For more than 40 years, Bristol Zoo has used an area of the Downs off Ladies Mile for its overflow parking.

Downs bylaws may prohibit activities like cycling and barbecuing, with even windbreaks falling foul of overzealous officials, but the zoo and its visitors on four wheels remain a special case.

Bristol City Council will later this month hear a new application from the zoo for permission to park 700 cars on 60 days a year for another five years.

Opposing the application are groups including Bristol Ramblers, Clifton & Hotwells Improvement Society and the Green Party.

But in favour is Destination Bristol, who say that without adequate parking the zoo’s plans for the future would be “severely threatened”.

Green Party councillor and former mayor candidate Daniella Radice said: “Surely it is inconceivable that visitors attracted to the city by its status as European Green Capital, and hearing about this fantastic and unique open space, should arrive in 2015 to find it covered in cars…

“We all have great affection for the zoo, and that is why successive planning committees have bent over backwards to help them.

“But it has become clear that the zoo has no strategy to solve its parking issues other than to continue to rely on the sympathy of the council.  No other business would receive such consideration.”