‘The more activities for kids the less grief we get’
Filipa Gaspar and Kim Horton Senior Reporter
15:01, 29 Jun 2025
The application has to be sent to the Environment Secretary for a decision – and may result in a public inquiry to be borne by the council(Image: Tom Wren / SWNS)
Plans for play and sports facilities to fight anti social behaviour could be scuppered – after one person complained. Vital funding was secured to improve community facilities at Patchway Common Recreation Ground, in Bristol.
Despite widespread community support, projects have been severely delayed and now at risk due to four objections to a footpath diversion – all by the same complainant. The facilities could include a hardcourt area for basketball and five-a-side football.
A former parish council built the playground on the route of an official footpath – meaning that no work can take place until the route is diverted. Councillors from South Gloucestershire agreed to make an order to move it however a single neighbour is refusing to withdraw their opposition.
The application has to be sent to the Environment Secretary for a decision – and may result in a public inquiry. The identity of the one complainant remains a mystery.
But locals said it was “unfair” adding that children need playing facilities in the area to stop anti-social behaviour.
Andy Alsop, 67, chairman of Stoke Lodge and Common parish council, which secured the funding, said the resident will refuse to meet face to face with the council.
Adriano Cunha. Hopes to expand a play area and create a sports court on a playing field near Bristol have been severely delayed because of four objections to a footpath diversion – all by the same resident(Image: Tom Wren / SWNS)
He said: “We have had dealing with this resident ever since we became a parish council and if it is not one thing it is another.
“I would have loved to have this up and running for the summer holiday because it is for kids. You come up here on a weekend and they are playing cricket.
“It is the only place we have got in north Bradley Stoke and this is what we want to do. We have got good funding.”
The reasons for the local’s objections include flooding concerns and antisocial behaviour on the proposed new route alongside the pavilion.
The report added: “The objector states that where the proposed path will run alongside the Pavillion building there is a lot of antisocial behaviour, with people wearing face masks. He has had to escort his daughter home from work.”
Plans to build a play area and sports court have suffered a major blow(Image: Tom Wren / SWNS)
Mr Alsop explained that they inherited the public right of way from the previous parish council.
And added the more activities for kids “the less grief” they get.
He said: “The more activities for kids the less grief we get. Do we get vandalism? Yes we do.
“You come here on a weekend and this place in running with people and when the weather is nice they are barbequing and playing games or just sat chilling.
“It is a great space. I’d love it before I pass on that it is done and it is for the local people.”
Naomi Jones, 33, care home worker, whose kid attend the nursery on Patchway Common said: “It might attract more teenagers and cause trouble but they need somewhere to go.
“People around here don’t have any place like that and at least they would have somewhere to go.
“It is wasted land and it could be used for something.
“When I was younger I used to be at Little Stock park everyday until 10 o’clock but now they haven’t got anything around here.”
Adriano Cunha(Image: Tom Wren / SWNS)
Adriano Cunha, 39, civil engineer, said: “Being a father I would rather have children going to a play area. It is a park that is half empty.
“It is a bit unfair because at the same time there are a lot of families with children who would have enjoyed the space. I just hope it doesn’t bring bad attendance to the park.
“I have seen kids there doing inappropriate things.”
Ana Maria Mirea, 39, warehouse operator from Bradley Stoke said: “There is nothing here in this place. There is one park for kids near the GP but it is very small.”
Kathy, 42, an engineer from Bradley Stoke said: “There is lots of people around here that like to complain about loads of things. They [her kids] would enjoy a basketball court – it is a shame things get cancelled.”
She said the plans would be good but added there was not much information about it.
The facilities could include a hardcourt area for basketball and five-a-side football.(Image: Tom Wren / SWNS)
Locals have also taken their opinions to social media, saying that it is the planning system “needs urgent overhaul”.
One added: “What doesn’t make sense is that one person’s objections can throw a spanner in the works, my other comment was deactivated so I have tried to carefully word this one.”
Another said: “The planning system needs urgent overhaul if we are to get anything done in this declining country.”
While another added: “Thought UK was a democracy, so how can one person dictate when so many are not in agreement.”