Zoo Car Parking on the Downland

Parking should not be allowed on the Downs except for transient events, and even this needs to be carefully monitored. The region used for Zoo parking was a wildflower meadow!

Initially, we were delighted to hear that the Council has thrown out a plan to allow Zoo car parking on the Downland at the end of Ladies Mile for another three years, 'on a temporary basis'. The Zoo had been given one more year and told to find another solution to visitor parking. In particular the use of Downland was opposed strongly by sections of the Bristol Ramblers, and several other groups. {Press reports September 2008}

September 2009: It appears that the Downs Committee may have taken pity on the Zoo, and {Minutes,20 September 2009.Item 07} will now allow parking to continue. So, can we expect more of the surrounding beautiful ash trees to be pollarded because they are "dangerous"?

In any case, did you realise that the current Zoo car park outside of the Zoo, opposite Zoo Bank, is on Downland - it is not Zoo property.

This is particularly apposite now that the Council is pushing for a Residents Parking Zone (RPZ) which will come right up to Zoo Bank, and will almost certainly increase parking problems on the Downs roads, that is Ladies Mile, Circular Road and Stoke Road. (See the map of the proposed parking zones on James Barlow's Blog). Whilst the Council consulted widely about the RPZ, they did not take into full consideration the effect of the zone on surrounding regions.

During the next few years, and especially if the current RPZ is inplemented, expect the Downs roads to become an unofficial "Park & Ride" zone. Parts of the roads adjacent to the Water Tower are already are used for commuter parking.