The Downs Committee met to discuss business opportunities on the Downs, maintenance, events, finances, and community engagement. The committee was also scheduled to discuss excluding the public from part of the meeting to discuss confidential matters.

Downs Community Engagement

The committee was scheduled to receive a report for April to June 2025 giving a summary of activities of the Avon Gorge and Downs Wildlife (AGDW) learning and community engagement programme¹. The report noted that despite some challenging conditions on the Downs between April and August, there had been much positive experience and engagement continuing on site, in particular with schools. The report stated that the council are now accepting that the human impact damage imparted to the Downs is not sustainable, and thanked the council for erecting temporary wooden posts on the Ladies Mile. The report urged the council to continue with the erection of temporary posts until a more long-term solution is found to prevent driving onto the grasslands, saying that the ecological and social damage cannot be undone for this year but it can be prevented from occurring again next year.

The committee was scheduled to discuss the Love your Living Downs campaign, which launched in July and is aimed at those few members of the public who use the green space irresponsibly and without valuing the natural site. The campaign aims to engage people with the concept that leaving litter on the ground, or in bags by full bins or roadsides, and that lighting fires and barbecues, are damaging to nature and wildlife. The report stated that there are already some exciting results, in particular with a reduction in the number of barbecues and fires being lit on the Downs.

The committee was also scheduled to discuss a family community day on the Ladies Mile, organised by Friends of the Downs and Avon Gorge (FoDAG), AGDW and Councillor Paula O'Rourke, Councillor for Clifton, and Bristol City Council.

The report also detailed formal education sessions, ecology focus, bird surveys, the National Plant Monitoring Survey (NPMS)², silky wave moth surveys, pollinator surveys, goats in the Gully, rare botanical species in the Avon Gorge, and the council consultation on vehicle dwellers in Bristol September 2025. The report included photographs taken during a one-hour bird survey on 21st August, which by chance happened to be along the corridor between Peregrine Watch point and the Goat Gully. The photographs showed excessive amounts of toilet roll and wipes. The report stated that the response to the public consultation by the Downs Committee should focus not only on the human implications, which are obvious, but also the ecological implications to both the Downs and Avon Gorge and the long-term future of both sites as a place of public resort and wellbeing.

Downs Business Report

The committee was scheduled to receive an update report from the Business Development Manager on business opportunities at key locations across the Downs.

The report stated that a Lawful Development Certificate³ has been submitted for the Zoo - North Car Park, and that this application is due to be determined in September 2025. The operator will need to install signage stating terms and conditions for use, the charging rates and hours of use. In addition, the operator will install a pay machine and a single camera for the ANPR system⁴. Regarding Stoke Road Pitches, the report stated that the committee was waiting for the potential operator to provide further details as to the proposal for a mini golf next to the water tower. The land required would be appropriated by the Downs Committee under section 11 of the Downs Act⁵. There is also to be an application made by the Bristol Downs League for a pitch improvement grant, the application will be for the improvement of 10 pitches. The proposal for Stoke Road Changing Rooms is to look at a two-storey building which will continue to provide changing facilities on the ground floor but will provide an upper floor for hospitality/leisure opportunities on the upper floor. It is intended that this would form part of a Heritage Lottery application.

An initial proposal has been worked up for the refurbishment of the Sea Walls Site existing toilet building to be changed into a new café/kiosk and public toilet.

The council will implement a scheme for charging businesses operating in parks across the city. The Downs will be introducing its own fee rate which is currently being reviewed.

An Expression of Interest has been submitted for Lottery Heritage Funding towards the Downs. A new Expression of Interest is being worked up and will be submitted for consideration.

There is an opportunity to look at advertising income, through two sources: signage at ground level provided at locations such as roundabouts at the top of Blackboy Hill and the White Tree roundabout, and banner advertising which could be located on lighting columns/lamp posts in areas such as Westbury Road, Clifton Down and Gloucester Row.

Downs Management Report

The committee was scheduled to receive an update report from the Area Parks Supervisor summarising the work on the Downs for the summer season.

The report stated that since the last meeting in June, there have been some successes in lessoning then hopefully ceasing the frequent traveller encampments in and around the Ladies Mile area, through a multi-pronged attack involving the installation of wooden bollards, injunctions, lots of new signage, police attendance, the love your Downs campaign and the 2nd Your Living Downs Ladies Mile Road closure to promote protecting the space.

The report also stated that the 25/26 football season has begun, and that there is now a 3rd customer at the Downs, with various youth teams from the Westbury Foxes now renting pitches at the Downs on a weekly basis playing games on a Saturday and Sunday throughout the season.

Downs Events Report

The committee was scheduled to receive an update report from the Events Officer on 2024 events that had taken place since the last meeting and for future events in 2025.

The report included a table of events scheduled for April to October 2025 at the Water Tower, Circular Road, Parry's Lane and the Showground.

The report stated that there have not been any new requests for events on the Downs this year, and that the 2026 calendar will shortly be confirmed.

The report also noted that there had been three icasework complaints relating to the Festival of Summer regarding no advance notification and noise, two relating to Pride and the closure of Parrys Lane restricting parking, two Feast On complaints regarding the PROW footpath being shut during the event and one regarding noise, and two generic complaints regarding frequency of events and damage to ground.

Downs Finance Report

The committee was scheduled to receive the financial report outlining Outturn for 2024-25 and the Forecast for 2025-26.

The report stated that the current forecast is a deficit of £248k, the previous forecast was a deficit of £191k, and that the deficit has increased by £57k due to the extension of the Downs Business Development Manager, eviction costs and reduced event income. In 2024-25 the deficit was £100k and in 2023-24 the deficit was £194k.

The gross income forecast is a deficit of £36k due to lower event income, and expenditure pressures are expected to continue this year and be overspent by £212k, including employee costs, premises R&M, grounds maintenance, cleaning and eviction costs.

Exclusion of the public

The committee was scheduled to discuss excluding the public, as members of the public may only be excluded where the committee is considering information that has not been made public.

Items for discussion were scheduled to include:

1. PT Operators Licence.
2. North car park.
3. Downs Boundary Protection.
4. Downs Management Plan.