Messages are welcome on any subject relating to Troopers Hill Local Nature Reserve; the surrounding area of St George and Crews Hole or any of Bristol's Parks and Green Spaces.
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| Viewing Page 1 of 1 (Total Posts: 22) |
| Author | Comment |
Kite
 Apr 10, 07 - 10:24 AM |
Started on the path?
Looks like they've atarted on the wheelchair path finally. I see a digger on top of the Hill. But, I thought it was going to be marked out first for approval? 
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Kite
Apr 10th, 2007 - 1:25 PM |
Re: Started on the path?
Ugh!... See: http://www.bristolbroadcast.tv/trooper/index.htm 
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Roger
Apr 10th, 2007 - 1:46 PM |
Re: Started on the path?
"But kit, the plans have been available in the local planning office for the last nine months." "Oh yes, well as soon as I heard I went straight round to see them, yesterday afternoon. You hadn't exactly gone out of your way to call attention to them had you? I mean like actually telling anybody or anything." "But the plans were on display ..." "On display? I eventually had to go down to the cellar to find them." "That's the display department." "With a torch." "Ah, well the lights had probably gone." "So had the stairs." "But look, you found the notice didn't you?" "Yes," said Kit, "yes I did. It was on display in the bottom of a locked filing cabinet stuck in a disused lavatory with a sign on the door saying Beware of the Leopard." 
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Roger
Apr 10th, 2007 - 1:49 PM |
Re: Started on the path?
Back in reality have they not heard of curves, I am sure I heard the phrase "CURVE" or "CURVED" specifically used. I see no curves, is there anybody on site with a clue, possibly with some idea of what a curve looks like? Can anyone get up there and draw them a picture of a curve? Roger |
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Kite
Apr 10th, 2007 - 2:32 PM |
Re: Started on the path?
Well, the damage is rather done now. And yes, I thought I heard mention of a curve as well. Also we will now have a very handy car park right by the chimney, 'cos it's big enough for at least two. As I said earlier, what happened to the consultation and the marking out on the grass first? |
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Rob
Apr 10th, 2007 - 8:34 PM |
Re: Started on the path?
I spoke to Sally at Bristol Parks this afternoon to give my thoughts and I will be on the phone again tomorrow to try a see what can be done. This is not anything like the route we agreed with Bristol Parks. Roger is right the route was supposed to be curved. It was supposed to be marked out first for our agreement. It was also supposed to go further past the chimney and we never agreed to such a large square area. Not only is it too big and too square but it is in the wrong place. It was specifically agreed that it would be further from the chimney to give a view over the city. From the square as it is the chimney completely blocks the view. This seems to be another example of Bristol Parks having a complete lack of control over their contractors. We shall make our views known at the highest level in Bristol Parks and try and get it put right somehow. Unfortunatly it will take the damaged area a long time to recover, I think this may well have blown any chance of a Green Flag this year. |
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Rob
Apr 10th, 2007 - 10:33 PM |
Re: Started on the path?
Can I make it clear that I do not blame the contractors - I have no doubt that they were doing as they were instructed or as they thought they had been instructed. My complaint is that obviously nobody from Bristol Parks was on site to check that it was done correctly. If they had been they would surely have realised how terrible it would look. |
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Roger
Apr 10th, 2007 - 10:45 PM |
Re: Started on the path?
Quite honestly where the blame lies depends on who gave the contractors the detailed drawings upon which they marked the ground prior to excavation, (this prior marking is seen CLEARLY in Kits photos). However, we would need to see the original plans to determine whether or not the contractors followed the plan faithfully. As you say Rob, I am quite sure we will have the original plans soon and be able to see how far out the contractors arefrom the original plans (if any). Will it also be possible to find out what happened to the 'trouble-shooting' phase mentioned by Kit, where the are would be marked out for prior approval? Roger |
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Kite
Apr 11th, 2007 - 9:33 AM |
Re: Started on the path?
In view of what has happened with the path (despite all our best efforts to prevent exactly this happening) might it now, in hindsight, be best to remove the bit about "working with Bristol Parks" from the management section in the new leaflet? 
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Rob
Apr 11th, 2007 - 1:17 PM |
Re: Started on the path?
I have just spoken to Bristol Parks. Work on the path has been stopped. I am meeting them on site tomorrow to try and agree a way forward. |
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Liz
Apr 11th, 2007 - 11:31 PM |
Re: Started on the path?
OMG! I didn't think they'd started yet, as they've plonked a big blue container by my house and don't seem to have unpacked it yet! I am round-mouthed with amazement at yet another cockup on this blessed path. Have they damaged any of the special grass, or just dug up regular grass. Wasn't the bit at the end meant to be by Phyllis' bench? Somehow we have to get these people as far away from the Hill as we possibly can. Yes, there is definitely car-parking space there now. And after having far too many cars around last Friday for my liking .... How is it that, after working peaceably with the Council for a number of years we are having this major headache about a wheelchair path. Now they've dug it all up are they going to start wanting a path up the other side, and is that going to turn into ... heaven knows ... a bike track? the fabled "through road from the Avenue" ... Ooh! they make me cross! I think we should get onto Ron Stone. I don't think his patch exactly covers the hill, but he's a real professional councillor of 20 years standing and will know exactly where to .. ermm... express our distress. Can we get the Post involved? Council digs up Nautre Reserve? Liz |
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Ian
Apr 12th, 2007 - 9:15 AM |
Re: Started on the path?
