![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0_TCB240925StokeLodgeBRI_02jpeg.jpg\")
<\/p>\nIt is the latest in the long-running Stoke Lodge saga<\/p>\n
A CCTV camera in place as Cotham School begin work to install a new fence around their playing fields at Stoke Lodge in Bristol, in September 2025(Image: Bristol Post \/ Paul Gillis)<\/p>\n
A fresh row has ignited after a Bristol school launched a second bid to install eight tall CCTV poles at a disputed playing field<\/a>.<\/p>\n Cotham School was refused permission in January<\/a> by a planning inspector for the 6m-high surveillance equipment at Stoke Lodge playing fields.<\/p>\n The government official ruled that they would be unsightly, cause harm to the Grade II-listed building and its setting, and invade neighbours\u2019 privacy.<\/p>\n The school has now submitted a revised application<\/a> to Bristol City Council<\/a>, moving one camera further away from Stoke Lodge and adding privacy screens to the poles\u2019 housing to prevent any potential snooping into nearby homes and gardens.<\/p>\n But campaigners who want to keep the fields open as public footpaths have already lodged objections.<\/p>\n Public rights of way and greens committee chair and ward Cllr John Goulandris (Conservative, Stoke Bishop) wrote: \u201cThe application fails to take into account its impact on the four public rights of way across the application site, which have been approved by Bristol City Council.<\/p>\n \u201cThis \u2018new\u2019 application fails to address in any meaningful manner the reasons for refusal.<\/p>\n \u201cThe changes to this application are merely cosmetic.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of the poles is reduced in height from six metres to five metres, but this application also shows the cameras on top of the poles, adding over half a metre to the height of each pole, thus making the poles even more visible and harmful to the heritage assets.<\/p>\n To see all the planning applications, traffic diversions, road layout changes, alcohol licence applications and more in your area, enter your postcode below or visit the Public Notice Portal <\/strong>HERE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThe cumulative visual impact of eight tall poles\/concrete bases and associated furniture would inevitably destroy the tranquillity of the open space environment of the parkland.\u201d<\/p>\n In its application, Cotham School said CCTV was needed to safeguard pupils and deter further vandalism of the fence it controversially put up around the site to keep people out.<\/p>\n But Cllr Goulandris said: \u201cThere are already six cameras on the sports pavilion and associated buildings.<\/p>\n \u201cThis provides good visibility of most of the site and certainly the part of the site (the top field) generally used by the school.<\/p>\n \u201cIn any event, it is important to remember that school pupils are brought to the site by coach in relatively small numbers, closely supervised at all times by school staff.<\/p>\n \u201cOnce the PE session has finished, the pupils immediately return by coach to Cotham School\u2019s main site (some three miles away).<\/p>\n \u201cPupils are not left unattended at any time.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is absolutely clear is that the proposed eight camera poles are not needed to ensure the safety of school pupils using the site for sports lessons.\u201d<\/p>\n