1,000 signatures reached
To: Dear Bristol City Council
Please designate Stoke Lodge as Local Green Space
Please revise your proposed designation of the open space at Stoke Lodge from ‘Reserved Open Space’ to ‘Local Green Space’ as part of your Local Plan Review Consultation. We the undersigned believe that this space is demonstrably special and meets all the criteria and values for this higher level of protection.
Stoke Lodge is currently designated as Important Open Space and is the only remaining accessible green space in close proximity for thousands of Bristol residents. It is not merely ‘playing fields’ or sports pitches but provides space for a wide range of recreational enjoyment way beyond that purpose. Neither is it school premises, as confirmed by the School Standards Minister in late 2018. This open space is inherently important to local residents and lies at the heart of our community.
You will see from a small selection of photos in this video https://youtu.be/1EdU8_-PIdE
and the below evidence that Stoke Lodge clearly meets the values of Local Green Space because:
1. It is beautiful, with a rolling landscape surrounding a Grade II listed house and many notable and veteran trees (including the Bristol Tree of the Year); as well as the spectacular Tree of Life sculpture.
2. It has historic significance as part of Bristol’s heritage: since 1836 Stoke Lodge has housed many notable families ( see https://welovestokelodge.co.uk/stoke-lodge-history) including the Fry ‘chocolate’ family and the ‘Imperial Tobacco’ Family. For over twenty years this whole space was considered Grade II listed by BCC.
3. It has significant recreational value with over 30,000 visits each year to fly kites, exercise, and picnic as just some of the abundance of activities that thousands of locals enjoy each year - as they have done for over seventy years.
4. The tranquillity of Stoke Lodge is what makes it so special. It’s a peaceful safe haven in which to grieve, celebrate, recover or just relax - particularly for those with disabilities and other protected characteristics.
5. The wildlife at Stoke Lodge is well recorded and valued – from bats to badgers, foxes and amazing birds to name just a few. Three badger setts are registered on site and the fields are their traditional foraging grounds.
Why is this important?
The importance of Stoke Lodge to the local community is strongly-felt, widespread and enduring:
● Two applications for Town or Village Green status show the strength of feeling about this space. The Inspector at the first TVG concluded that all tests for TVG status were met apart from one (‘as of right’ access) which is not relevant to the test for LGS.
● Our community has raised substantial funds and committed significant time over a sustained period to maintain access as of right.
● Over 4,100 Bristolians signed a petition calling on the Council to protect open access.
● Stoke Lodge has not one but two supporters’ groups, with over 1,800 members in aggregate who devote significant amounts of time not just to campaigning but also to gardening and other voluntary projects to protect and improve this amazing space.
Please revise your assessment of Stoke Lodge. It is the epicentre of a community and is unique and irreplaceable – it fulfils all the criteria for Local Green Space and we strongly believe it should be given the higher level of protection.
