I barely know where to start with this one…

Many of you will have heard that the decision to refuse Broadwalk’s planning permission was subsequently overturned, and we are now launching a legal case to challenge the legality of the new decision. (If you haven’t got a clue what I’m talking about, there’s a summary at the bottom of this email… it’s been a mad month!)

So now we are back in full-on campaigning mode, to try and get the approval quashed.

There are lots of ways you can help, but the most important thing to do TODAY is to sign this petition: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/loss-of-confidence-in-bristol-s-planning-system

We urgently need to collect 3,500 signatures (from people with BS postcodes) by 1st September. If we can do this, the full council of BCC will have to debate if their planning system is broken during their meeting on 12th Sept. We think this is a really important discussion, and it could lead to important changes that prevent BCC pulling the same deceptive stunt in future. 

So please, sign it and share it with all your friends & family 

Thanks, Laura x

Timeline of the Broadwalk Betrayal..

• 31st May: DCA decide to Refuse planning permission for Broadwalk (unanimous vote). Comment made by chair that they’ll agree the final reason for refusing it at their next meeting (July)
• late June: letters sent from Bristol City Council (BCC), telling public that a final decision on Broadwalk will be made on 5th July. Laura confirms with BCC that the purpose of this meeting is just to agree the reasons for refusal, and it is “very unlikely” that the decision will change
• June: developers secretly lobby DCA members, to convince them to change their mind
• 5th July: DCA meeting goes off-agenda re Broadwalk, and 4 councillors vote against refusing planning permission. One abstains. It’s 4-4, so Chair uses his casting vote to approve the application. Public uproar ensues!
• 6-7th July: Laura & Helen seek advice from planning consultants, BCC councillors, legal experts & decide to try & call a Judicial Review. Fundraising begins!
• 12th July: Dozens of Knowle residents pack-out BCC’s full council meeting to make it incredibly clear how disgusted we are with the overturn.
• Mid July: Laura & Helen meet with many specialist planning Lawyers & Barristers to understand if we have a case. They are all shocked at what happened.
• Late July: Simon Birch appointed as our Barrister
• 9th Aug: Cllr Plowden exposes major inaccuracies in the official Minutes of the 31st May meeting, and resigns from DCA in protest at the dishonourable actions of his Labour & Conservative colleagues
• 14th Aug: Our Barrister writes to the CEO of BCC, outlining our grievances & confirming that we will launch a Judicial Review if they don’t review the decision
• 15th Aug: I write to you lovely lot ❤️ asking you to sign this petition: https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/loss-of-confidence-in-bristol-s-planning-system