Keynsham Loop

The Avon towards Cleeve Wood



Phoenix boatyard at Keynsham

Foes' gifts are no gifts:

"Foes' gifts are no gifts: profit bring they none" - Sophocles



Maybe Bristol City Council think that by planting about 20 trees near the site of the former chocolate factory in Greenbank, along the Bristol-Bath cyclepath, we'll turn a blind eye to the highly dubious sale of the verge here to developers Squarepeg, who'll soon be ripping out mature trees and the hedgerow to build houses in this linear park.



It'll take more than a few Discovery apple trees and Conference pears to camouflage the impending eyesore, although perhaps I'm being a bit harsh and shouldn't look a gift orchard in the mouth. I should mention that I'm only assuming that BCC are responsible, going by the evidence of the labels attached to a few of the trees. Maybe it was a bit of guerilla gardening action or a gift from the late - sometimes cantankerous, always green and busy - Pete Taylor.

Whatever, whoever, it's certainly an antidote to the mass tree cull going on further up the cyclepath towards Fishponds that I haven't been able to bring myself to photograph. Others have, here.

All Quiet On The Easton Front

All quiet on the cyclepath next to the old chocolate factory, except for the sound of badgers snoring.

It's in the trees - it's coming

Despite the Orwellian signs that have recently gone up on the Bristol - Bath cyclepath, there's no evidence of any cameras around. Perhaps the council have fitted birds with cameras or a satellite has been installed to monitor the area.



It's odd that these threatening / reassuring notices weren't around last year when there was a spate of a dozen or so muggings in the area. Surely, they couldn't have anything to do with the proposed development of the old chocolate factory and the mass opposition to the bulldozers that will soon start ripping up the hedgerows of this linear park.

20 mile round trip

Cycled alongside the River Avon, from Crews Hole, past Hanham - stopping off for a swim along the way - to where it intersects with the Bristol-Bath cyclepath, beyond Keynsham, then back home along the cyclepath. About a 20 mile round trip.

Danger ! Falling apples

It seems that cycle friendly developers Squarepeg have missed a trick. Having reported an ash tree on the site of their proposed development to the council for causing a danger to cyclists, resulting in its felling, they failed to take the opportunity to snitch on an apple tree just a few yards away.

Haven't they heard the Isaac Newton story ? Don't they realise that cyclists are in danger of serious injury from falling apples, especially at this time of year ?

I checked again today, to see if it had all been a bad dream.



No - it's definitely gone.

In these times of squeezed budgets, far more cost effective to cut a tree down than prune it occasionally. (Unless it's in Clifton)

Well - new beginnings. Mighty oaks from little acorns grow. Unfortunately, as true literally as metaphorically, for developers with profit in mind, but the answer's always 'plant more'.

Gone But Not Forgotten

So much for public consultation ! Squarepeg have already instigated outrageous vandalism by ordering the felling of a magnificent ash tree on the verge of the cyclepath that caused no threat to anyone and was enjoyed daily by hundreds of people and used by nesting birds. Where was the legal notice of intended felling ?

When did Squarepeg purchase the cyclepath verge and why weren't we told ? I could accept the plans for developing the old factory site, but stealing our back yard and destroying the green corridor to make it their own front garden to maximise their profits is criminal. In what way is destroying a magnificent mature tree 'positive for Easton' ? There was simply no need for this disgusting arrogance.

New Threat To Cyclepath

'Squarepeg', the developers of the old chocolate factory in Greenbank, want to rip these trees and verge up to build houses fronting onto the cyclepath.





Register your objections NOW ! Deadline 8th Sept.:
greenbankchocolatefactory.co.uk

...and with the council, later this month.