A PARK in St Anne's could be sold off by Bristol City Council, according to one resident.

Andy Miller has spotted council officials surveying the park between Newbridge Road and St Anne's Road during the past two months to check if it is well-used.

But the human resources consultant reckons the council has deliberately visited the area when the park has been quiet, such as on rainy days and on a bank holiday.

Mr Miller, who lives in Newbridge Road, said: "We could see a man with a clipboard out on the green counting people so we all ran out to see what he was doing.

"It's the sneaky way the council go about doing things as on the two dates they took readings people weren't about because of the bad weather or because they were away for the bank holiday weekend."

The green, which is lined with trees and surrounded by a footpath and benches, is popular with families, dog walkers, joggers and employees from nearby offices.

Mr Miller said: "It's not just families that use the green, everyone uses the area as it is also a shortcut through to the shops."

Andy said that although St Anne's Park is further along the road, the green provides a safer place for younger children as they do not have to worry about groups of older children, and do not have to cross a busy road to reach it.

Bristol City Council spokeswoman Helen Hewitt confirmed the council was conducting surveys at a number of sites to look at how they were being used.

She said: "This work is a part of the council's information gathering to support any future decisions on green spaces in the area.

"It's all part of the council's 20-year Parks and Green Space Strategy, which will see significant investment in the city's parks and green spaces over the coming years.

"There will, of course, be full consultation and local people will have the chance to give their views," the Bristol council spokeswoman added.