Well I sort of warned you by saying don't go for a path, not only have you got a surface that will be alien to the hill you have also got a wider and in the wrong place eyesore. Anything that involves unsupervised contractors will lead to the easiest solution for them and in this case a direct route! Look at the mess they made of cutting the grass down at the Troopers Hill Greendown area. They didn't cut the grass at the right time and actually sliced off the thin topsil taking with it a number of native plants. It still hasn't recovered. I wrote to them and they apologised saying it was a misunderstanding - looks like this another one. Surely they must have someone who can convey clear instructions? |
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Kite
Apr 12th, 2007 - 11:30 AM |
Re: Started on the path?
Ian, I don't totally agree with your views on the Hill, but I strongly urge you to come along to some of our meetings to put them (next one is next Wednesday, 18th - see newsletter and website). If no-one argues your point of view, it will not go into the minutes nor alter any policy. Speaking personally, I am now having serious doubts about this Green Flag award. Not because of it's undoubted value, but because I doubt the Parks Departments ability to effect the work in a co-ordinated and sympathetic manner. We are seeing the true face of the "partnership" now - FoTH will have lost a lot of respect. We have also been shown, it would seem, to actually have no influence on events at all! 
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Rob
Apr 12th, 2007 - 9:00 PM |
Re: Started on the path?
I'd like to put the record straight on a few things about the path and update everyone on my meeting with Bristol Parks this morning. First the Contractors are working as instructed by Bristol Parks, as far as I have seen so far they have done a very tidy job, they are not responsible for where the path goes just how the work is done. The work was stopped as soon as Bristol Parks became aware that we were not happy with it. All the grass that has been removed is the richer dark green rye grass. The sheeps fescue and other important habitats have not been touched. The path has to comply with the recomendations for wheelchair access, there has to be room for wheelchairs next to the seats and this area has to be reasonably level. We have now agreed that the square area at the end where a bench is to be placed will be reduced in size and a curve will be introduced in to the line of the path to improve the appearance. It was never intended that the path would extend to Phyllis's bench since that would mean crossing the more valuble habitat. I thought that we had agreed to bring the bench further away from the chimney, but I had not realised the size of area required around it. The current location is the only place it can go without digging up the wrong grass. The surface will be fibredek with an aggregate which matches as near as possible the colour of the stone on the hill, I have seen a sample and I think it will look OK. There will be timber edgings. I expect the path will look a bit stark when first completed but it will weather in and the edges will soften as the grass regrows at the edges. I would have prefered a less intrusive path, but as was stated at the AGM we should be making it as easy as possible for as many people as possible to enjoy Troopers Hill. The other point is that the strip of land with the path is only a very small part of the site and the least important habitat. The wildlife benefits of the improved management that the Green Flag commitment brings to the rest of the site still means in my view that we should be pleased that Troopers Hill has been put forward. I still think that overall it is very good news. |
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Roger
Apr 12th, 2007 - 10:44 PM |
Re: Started on the path?
I apologise for suggesting that the contractors did not have a clue, I now, entirely blame Bristol City Council. Roger |
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Rob
Apr 13th, 2007 - 8:55 AM |
Re: Started on the path?
Roger, What is it that you think the Council should take the blame for? They are funding the path to allow wheelchair users and other people with disabilities to access Troopers Hill and to admire the view. They reacted as soon as they realised that people were not happy with what was happening and we now have a reasonable comprimise about the route of the path. The area where they removed the dark green rye grass which is not now going to be part of the path will recover - Nick thinks the more of that grass that is removed the better. More work is being done to manage the site for wildlife this year than has ever been done in the past. The next month will also see new signs, and repairs to fences and steps. The only thing in my view that the Council has fallen down on is in how they have communicated with us. I think that has now been put right - I am meeting them again today and will continue to meet and talk to them regularly. Any issues that come up I will raise at our meetings, on this forum and at work parties and via the signs on the hill. |
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Roger
Apr 13th, 2007 - 10:48 AM |
Re: Started on the path?
The council should take the blame for failing to act in the way that most of us here understood that they were going to. Specifically that the path would be marked out so that it's layout could be 'checked' prior to excavation. Simple lack of communication. I don't doubt the need for the access path and have said as much on other parts of the forum. 
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Rob
Apr 16th, 2007 - 6:57 PM |
Re: Started on the path?
The contractors have today put the wooden edging on the section of path we all disliked so much last week. It is now as I agreed it on Thurday - in fact slighty better than I thought it would be because it is not an even curve. Thank you Phil, John and Steve for sorting it so quickly. The surfacing should be placed on Thursday and I'm sure it will look fine, if you don't like it at first give it chance to mellow with time. I know the two young people in wheelchairs who were on the Field last week will be pleased with it. |
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Roger
Apr 18th, 2007 - 12:09 AM |
Re: Started on the path?
Well, I guess we'll all take a look over the weekend and pass coment. |
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Roger
Apr 19th, 2007 - 1:20 PM |
Re: Started on the path?
Well, the layout looks very good the edges have been done nicely and I think there is potential for the edges to mellow with time. Downsides....it's limestone chippings I think (unless I am mistaken, not fibredec, no geotextile that I could see and it's very dusty on the hill top. We'll need some rain to wash the dust away and settle the path. |
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Rob
Apr 20th, 2007 - 9:16 AM |
Re: Started on the path?
DON'T PANIC! The limestone is the sub-base; the Fibredek goes on top to seal it. That is why the limestone is slightly below the the top of the timber. The Fibredek will also go over the concrete and the benches will then be bolted through it. See also the other thread 'progress on the path'. |
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Roger
Apr 20th, 2007 - 10:42 AM |
Re: Started on the path?
Phew!! Panic over 
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