Empty Downs car park could reopen for visitors

The car park, near the now closed Bristol Zoo Gardens, could become a pay and display facility

An empty car park at the Downs in Bristol could reopen soon despite the threat of a legal challenge.

The North Car Park, next to the former Bristol Zoo Gardens, would become a pay and display site, restricted to people visiting the area.

A court order made in 2021 says the car park, technically part of the Downs, cannot be used for anything other than people visiting the green space.

The plans have faced some opposition from campaign group Downs for People.

Three years ago a High Court judge ruled the car park must be kept for Downs visitors.

Legally, it could only be used temporarily for “non-Downs activities” until the end of last year.

The court order does not oblige the council to check why anybody has parked at the car park, or whether they are “undertaking non-Downs activities”.

Campaigners from Downs for People said in a written statement: “If the committee breach the terms of the consent order, they will be in contempt of court and liable for action to be taken by the court against them.

“Our challenge to zoo parking on the Downs cost council taxpayers well over £400,000, and the zoo a further £50,000.”

The Downs Committee, made up of Bristol City councillors and members of the Society of Merchant Venturers, a business group, approved the changes on Monday.

Michael Bothamley, master of the Merchant Venturers, said: “It’s absolutely not our purpose to bring the North Car Park back into use so that people can park there for non-Downs activities.

"A variety of public statements seem to indicate that somehow that must be the case, but it isn’t.”

Councillor Paula O’Rourke added: “We are doing all of this in good faith.

"We are offering a car park for people who want to arrive on the Downs, park there, walk up and spend five hours having a picnic or do whatever they want to do.”