Bristol Zoo wins Clifton Downs parking rights

The zoo has applied for permission to park 700 cars for 60 days per year over the next five years

Bristol Zoo has won planning permission to carry on using part of Clifton Downs as an overflow car park.

A planning committee voted five to one in favour of allowing the temporary car park to run for another three years.

Environmental groups campaigned against the extension as it prevented people from using the area next to Ladies Mile for recreation and claimed the grassland had been damaged by cars.

The zoo will be able to use the space for 45 days a year.

The zoo had wanted to use the Downs to park 700 cars for 60 days a year for the next five years.

Director of estates at Bristol Zoo, Tim Wilson said: "We are delighted with the decision because it means the zoo will continue to be viable.

"We were seriously concerned we would not be able to use Ladies Mile in the future because it was critical to the viability to our business."

The zoo added it was also working to improve its travel plan to boost public transport and reduce the number of visitors travelling by car.

John Payne from the Bristol Civic Society which campaigned against the parking plans, said: "I'm very disappointed.

"I don't think the zoo will take seriously the need to provide proper transport connections to the zoo until they can no longer use the Downs."

The zoo has been using the overflow car park on the Downs since the 1970s.