Brislington Community Partnership

Before any changes can be made to our surroundings, they have to be planned. We've all experienced the results - large houses turned into flats (frequently without enough parking spaces for the residents), shops redeveloped into housing or offices or vice versa, parks and green spaces being taken over for building, even favourite trees being cut down - all decided by those mysterious beings called Planners.

The word sometimes conjures up images of bureaucrats in offices far removed from the places they affect, deciding how our communities should look and operate without any real knowledge of our local area. We often feel helpless, our objections overridden by 'the powers that be', and end up resenting those whose job should be to improve the quality of our communal lives.

But it doesn't have to be this way. There are things we can do, steps we can take, to make sure our voices are heard and our opinions noted. We can become involved in the planning process.

All it takes is a little time and effort - not much to ask to have a say in what happens to our own community and affects our lives so deeply!

Planning sets out a framework for the future. Ideally it encourages improvements to the physical environment, helping to shape places, and balances competing proposals (for example, it tries to get something for the different interests of business and community, providing new buildings while protecting old ones.)

Planning is necessary. Without it, developers would not have to take into account the effects on neighbouring communities, or consider such things as pollution - air, water, land contamination, noise pollution etc - ugly or unwelcome developments, the destruction of things that can not be replaced (historic buildings, historic landscapes, the very communities they are supposed to be serving) and the loss of non-renewable resources such green spaces, wildlife habitats and water reserves.

An essential part of planning is to make sure the infrastructure is in place. Developers won't build the infrastructure - roads, cycleways, footpaths, railways, public transport, schools, community buildings, open and green spaces, waste tips, for example, all of them essential for the community. To this end the planners need to take into account local services - community facilities, transport, local parks and green spaces, the overall design of the area, the conservation of any historic buildings, and other less physical elements such as the local economy, employment, health and environmental issues, and the community's lifestyle.

The New Planning System puts the involvement of the community at the centre of the planning process, helping us to become involved at the beginning, when we stand most chance of influencing the outcome. To this end South West Planning Aid gives free, independent advice on planning to individuals and community groups, particularly those who cannot afford professional fees. It's part of the Royal Town Planning Institute, an independent charity that has been in existence for over 20 years in some areas (over 5 in South West). In each region there is a small staff team of caseworkers and community planners, with a network of volunteers.

First, know our area, what we already have, and what we lack.
Set our priorities for what is important to keep, change or improve.
Think about the things planners are interested in, especially the infrastructure, above.
Understand their timetables and the way they work. 80-90% of applications get permission first time around, and 65-70% minor resolutions are decided within 8 weeks.
Try to develop community based planning that meets the needs of your area.
Think about the future of the community and devise plans which are right for it.
Try to involve different interests groups in the community who may want different things, for example young people the elderly, people starting businesses, people from different religious groups etc.

Get to know the planners, communicate with them.
Understand their motives, what they have to take into account, what they can and can't do.
Don't just oppose their plans - be constructive, make suggestions, discuss alternatives.
Help solve their problems and concerns - we know out own community, after all, know what will and will not work when it comes to development.
Remember what the planners don't want - delays and complications - and help keep them to a minimum.
Bear in mind that community groups may have more clout than individuals! Get involved with your local group and work together for the benefit of us all.

Please use the above information, background and the work of the Planning Group to help you comment on any planning applications you are interested in. South West Planning Aid can help people, who can't afford a planning consultant, to write letters and comment on applications. For this call our Casework Helpline: 0870 850 9807 or email S Webber's email. You can also use this email to contact Susan Webber for help or advice on working with the community.

A good place to start is the Every Action Counts website, an excellent community resource.

You might be aware of the somewhat controversial plans to develop part of Castle Park - if not, see Save Castle Park for more details and sign the petition here.

There is another e-petition on the South Bristol Ring Road website: please visit for further information.

For information about a new initiative to tackle Bristol's traffic problems, please see the Transport for Bristol website.

There's more useful information about the government side of planning here.

Thanks to Susan for her planning presentation at the BCP meeting 2^nd October, and for permission to use information from that presentation on this page.

There's now a BCP yahoo group for community members to share information, concerns and comments: join here. Everyone welcome!

PLANNING