NIMBYs, YIMBYs and Image Laundering: The Life of a Passionate Somerset and Bristol Wildlife Campaigner

Yanley, North Somerset

 

"I couldn’t believe the council and developers were trying to tell us they could enhance the ecology of a nationally rare habitat by building over it...ecologists need to be truly independent...you wouldn’t eat at a restaurant that hired their own food safety inspector so why should we accept less for our irreplaceable environment?"

Western Slopes

Somerset Independents puts residents first. Our Constitution also commits us to protect Somerset's wildlife, ecosystems and countryside.

North Somerset is being invaded by the urban sprawl of Bristol. England's "green and pleasant land" (words from our unofficial national anthem Jerusalem) is being built upon. 

You may have heard of "NIMBYs" (Not In My Backyard) which is a frequently-used attack by developers and some councillors on local people who oppose their developments. 

For example, this accusation has been thrown at the Keep Wrington as Wrington campaign in North Somerset, which Somerset Independents advised in its early stages. "NIMBYs" was also thrown at the Easthill campaign in Frome, East Somerset - another campaign that we advised and won (see photo above approved for use by campaigners).

Easthill, Frome
Saved With Our Help

But have you heard of "YIMBYs"?

And did you know that conservation organisations are allowing developers to launder their images by doing "partnerships"?

Andrew Pope interviewed Danica Priest, originally from Virginia in the United States of America and now living in South Bristol.  

Andrew Pope

 

Like Somerset Independents and our supporters, Danica is campaigning against developers, councils, so-called "independent" ecologists and conservation organisations who - against their better judgement - allow both to launder their image. Here is what Danica told Andrew.

 

Danica Priest

 

Andrew: Why did you get involved in campaigning?

Danica: "It started with the Western Slopes/Novers Hill and snowballed when I realised how bad the planning system is, especially compared to Virginia where I grew up. The lack of regulations for environmental issues like erosion control, sewage dumping and endangered species protection is insane.

 

Yanley, North Somerset

 

"I couldn’t believe the council and developers were trying to tell us they could enhance the ecology of a nationally rare habitat by building over it. My dad worked in the housing industry for over 40 years so I grew up around construction sites and that just felt like pure gaslighting to me."

Q: What do you want to achieve personally in your campaigns?

A: "I’m hoping the wildlife habitats under threat of development will be protected permanently and all removed or kept out of the local plan. Especially The Western Slopes/Novers Hill (private and public sections), Yew Tree Farm, Brislington Meadows, Ashton Vale, Marksbury Road, Yanley/Woodsprings greenbelt land and the south Bristol greenbelt.

 

Ashton Vale

 

Danica: "I’d also love to see greater protections for wildlife and priority habitats and a requirement for truly independent ecologists for surveys. I always say you wouldn’t eat at a restaurant that hired their own food safety inspector so why should we accept less for our irreplaceable environment?

Planning wise I want to abolish the loop holes that allow developers to get out of their affordable housing requirements and other promises to contribute to the local community. It’s disgusting that Developers have more safety nets for their profits than vulnerable families have for their children.

I also want to end the unrealistic housing targets and delivery tests which are the root of all these issues. People have been misled to think higher targets = more houses built = lower prices = end of housing crisis. That’s not reality though. People forget developers are not charities and they will build when and where it’s most profitable for them. The current system results in less density, fewer green spaces, less farmland, less wildlife, fewer council homes and higher prices. Everyone loses except for developers, investors and landowners."

Q: Who and which organisations or councillors do you believe are your allies in what you want to achieve?

A: "Bristol Tree Forum definitely deserve a medal for all the hard work they do. Manor Woods Valley group and Crox Bottom have been fantastic allies along with other green spaces and friends of groups.

We’ve also been lucky to have some supportive councillors from all parties fighting in our corner.

Richard Eddy, Ed Plowden, Tony Dyer, Tim Rippington (all Bristol City Council) and Ash Cartman (Executive Member, North Somerset Council) have all gone above and beyond to help."

Q: Who and which organisations or councillors do you believe are your enemies against what you want to achieve?

A: "Most of the property industry organisations and neoliberal think tanks are against us which is to be expected since we are a threat to the broken system they make billions from.

YIMBYs (Yes In My Back Yard) are the most vile of those, especially on Twitter. There are a few awful yimby councillors in London. Luckily most that ran didn’t win their elections which tells you a lot about public opinion.

I’m sure the Bristol City Council Planning department heads are not my biggest fans either. I hope we can be friends someday though, I don’t like having enemies."

Q: Who may be fair-weather friends?

A: "I hate to say it but many of the wildlife charities have partnered with big developers so we can’t trust them anymore. Avon Wildlife Trust have been supportive of the slopes so I appreciate that it might have nothing to do with various local branches but I’ve definitely lost respect for the national Wildlife Trust and The Bumblebee Conservation Trust for supporting Redrow, who want to build over Yew Tree Farm and RSPB for partnering with Barratt Homes."

Q: Who may be hidden enemies (e.g. infiltrators)?

A: I’m not aware of any yet. I don’t think an infiltrator would be too successful since we don’t really have many secrets.

Q: Do you think that you need to get elected representation on councils to achieve your objectives, or is this just one way of achieving what you want?

A: "We can’t achieve much without the support of the Councillors on the planning committee so it’s essential we have supportive elected representatives."

Q: How long are you personally prepared to give to achieving your campaign objectives?

A: "Forever. I’ll never give up. This is my life now."

Who Are Somerset Independents?

Join Somerset's own campaign group and political party to celebrate Somerset's past, protect Somerset's present and prepare Somerset for the future. 

We exist to protect Somerset's wildlife, our ecosystems and countryside.

We can be contacted at the link here and via Twitter @SomerInds, via Facebook at the Somerset Independents page and via email at somerinds [at] gmail.com.