Concerns raised over potential sale of key car park for shoppers in Stockwood

A car park used by the public in Stockwood for decades is under threat again after the land was listed for sale at auction.

Hollis Morgan Auction house say the 45-space car park in Harden Road could be used for a development, although plans to build four detached homes at the site were refused by Bristol City Council three years ago.

At the time, Stockwood councillor Graham Morris objected to the homes plan, stating that the loss of car parking would have an impact on people who use it for the shops facing Stockwood Road, the medical centre, school and dentist.

He also said it could lead to shops closing due to a fall in visitor numbers to the area.

But now the land is up for auction with a guide price of just £50,000. The date of the auction is October 19.

Speaking to Bristol World today (September 18), Councillor Morris said that he had been in contact with Bristol City Council to ask the authority to purchase the car park after seeing it listed for auction.

He says the purchase would safeguard the car park as well as providing an opportunity for investment with the repaving of the area.

Asked if he was worried over the listing of the site for auction, he said: “Yes, it is a concern of mine. What I want to see happen is the council buy the car park and tarmac it so people can continue to use it.

“The location of the car park is essential and intergral to services in the community. We have also got an aging population; they still need somewhere to park.”

In a report by Bristol City Council ahead of the decision to refuse the proposal for homes at the stie in December 2019, planning officers did say that although the car park is well-used, it was understood to be private land and could be closed to the public ‘at any time’.

Councillor Morris said: “I really want to see discussions start between the site owner and the council.”

The auction listing can be viewed here.