The possible introduction of controversial new parking charges on the Downs has been met with scepticism by many people visiting the local beauty spot today (Friday), with several suggesting that the scheme is "nothing more than revenue raising."
It was revealed earlier this week that the Downs committee would press Bristol City Council to consider introducing fees for vehicles parking on the Downs in a bid to drive away van dwellers from the area. On Friday Bristol Live headed to the 442-acre grassland on a sunny weekday morning to ask those using the park whether they thought more parking restrictions were needed.
Popular with joggers, cyclists, dog walkers and picnickers, the Downs attracts visitors from all over Bristol, many of whom appreciate being able to drive up and park for free. In addition to the cars lining the roads around the grasslands, its estimated 60 vans are regularly parked there, home to people looking for a cheaper lifestyle amid Bristol's soaring housing costs.
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The councillors and businesspeople overseeing the parkland are currently considering options for moving them on due to safety concerns, with one option being introducing pay-and-display parking charges on all roads on the Downs, with a limit of two hours and a free 30-minute option.
Ian, who drives to the Downs every day from Redland to walk his dog, said that he felt that parking near the Sea Walls should be restricted for disabled access to prevent overcrowding but was not happy about the prospect of a blanket introduction of charges.
He said: “It used to be public parking here, and you could just stay here all day, then they restricted that to a five-hour maximum.
“I'm not against restrictions, per se, but I'm definitely against making people pay. I think making people pay is nothing more than revenue raising.
“They'd be far better off actually enforcing their timing restrictions with traffic warden patrols and fines. If there are people parking illegally and they’ve got the power to impose fines, they should do that, and it would raise a darn sight more than they would with charges.”
Many people use the Downs for sports, with tournaments from football to quidditch to kubb being held throughout the year. Several personnel trainers and boot camps also operate there, and the organiser of a military fitness group spoke to us between sessions about how parking charges would impact them.
He said: “There would be a knock-on, and I would probably lose a big percentage of my membership base if they introduced a charge. People would have to drive here and pay for fuel, parking, and membership. So I think it'd be quite damaging to my business.”
He doesn’t think widespread fees to curb van dwellers made sense as the vans are generally localised within specific areas of the Downs, adding: “I think this is just an excuse to increase more revenue.”
Peter Tizard also earns his living on the Downs, working in one of the ice cream trucks with a permit to park at Sea Walls. When he started working there, he couldn’t drive the van, so he would take his car to work. He said: “I used to park my car here all the time while working the whole day. And I know there's a maximum time you can stay, but they've never enforced any of that.”
He believes parking charges could limit the number of people stopping off at the beauty spot and enjoying an ice cream. He said: “We have a lot of families that come up here around sunset, you get a nice view, and they have a barbecue. So I can imagine that would probably disrupt our business.”
"I don't think the administration is trying to screw people"
One dog walker who had driven from Westbury on Trym said she was an occasional visitor to the Downs but could understand why parking charges might need to be introduced. She said: ”The idea behind it is going to be really unpopular, but I can see that the council have to raise money for other things because they're not given enough money by the central government.
"Also, I think the Downs has very much been used as a park ride for people coming into Bristol. So I think it's multifactorial, I don't think the administration is trying to screw people."
However, she didn't think the measure should be used to move on van dwellers. She said: "I don't have a problem with the vans as long as they don't leave any mess, of course, I don’t live on the Downs. But if you live in a house like that, haven’t you got better things to think about?”
"This is supposed to be a beauty spot"
A nearby resident said parking charges wouldn’t affect her, but she would be concerned about the impact this would have on those who use the area for leisure or sport.
She agreed, however, that some action should be taken to improve the roadsides where vans currently stay overnight. She said: “There have always been vans. And I know a lot of the people do have jobs, and they’re quite well organised.
“But there are vans now parking all over the place. They’re just being dumped, and they have external gas canisters and don’t look fit for human habitation. But I don’t see how charging them is going to help.
"It’s a balance. You don't want it to be some posh person's enclave, and you don’t want to stop people from being able to park while the kids are playing football.”
Another resident said they didn't see the point in introducing parking charges suggesting: "It would cost them as much to enforce as they would make."
They added: “But I can see they’ve got a problem with the vans; this is supposed to be a beauty spot.”
Asked if he thought that parked cars detracted from the area's beauty, the resident said: “No, you expect that anywhere, but if you look over at the caravans and the mess. They’re not even making an effort to ingratiate themselves and are showing complete contempt for anybody else."
A couple who have been using the downs for the better part of 70 years thought the suggestion of paying for parking there was “absurd”. The pair said they frequently drive two miles to the Downs to walk their spaniel and felt that any introduction of parking fees would erode the commitment that “the Downs are for the people of Bristol”.
They didn’t have any issue with van dwellers and said they regularly chat with people who live in vehicles in the area, saying: “I don’t mind them staying overnight; for god's sake, where can they go, they're being shunted out of everywhere.”
Several people we spoke to had stopped off after visiting The Spire Hospital in Redland. Dog walker Kate said she usually goes to the Downs on foot from Clifton but drove today as she was visiting a patient. She said: “For some people, this is the only green space they can access. What I'd like to know is the reason for introducing restrictions. Are they doing it because they want to raise more funds? To stop people from staying overnight? Or are they trying to dissuade us from bringing cars here?”
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