Ashton Court Quarry

20 acres of Bristol's favourite park is still under threat from Australian multinational Pioneer Aggregates, who now have planning permission to expand their quarry. A long-standing campaign to stop the expansion has so far succeeded in only slightly reducing the proposed loss of park from the original 34 acres planning application.

Having had no joy in discussions with Pioneer's regional management, the quarry campaigners headed up to London, hung a banner off the roof of the Pioneer office, and leafleted staff. The police were called, arriving 45 minutes later in a van, from the police station next door. Security was left spluttering indignantly with the sad news that leafleting about the destruction of public parkland is not a criminal offence in this country and the police did not wish to get involved.

After 3 hours waiting to meet the UK director of Pioneer Aggregates campaigners got bored, discovered the boardroom, and occupied it. Miraculously, the man appeared, and a lively discussion ensued. The implacable face of corporate bureaucracy was however totally unmoved - as far as Pioneer are concerned, they've got their planning permission, and they don't care about the ethics of it all. Work on the expansion is expected to start this spring, with a massive earth-moving operation to transplant the wild flower meadow from Top Park Field.

Contact 0117 939 3093 or the campaign web page;http://www.gn.apc.org/cycling/ashtoncourt