There is a sudden slowing of pace when you walk down Catbrain Hill and you realise that amongst the busy concrete jungle of Cribbs Causeway, there is a haven of green fields and birds happily singing in their natural habitat. People tend to remark "my goodness! I didn't know this was here. Isn't it lovely?" There is so much wildlife and greenery-  the deer was photographed in the field by a local resident the other day. Our previous petition of 144 signatures proves how many people use these fields for rights of way, recreation and walking their dog and they want to keep the fields as they are. Alongside this evidence for objecting to the planning proposal P21/ 02390/RVC, we have now put in an application for the field to become a right of way, to make the case that people should be allowed to continue to use it as they always have. 

This area is unfortunately been labelled as a brownfield site and so as time goes on, the remaining greenery comes under more and more threat from greedy developers, keen to make a quick buck by building extensive housing developments and cramming in as many houses as they can to maximise profit.  Limited thought apears to be given to the impact that these developments might have on local residents or the environment and its inhabiting wildlife. It seems that is is okay to destroy all remaining greenary with the justification of "we need houses". Objections are simply ignored and steamrollered over. The proposal for the redvelopment of the airfield AND SURROUNDING FIELDS is to build up to 2,675 home, employment premises, 2 primary schools and a secondary school! We are not objecting to the premise of building on the airfield, but why do we need SO many houses in one area (on top of ALL the recent developments that have already been built in the area such as Charlton Hayes, New Charlton Way, Medlar Close and Laurel Hill) and all the original greenary destroyed?

The final insult is that the field at the bottom of Catbrain Hill is considered to be of ecological importance. In YTL Developer's own words: "the land is a PROTECTED area for important wildlife, including Great Crested Newts and Slow Worms".  Their plan is to protect the area for a few years by fencing and then integrate the species into a new development area through the creation of NEW HABITATS. Why can't we just keep the field how it is and not build on it and not have to MOVE the habitats. 

Politicans are realising the damage that these developments are doing and our local counsellors are on our side. As Marvin Rees (Bristol Mayor) recently stated in another article:  "The damage to the environment and ecology will be greater than building the new homes."  It is time that we stood up against these developers and that the people are listened to. Who else is going to stand up for nature? The areas we live in are being are slowly destroyed and removed of all natural and orginal habitat. Please sign this petition if you would like to object to building on the field of this important green area and keep it open for use, as it has always been, for people to enjoy nature. Please sign this petition if you want local people to have a louder voice than the developers. Please sign this petition if you want to stand up for what is right. Thank you for your support.