In 1990, in response to concerns about safety at the playground, parents contacted Bristol City Council concerned at both the proximity of the access road to the play area and the danger to health of children coming into contact with dog faeces infected with Toxacara. A petition was presented to the Council asking for a fence to be erected around the play area. In July 1991, at a council meeting, it was confirmed that there were no funds to erect such a fence and, furthermore, that the existing equipment was reaching the end of its life and there was no money to replace it.

The Redland Green Appeal Group was set up under the umbrella of the RCAS and a public consultation exercise carried out to produce an agreed plan of development. A budget was drawn up and fund raising started. Approximately £27,000 was raised in total.

Work was started in February 1994 and the first section of work was completed in summer 1994. This comprised the fence and hedge restricting the access of dogs to the play area. The swings and climbing equipment were installed with safety surfaces on the existing tarmac, and a new area, with sand used as the safety surface, was installed with play equipment suitable for toddlers. A bench overlooking the sandpit was made and donated by Stones plc.

The remaining money, with matching funds from the Council, then funded the second phase of the development. This included the new path leading to the play area, new and relocated benches, drainage works to try to combat the problems of standing water on the Green, additional picnic benches within the dog-free area and the aerial runway, which was installed to provide play for the older children.

In 2000, Stones Contractors, as part of the planning process, gave £10,000 when new houses were built on the site of their works building on Redland Road. Part of this was expended on works on the Green. These comprised crown reduction of the trees along the access road to Woodstock Road, the installation of new benches overlooking the new housing and the replacement of the lamps on that stretch of road with Victorian replica lamp standards. The path along this stretch of road has also recently been resurfaced.

Our main work now is checking the standards of maintenance provided by the Council contractors, and keeping the Leisure Services Department informed of work needed. The RCAS regularly carries out inspections and our findings are reported to the Community Parks Officer or the Play Section.

If you wish to contact the Community Parks Officer yourself, his name is Miles Harris, Bristol Parks, 33 Colston Avenue, Bristol BS1 4UA bristolparks@bristol.gov.uk telephone 0117 922 3719. It would be helpful if you could keep RCAS informed of anything you contact the CPO about. If you wish to draw our attention to any problems that you think we might have missed, please email (John Cook or omit) Alison Bromilow.

If you wish to draw our attention to any problems that you think we might have missed, please email Alison Bromilow.

We also instigate new works where we can, some of which are funded or partly funded from RCAS funds.

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