Could we be about to lose Raven's Well in Bristol?

[ChrisDavies73]

Cross posting out of interest in reaching a wider audience.

There is to be a new arena built on the old diesel depot site, looking at the (not very good) map they have on their website part of the development is going to be right over the 'diesel duck and sump' section of the underground structure.
http://www.bristoltemplequarter.com/key-projects/arena/location
As a large public venue, it's likely that access to any open tunnels underneath will probably be closed off in the interests of security or whatever.

Could anyone with UKC access crosspost there just to increase awareness? Cheers.

http://www.darkplaces.co.uk/wiki/RavensWell

 

[rhychydwr1]

I think that the answer is YES.  I used to live in Bristol c1976 and the councillors were a lot of philistines.  I think that nothing has changed.

 

[axbridgecaver]

This is the current item on Bristol City Council Planning Web Site (along with spelling mistakes) -

"15/02401/SCO  |  Request for a scoping opinion as to whether an environmental impact assessment is required for Bristol Arena and Arena Island Regeneration. (Please note that this is not a planning application and therfore we are not carrying out public consulatation on the proposal at this stage).  |  Former Diesel Depot Bath Road Brislington Bristol BS4 3DT"

When planning permission is applied for the City Archaeologist should get involved since Raven's Well dates to 1561 if not 1366. When this does arise the public should be able to comment on the submission.

However I think that Tony is correct and it will be pushed through and we could loose access to this beautiful ancient conduit.

 

[mrdetail]

Anyone been down since the work began in earnest?

 

[mikem]

It hasn't started yet, if planning permission is cleared this summer they are hoping to start early 2016 & compete by 2017, not that previous attempts got very far: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bristol_Arena

Mike

 

[mikem]

How far does Ravens Well extend beyond the railway line as I doubt anything other than access roads and parking will be built that close?

Mike

 

[graham]

According to the map that I have, there is very little beyond the railway. I'm not sure I see what the issue is here.

 

[mikem]

The Arena won't be anywhere near the tunnel, however, the 3d fly-through shows that by 2037 they also hope to develop the riverside strip all the way to the Paintworks, which includes the overgrown area around the entrance...

Mike

 

[graham]

Well, they've got a ready-made private water supply, then.  We tested the water a few years back & it was perfectly good quality.

 

[axbridgecaver]

Survey of Raven's Well overlaid onto a Google Earth satellite view of the area

 

[Judi Durber]

Is that where the Wells Road meets the A4 in Bristol?    :-\

How stable are the tunnels under all that traffic 

And just because the river side is not planned to be developed for another 20 years doesn't mean we should ignore any applications in the area. 

 

[graham]

Is that where the Wells Road meets the A4 in Bristol?    :-\

Yes

How stable are the tunnels under all that traffic 

Perfectly, there is no sign underground of any problem.

And just because the river side is not planned to be developed for another 20 years doesn't mean we should ignore any applications in the area. 

So are you going to talk to Historic England about getting it scheduled as an ancient monument? Well volunteered.

 

[Pat Cronin]

Dear Team

To add to the survey data; the area beyond the sump, which passed inside the foundations of the locomotive turntable (1972), soon becomes stone arched again,  quickly reaching a junction, very close to the river bank, one branch is blocked, the other continues, as stone arching, to open onto an elevated location above the river level. Overall distance some twenty metres at the most.

Love, Light and Peace

Pat