Brislington Community Partnership – Land Survey Zone 8.2

Birchwood Road

First Avenue

Wotton Road

8 – St Annes Park

Keywords/phrases: River Avon, river walk, green link, mixed residential

Summary

Two forgotten natural features border this part of St Anne’s Park, the Brislington Brook to the west and the River Avon to the east. Both offer huge potential recreational benefits to the community from city located sites, however parts of the river are restricted due to fishing rights, and the Brook has been forgotten by its owners, the Council.

Sandwiched between the river and the brook are a mix of new private residential developments and ex-local authority housing. They are now separated from each other by lane and road closures and the natural steeply sloping wooded topography.

Topography

The river meanders through this area from southeast to the north. On both sides the banks rise steeply away to form a picturesque setting for many new and mostly bland residential designs. Along the west bank is a natural shelf where a private road and path exist.

The valley cliff walls are heavily wooded in places and this adds to the existing character of the area.

The central ridge houses the ex-local authority housing estate and the land then drops quickly into the St Annes Wood nature garden, which is festooned with fly-tipping, discarded bicycles, and litter.

1. Pump House

Planning information found here 06/00459/LC

The Pump house is currently being converted from a Victorian pump house into 10 self contained flats.

Together with the rowing club they will have fantastic riverside locations. It appears from the plans that this development is being carried out sympathetically and utilising much of the local stone to extend the existing building to the rear.

2. Bristol Ariel Rowing Club

Bristol Ariel rowing club, the oldest rowing club in the city (founded 1870), own possibly one of the best city riverside locations within Bristol. It is an isolated and idyllic location, and potentially well connected by roads and paths that could, if reopened, provide the Brislington community with a fabulous riverside walk and link round to the new-bridge. However at present the buildings are run down and in dire need of maintenance.

Wiki entry here

Bristol Ariel rowing club website here

3. River walk link

St Annes Board Mills fishing zone runs around the northeast section of the river. It is essentially land left over from the mixed–used residential development to the west but is now predominantly used by local fishermen. The path is difficult to navigate even by the able bodied. It offers huge potential for the community if upgraded.

4. River walk residential

Situated up the bank from the river and Board Mills walk is the relatively new (1995) residential development. The road and path that winds its way through this estate ends in a cul-de-sac although many potential paths and lanes along the route exist they have been closed and blocked.

The path itself is quite interesting and offers some attractive vistas and views across the river to Troopers hill and St George.

5. Blocked paths

The now defunct St Annes Boardmills (cardboard manufacturers) once owned most of the land along the riverside.

Over time the land within the whole of this area has been divided and sold to various developers. This appears on the surface to have caused conflict between existing residents and the new ones with roads and paths leading up the banks to Wootton Road being deliberately blocked and access removed. This has destroyed the natural permeability of the area and isolated the riverside from public access.

More examples of blocked routes and paths destroying the permeability of the area.

6. Car Parking in residential area

Within the ex-local authority housing estate there appear to be few cars parked on the streets (at the time of the survey – Fri 2pm), however there were also an abundant amount of unused private and public off road parking spaces dotted throughout the estate.

7. Birchwood 1 (Forgotten private land)

Birchwood is a patch of forgotten woodland situated on the steep riverbanks. Old signage that exists on the wire fenced boundary states that the now defunct St Annes Boardmills company owns this land.

The boundary fence has been vandalised and is broken in many places and the area if strewn with litter and burnt out articles. A natural path leads down to the riverside but is now neglected and forgotten about.

8. Birchwood 2 (Forgotten private land)

Another fantastic opportunity to create a green river link across Brislington. The Ariel Rowing club apparently owns this land and the footpath as shown on public maps is now un-navigable and dangerous due to neglect.

9. Mixed residential

Bristol City council once owned much of this area however much of the property is now in private ownership. There are small pockets throughout the site where new private developments happily co-exist with older 1940’s ex-local authority housing and where potential new developments are taking place.

10. Development plot

Current planning permission here 06/05325/F

This small plot of land has pending planning permission for the development of 2x3bedroom houses and 8x2bedroom flats.

11. Land used by residents

Towards the rear of Leicester Walk is a piece of land that was once open to public access but has now been consumed by resident’s pigeon coups and sheds. Discussion with some local residents said that this had caused problems with neighbouring houses and occupants.

12. St Annes Church

The Mission church at St Annes with vicarage behind.

13. Retail units at Birchwood Road junction

This busy row of shops offers the following services to the community: - Post Office, tanning, hairdressing, newsagent, Premier mini-mart, fish and chips and Chinese takeaways.

14. Victorian housing on Birchwood Road

This part of St Anne’s has some fine period properties aligning the busy Birchwood road.

15. Aged Persons Home

Birchwood Road sheltered accommodation built in 1973 and providing beds to 31 elderly people.

16. St Annes Wood, well and garden

This area has been neglected and forgotten by the public and council for many years. It is an excellent candidate for updating and possibly 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 the land that backs the northern entrance. They have erected a large fence separating the two functions presumably for 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 and threatening fence would create a better ambience for potential users of the facility.

Litter strewn across the whole site.

17. Retail Units on Newbridge Road

Small terrace of local shops and services offering the following facilities:- fish and chips and Chinese takeaway, fishing tackle, and a general store

18. St Annes Park Primary School

19. Government Buildings

Tucked away behind a ring of residential ex-local authority housing is the BCC Guildford Road Housing services building.

20. Chichester House (LAH)

Situated on a piece of land separated by a wire fence from the neighbouring Guildford Road housing services.

21. Football pitch behind housing

A waste land once used as a football park, now the dumping ground for fly-tipping, burnt trees and shopping trolleys. It overlooks the St Annes Wood nature area. It is accessed from a small alley off Lichfield Road and would provide a natural location for a recreational and sports associated development.