Metrobus Team decide to ignore 1000s of local people and push ahead to build a system in Greater Fishponds to help South Glos commuters travel in style while destroying our land projects and listed heritage. Dear Friends, colleagues and supporters, The Blue Finger Alliance and Shift Bristol are working on an exciting vision document for the Blue Finger - laying out what it can achieve for us, our well being, health, prosperity and our future food resilience. Meanwhile, on the Bristol part of the Blue Finger... Bristols Grade 1 agricultural land at Stapleton Allotments and Smallholdings is still threatened with a MetroBus roadbuilding scheme after an internal revision of the scheme emerged last week. The revised scheme has narrowed the overbridge so the road will no longer serve a Park & Ride - it is widely acknowledged that an appropriate location for an M32 P&R would be closer to the M4/M32/Junction 1 area. This means the way is open to protect this area for food growing - which is very positive. However the roads through Stapleton Allotments and Feed Bristol and Grade II listed Stoke Park Estate have not changed, despite 300+ articulate objections from across the citys organisations and concerned individuals including Green Capital, Sustrans and the Soil Association. The allotments are still a roundabout, wildlife rich meadow and woodland will disappear, the Feed Bristol site will be lessened by 1/3 to 1/2 its existing size. The rectangular area marked out to the right of the road will be the construction compound for two years - also on Grade 1 and 2 agricultural land. Two things you can do! 1. If you can, please come along to the Full Council meeting at City Hall on tuesday 22nd July 6-7pm where Councillor Charlie Bolton has tabled a discussion on the protection of the Blue Finger food growing land. PLEASE NOTE, IT STATES ON THE AGENDA THAT IT IS UNLIKELY THAT THERE WILL BE TIME FOR THE DISCUSSION. However with a strong turnout - and if we submit statements, we can show to the Full Council the critical importance of this issue and the widespread public desire for discussion and better solutions. Please find the agenda here details of the motion are under point 11 on the agenda after Living Wage and Public Parks for Public Use. If you can come you can submit a statement about it also. It doesnt have to be long, just true to you. The deadline for receipt of petitions and statements for the 22 July Full Council is 12.00 noon on Monday 21 July. These should be sent, in writing or by e-mail to: Democratic Services, Room 220, City Hall, College Green, Bristol BS1 5TR, e-mail: [email protected] You can come along to the members (councillors) forum from 5-6pm directly before hand if you want to as well. Thats where they ask questions of the officers. 2. Even if you cant come to the meeting, please contact your local Councillor (using the Councillor Finder) and tell them what you think about this situation. Here are 3 key points that may be useful to include - any many more you can find on the Blue FInger Alliance website. 1.The loss and damage to Bristols rare and valuable Grade 1 agricultural land at Stapleton Allotments and Smallholdings including Avon Wildlife Trusts Feed Bristol project. This should be protected to enable a showcase urban food growing hub to be created in accordance with the recommendations of the Bristol Good Food Plan which the Council supports. 2. The spiralling cost to the Council - it is already millions overbudget - details here 3. Passenger numbers forecast is abysmally low - their own figures show only 277 new passengers will use MetroBus across its entire network in a.m peak hours in 2016/17. This is a high cost, low impact scheme. We want the reverse - high impact, low cost and fit for a Green Capital in 2015 which is also International Year of Soils. Let them know how you feel and urge them to support finding a better sustainable public transport solution. I look forward to seeing as many people as possible on 22nd! Dont forget to submit a statement by 12 noon on monday 21st. Many thanks to you all for your ongoing support and we will send you the Blue Finger Vision summary when its finished. Please get in touch if you can help with publicity in any way. Best wishes to all, Maddy -- The Blue Finger Alliance bluefingeralliance.org.uk @bluefingersoil The Blue Finger Alliance is working towards getting land for local food growing enterprises recognised and protected in planning policy. It is starting this campaign focussing on the Blue Finger, a strip of top quality soil in North Bristol and South Gloucestershire which is vulnerable to development. This proposed development would damage soil and biodiversity integrity and compromise our ability to create and sustain a thriving local food system. Healthy food starts with healthy soil. Please join this movement!
Posted on: Sun, 20 Jul 2014 08:50:54 +0000
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