Brislington Community Partnership – Land Survey
Zone 8.1
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4 – St Annes Wood
Keywords/phrases: River Avon, St Annes Park, St Annes Wood
Summary
Another opportunity for
Brislington to strengthen its green credentials simply by updating an existing
natural feature, St Annes Wood. The valley dominates this area on the map but
on the ground most people, outside of Brislington, probably don’t know that
it exists.
Accessed from the northern
gate and the small pedestrian entrance off Lichfield Road, it is safe to
assume that the area has not been looked after for many years. Discarded,
bikes litter the place, as do shopping trolleys.
There is much evidence of
fly tipping, or perhaps something more sinister, with bags of people’s
belongings strewn about the place including bus-passes amongst other forms of
personal ID.
On the northern fringe, the
south bank of the Avon, we find large swathes of land given over to
industrial units in the Riverside Industrial Park. Their large delivery
vehicles cause numerous problems on the St Annes Road and as a consequence
the footpaths on both sides of the road here are severely damaged and
dangerous for pedestrians to navigate.
 To the northeast we find the new private residential
developments isolated by their own roundabout turn into a long and winding
cul-de-sac, to the south east we find an ex-local authority housing estate
and to the southwest a mix of private developments from Victorian terraces
through to post war suburban developments.
Topography
The River Avon creates the
natural boundary of the ward to the north and west of the site. The natural
wooded valley created by the Brislington Brook cuts the site in two east and
west and the land quickly rises away from the river heading south to the
highest points in St Annes Park and the Guildford Road estate.
The deep mainline railway
cut to the south is about 20-25 meters below foot level at the crossing
point.
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1.
River Avon walk
 
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 An excellent recreational facility that borders the
northern and eastern fringe of Brislington alongside the river Avon. This
particular route is already well established with good quality paving street
furniture, although it is badly lit in most places making it a dangerous
place after dark. There are numerous potential mooring sites for river and
house- boats, on this part of the river.
Neighbours have reported
problems in the past with gangs of youths causing disturbances after dark.
Evidence of anti-social behaviour is still in existence today on some of the
more secluded walls and gardens.
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Damaged windows on
secluded river walk housing
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2.
Housing on Robertson Drive
 
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 Within the new development there is still an
eclectic mix and range of housing styles.
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3.
Brislington Footbridge
 
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 The historically important footbridge is popular and
well used. However the land that immediately surrounds it is an opportunity
missed. The recently built retail units to the south east of the bridge are
well used but the car park is mostly underused only ever half full.
There is a large amount
of land directly in front and to the side of the bridge on the southerly
side. This site lays to the west of the underused car park, and as a
consequence any future development here would not require infrastructure nor
car-parking facilities.
This site would be an
ideal location for small retail or mixed use residential with a coffee shop
or local riverside pub.
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 Coffee shop?
 
Vacant and unused land by
bridge
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4.
Corner plot – Wotton Road
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 A large modern 80’s development on the strategically
important corner plot of Wotton Road. The building mass, material nor design
has any relation to its context other than adding to the hugely eclectic mix
of Brislington residential styles.
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5.
Retail units at Wyatts View
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 The popular and well-used retail units at Wyatts
View offer the following services: -Summerfield supermarket, diving shop,
party shop, Indian restaurant, Chinese take away, pharmacy and doctors
surgery. Parking is never a problem
as the car park is underused suggesting that most shoppers walk to this service.
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6.
BCC Housing Services
 
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 Bristol City Council owned housing services
department on St Annes Road and the start of the Avon Valley business park.
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7.
Avon Valley Business Park
Entrance
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 A very well looked after business park, where all
units have roller shutters to the front and high brick walls to the rear.
Immaculately kept, with no litter anywhere. It is a shame that the car park
at the end of the road does not provide for pedestrian access to the St Annes
Wood.
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8.
Land Behind Avon Valley Business Park
 
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 This area has been neglected and forgotten by the public
and council for many years. It is an excellent candidate for updating and
also the possibly of the creation of a public recreation opportunity.
Presently only used by vandals and fly-tippers it is an eyesore and in
desperate need of clearing and a general tidy. The area would benefit from
better-defined paths and signage, good access and entrance paths are already
in existence.
 Bristol City Council (Central Support services) own the
Avon Valley Business Park and Culture and Leisure Services own the land that
backs the northern entrance. They have erected a large fence separating the
two functions presumably for only demarcation of the boundary as all of the
units on this site have very high brick walls to the rear and are protected
with shutters to their fronts. Modern security systems and surveillance would
benefit the occupiers further and the removal of the industrial fence would
create a better ambience for potential users of the area.
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9.
New Bridge Trading Estate
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 Newbridge trading Estate
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10. Kims
Kafe
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 The excellent Kims Kafe, great for bacon rolls and tea,
and always busy with workers from the nearby trading estate.
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11. Empty
Units
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 Two empty workshops, and live-work units next door
to Langton Court.
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12. Langton Court Inn
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Langton Court Inn
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13. St
Annes Park
 
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The recently updated
children’s play area was initiated by community action group and paid for
with private sponsorship. The park is very formal in its design and occupies
the top of the highest point in this area.
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14. Land
behind Arlington Road Allotments
 
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There is a large amount
of unallocated land situated behind the houses off Arlington Road. As the joining
land is part of Arlington Road allotments it was impossible to gain access to
photograph this land.
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15. Retail
Units on Newbridge Road
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Small terrace of local
shops and services offering the following facilities:- fish and chips and
Chinese takeaway, fishing tackle, and a general store
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