green and insignificant. They support lots of caterpillar species and many other invertebrates, several species of hungry bats and hunting tawny owls too.

Led by our park Wildlife Group, they are the result of a lot of hard work by volunteers and school children at St Mary Redcliffe Primary, Victoria Park Primary, GoodGym, Woodcraft Elfins and support from Avon Wildlife Trust & Butterfly Conservation.

(Posted 13th January) Caution!

VPAG have received a report that sharp screws were found Thursday 12th Jan on the path between Mrs Browns and the skate/play park. We do not know if they had been dropped or left there deliberately.

VPAG condemn anti-social behaviour of any type that could harm any park user.

If you see anything similar:

·        Clear it up if possible and safe to do so – thanks

·        Contact Bristol Council on  bristolparks@bristol.gov.uk  to report the issue

·        Tell us by contacting VPAG at info@treasuremind.org or post a tweet including @vpagbristol

Let’s keep Victoria Park a great environment for everyone.

Graffiti - a problem where you live? 

There have been reports of graffiti in the Windmill Hill area, we are working with Bristol City Council to tackle these issues, but we need your help.

·        When you see graffiti, report it: 

Report what, where (the precise location) and whether it’s offensive to the Police on 999 (if it’s in progress) or 101 (if it’s already happened) to report it as a crime. This helps us keep track of where graffiti is occurring. You can also report it for removal to Bristol City Council by calling 0117 922 2100 or online: www.bristol.gov.uk/reportgraffitiform .

·         Fill out an ‘indemnity form’ which gives permission for graffiti to be removed from your property by the Council’s cleansing teams. More information online here: www.bristol.gov.uk/graffiti

More information on graffiti:

·         The Council aims to remove any undesirable graffiti from public areas

·         Racist and other offensive graffiti will normally be removed within one working day of the Council receiving permission to remove it.

·         All other graffiti will normally be removed within three days of the Council receiving permission to remove it (ie if on private property)

·         Graffiti on bus shelters: Call Clearchannel Adshel on 0800 731 3699.

VPAG Calendars 2017 reduced to clear -

only £1 (plus £1 p+p)

Yes, following the success of last year's calendar, this year we have two to choose from. The Victoria Park Action Group calendar presents images of events and seasons, whilst Alex Morss of the Wildlife Group has provided images and information for our Victoria Park Action Park Wildflower Calendar.

The calendars can be ordered online at http://bit.ly/2dSmgrX with all profits going to the Victoria Park Action Group.