Bid to protect South Bristol wetland that’s a haven for wildlife and migratory birds

A wetland in South Bristol described as a haven for wildlife and migratory birds needs cash to help protect the area. But a local councillor’s bid for funding support was rejected after she was criticised for trying to “bump through” the project without supplying any written information.

Just under 19 acres of the Ashton Vale fields are protected as a village green, meaning the land cannot be built on and must remain accessible to the public. The expansive marshland near the Feeder Road Metrobus route and Longmoor Brook lies on the south-western edge of Bristol.

The project could include a new education centre, bird hides and a raised walkway. Councillors on the public rights of way and greens committee on Monday, April 15, were asked to support a funding bid, but were told they couldn’t see details as the “council system doesn’t take PDFs”.

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Green Councillor Tessa Fitzjohn, chair of the committee, said: “It was a town and village green that went through in 2014. They have a wetland area which is much-loved, and there’s a series of houses that overlook it.

“I brought in some MA architecture students from the University of the West of England in 2022, to help me write a report about how the area could be conserved and restored for public use. It’s an SNCI [Site of Nature Conservation Interest] and it has a really impressive list of migratory birds and resident wildlife.

“I would like your approval to agree that we should be going for some funding to restore the marsh and fulfil this dream. I haven’t set it round because it’s a PDF, and I can’t do it on the council machines.”

Usually councillors are provided with detailed written reports, ahead of public council meetings. This is especially the case when asking to spend money on public services, due to the need for scrutiny, transparency and good governance.

Liberal Democrat Cllr Jos Clark said: “I’m really confused. So you’ve brought a report to us that we’ve had no sight of, it hasn’t come via an officer, and you want funding for it. This is obviously a pet project of yours. You can’t just bump things through.”

Labour Cllr Chris Jackson added: “Until I can see a report and know what I’m voting on, I can’t really do anything.”

They were later told that funding would come from a “private award given to wetlands”, although the details of this were not given. PDFs, short for portable document format, are a way of sending and sharing documents easily, and they can be attached to emails for others to read.

According to Adobe, who invented the format, PDFs can be opened, viewed and printed "on any hardware (computer, tablet, and smartphone devices), software, or operating system (Windows, Linux, macOS) you’re using".

On an adjacent field to the marshland, Bristol Sport has planning permission to build 510 homes. Money raised from the Longmoor Village development will be used to fund a new basketball arena at Ashton Gate for the Bristol Flyers.