Green Lobbies Crushed By Corporate Grocers

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Marius Goubert wonders if local action groups can challenge corporate interests to keep Bristol green.


Nowhere in the UK has seen such unprecedented levels of housing development in recent years than the South of England. Casting an eye around the built up suburbs, it's difficult to find a square foot of green which has not fallen victim to some kind of planning application.

Indeed, with the corporations devouring more trees and open spaces than Saruman from Lord of the Rings, it might not be long before we all end up living in some sort of grimy Blade Runner - style megacity. However, in an act of defiance which really was like something from the pages of Tolkien, a coalition of protest groups banded together in a bid to resist the corporate giants and their plans to invade Bristol with 25,000 new homes and a giant dual carriageway.

On the 21st January, protestors from the ‘Alliance Against the South Bristol Ring Road' together with those from ‘Whitchurch Action Group' and ‘Dundry Action Group', began a defiant march on London. Campaigners, answering the call to arms like some crusading army, flocked to pledge their support from across the entire South West. It was shaping up to be an epic showdown with the minister. Almost like the shirefolk of Middle Earth fighting to preserve their green pastures, the protest army marched its way to London in defence of Bristol's threatened Greenbelt land. But in a cruel twist, campaigners found themselves snubbed like bleating peasants and flatly refused an audience with the minister.

The campaigners describe on their discussion forum how ‘at the last minute' the minister decided he would only meet the representative MPs, and even though they were granted a few small concessions, the Minister had ‘no wish to hear or listen to the views and concerns of the ordinary people these proposals will affect.' Even though Green Party Councillor Charlie Bolton points out ‘the Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) is opposed by the Tories, who are likely to win the next election. Therefore, the targets go if the Tories win. The campaigners therefore need to delay until the election', the whole episode seemed to underline the sheer futility of combating housing developers, or any of these mega corporations, on their own terms. When trying to make their case to the government, the odds are stacked up against the campaigners to such a ridiculous extent; it is like the parish town council going head to head with a world superpower.

This becomes ever clearer when reading the AASBRR's slightly ranting letter to Hazel Blears. Longer than a piece of epic poetry, the only way this letter could find its way into the schedule of one of Britain's top politicians is if she could read faster than Commander Data from Star Trek. Although there is an array of legitimate concerns against the building proposals, from noise pollution, to the environment, to the 6,000 Bristol properties currently vacant, this form of opposition seems hopelessly inadequate.

Charlie Bolton states that the campaigners ‘are in with a shout of at least limiting the amount of development.' But how can groups like the AASBRR expect to go toe- to- toe with these obscenely wealthy corporations, who have an entire infrastructure of lawyers, auditors, and PR officers capable of lobbying the government with a case more watertight than a mermaid's brassiere? The RSS assumes the economy will grow by a staggering 3.5% compound year on year for the next 20 years, a level of growth unparalleled in the history of this country. So it is unlikely that politicians are going to find concerns about new roads, noise pollution or the environment to be significant stumbling blocks when developers pledge to lead Bristol into a new golden age of prosperity.

However, the corporate giants may not have it all their own way. Bristol City Council is wavering over the decision to grant Tesco the right to build a new superstore at Ashton Gate, the current home of Bristol City FC. Charlie Bolton is fervently opposed to the prospect of new superstore. ‘I am appalled at the idea. Tesco could devastate the North St Shopping area. We already have Aldi, Sainsbury's, Asda and two Tesco Metros already. Why on Earth do we want more?' The proposals have attracted massive populist appeal though, as the estimated £20M Tesco would pay for the site could give the city a new 30,000 seat stadium and an opportunity to host the 2018 world cup.

As widely reported, Bristol FC chairman Steve Lansdown is anxious for the council not to ‘drag their heels' before it leads to ‘another missed opportunity for the City.' Despite these criticisms, one can't help feeling a modicum of respect for Bristol City Council's audacious challenge to the supermarket giant's supremacy. Far from being the timid bureaucrats portrayed by Lansdown, BCC are more like Leonidas and his 300 Spartans; bravely resisting the unstoppable corporate juggernaut in its bid to achieve nationwide conquest.

Ultimately, there is something profoundly undemocratic about the colossal power of these corporations and their ability to crush any opposition with the sheer weight of their resources. Although the government go through the motions of canvassing public opinion there is little doubt whose side they will come down on.

For groups like the AASBRR to have any chance of success, they need to make people aware of the worthwhile cause they are fighting for. But would that make any difference? After all, times have changed. The days of the poll tax riots are long gone. Nowadays people are much more subdued, and far from donning their street armour for a pitched battle with the police, dabbling in local politics or even voting, the sad truth is that most people would simply prefer to stay at home and watch Big Brother. So forgive me if I spend my time hugging Bristol's trees - it might not be long before there aren't any left.


Marius Goubert is a freelance writer with his eye on Bristol and beyond.


The views expressed are those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Guide2Bristol.