Plans for a modern tourist centre by Bristol's Clifton Suspension Bridge could be given the go-ahead this week.

Although the bridge has been a popular tourist attraction for many years, some local people are opposing the plans because they say parking space is already insufficient.

Richard Harris, a solicitor living in the area, was scathing of the proposed location.

"The building is fine in itself but not in that location," he said.

"In this location I think it stands out like a sore thumb."

'Bad idea'

He has made a written submission to the council and hopes to influence the meeting on Wednesday.

"Anything that's likely to add to the congestion is a bad idea," Mr Harris said.

But Mike Rowland, of the Bristol Suspension Bridge Trust, said the area's traffic problems would not be worsened by the proposed centre.

"People come to see the bridge anyway," he insisted.

"We get about eight million visitors a year, 600,000 of whom stay at least a night and the point is that there's a traffic issue anyway."

'Important' site

The visitor centre has been served notice to quit its current home in premises near the bridge.

The proposal before the city council on Wednesday is to build the new two-storey centre on land adjacent to the bridge currently occupied by public toilets.

"We won't go beyond the bounds of space that is there," said Mr Rowland.

"The trust is very sensitive to just how important a site this is - we want to improve facilities here."