A woman has accused the production company behind BBC's The Outlaws of causing disruption while filming at St Werburgh's City Farm. In a series of tweets, Mhairi Threlfall spoke of "safety issues" allegedly caused by "inconsiderate" parking and blocking of a cycle lane during filming for the third series, produced by Big Talk.
The resident and former Bristol City Councillor claimed there has been no communication from the production house with people living in the area. A spokesperson of the BAFTA-nominated show told BristolLive they had sent a letter to residents due to be impacted in advance of the shoot and have been working closely with Bristol City Council to adhere to strict health and safety regulations.
Ms Threlfall told BristolLive that the production had been affecting residential streets surrounding the farm along Watercress Road, Boiling Cress Road and Mina Road. The mother-of-two explained that parking is rarely ever a problem in the area but said it has become impossible and often dangerous due to the filming.
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She said: "They are having the worst impact on the local area and zero communication with residents. For example: inconsiderate parking includes, constant blocking of a cycle lane on a major route, blocking a pedestrian footway and crossing today making it impossible to get by with a buggy, blocking my car in needed to get to an MoT, coning off parking spaces on multiple streets for their own personal parking - not safety - and again blocking a cycle lane."
Ms Threlfall said she was not informed how long the production was going to be on location in the area. The city farm - which is temporarily closed due to the TV shoot - said the production had been given a deadline of a two-week shoot or ten working days.
A spokesperson for St Werburghs City Farm said: "We've been working right from the beginning with the BBC. There was a co-ordinator who was meant to be co-ordinating with the residents as well as us to keep everybody as happy as possible.
"They have been careful to ask local businesses to use their car parks instead of on the roads as there's been a bit of disruption but not that bad."
The spokesperson at the city farm said there had been some parking in cycle lanes and areas had been sectioned off using cones for extra parking but said the production had also put up notices in the area. "They are taking whatever care they can and I don't think anyone has flagged it as a problem," they said.
St Werbughs City Farm said it welcomed the good publicity it will bring to the farm when the show airs on the BBC. The farm announced it was at risk due to the cost of living crisis last September and launched a crowdfunder, raising £42,159 in donations.
"As any charity knows, it's a tough world out there and the more people we can get through the door the better so it's positivity for us in the long run," they added.
A spokesperson of The Outlaws said: "The production team are working very closely with the Bristol City Council Parking Team, Bristol City Film Department, St Werburghs City Farm and Wild Goose Community Space to ensure all health and safety regulations and protocols are strictly adhered to during filming.
"Local residents were notified by a letter of activity in advance of filming, and provided with a map of the parking spaces that would be used. Any road closures are prominently signposted. The locations team have had a presence in the area during preparation work and as filming takes place.
"The production team have found the residents extremely friendly and helpful, and it's been a pleasure to work with them during this time. We apologise to any residents who have experienced any inconvenience."
Filming for The Outlaws is expected to finish on location this week. There is not currently a launch date for the third series but is expected to air on the BBC later this year.
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