'Least worst option' Medieval barn visitors will walk along unlit rat run

A COMMUNITY heritage centre on the edge of Bristol has been granted permission to hold 'park and stride' events where visitors will be advised to take a torch to walk from their cars offsite to and from the venue down an unlit country road.

- Adam POSTANS

Winterbourne Medieval Barn was given unanimous consent by South Gloucestershire councillors to change previous planning conditions over parking arrangements.

The trust running the heritage asset, built in 1342, said it had become impractical to continue allowing dozens of vehicles to park on grassland for large parts of the year because of the mud and health hazards it caused.

The council’s development management committee agreed by 8-0 to approve the application to vary the current planning conditions when the barn hosts events after hearing transport officers had no objections on safety grounds.

Winterbourne Academy has agreed to let the venue use its car park out of hours to help with problems of overspill of vehicles parking on Church Lane, the meeting was told.

Resident Paul Appleby told the committee that the proposal was “dangerous” and reversed a previous good decision.

He said Church Lane was a commuter rat-run where drivers regularly exceeded the 30mph limit.