Bristol residents fight city council over 'green site' sale
Horfield residents have launched a campaign to have Wellington field registered as a town green.
The field was one of 64 green sites threatened with disposal by Bristol City Council as part of the green spaces strategy.
Officers had put the site forward after deciding it was not used "apart from by dog walkers" but the many residents, church goers, youth groups and Scout group that enjoy the park every week strongly disagreed.
Wellington was removed from the at-risk list by the Lib Dem cabinet in December, following thousands of objections from residents, one of the largest responses in the whole sell-off plan.
The council said the sites that were saved will be protected for 20 years and will see investment raised by land sales elsewhere in the city.
Despite the public opposition, officers still wanted to sell Wellington off in their final report on the consultation held last year.
Campaigners are concerned that it could be threatened again in the future and believe a town green is the best way of protecting it.
Friends of Horfield Common’s Sam Thomson said: "Whilst the threat of losing Wellington Hill Playing Field as a space for use by all has been staved off for now – it is possible that with a change of council policy in the future, or a further economic crisis – it could be threatened again.
"The current council cabinet have recognised how important this field is to local people, groups, families and the wider community and achieving village green status will ensure that it is protected for use by all into the future.
"This application is not about a change of use; it is the most straightforward way of recognising the value that the field has for local people now, has had historically and will have for future generations.
"Achieving village green status for Wellington Hill playing field is a way to ensure that the importance of this open space is formally recognised so that the field will remain accessible and available for use by all into the future."
A Bristol City Council spokesman said: "All applications for town green/village green status follow an agreed procedure.
"We have now reached the stage where we will be shortly publishing the Notices relating to the Wellington Hill application."
19 Comments
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by Mr Bovis, Brick Lane
Monday, January 31 2011, 8:11AM
“Build build build - I shall call my new maize Upper Southmead or Lower Lockleaze and fill it with lots of children, Saxos and make sure the gardens have no gates.”
by The Hedgehog, Horfield
Sunday, January 30 2011, 6:58PM
“For the record, I have never either supported or opposed the new Ashton Vale stadium proposal. I have grave doubts about the validity of the town green decision, but that's another matter. As has been said here, it has distorted the purpose of the legislation to such a degree as to threaten its existence.
Personally, I think the new stadium would put BCFC firmly in Lansdown's pocket and would bankrupt the club if he were to fall under a bus. On those grounds, I certainly wouldn't support it.
As to whether it would be a good thing for Bristol, I'm less sure. On the whole, I'm probably more anti than pro.
Curiously, it's comments from the antis that are more likely to change my mind. They seem to be obsessed with their corner of Bristol and unwilling to look at the big picture. Some support for those in the rest of the city who are fighting for their green spaces would be appreciated.
We in Horfield are safe for the moment, but NONE of this land shoud be flogged off by the Council. I would have thought that the Ashton Vale campaigners would be right behind that, but apparently they're not.
Sorry for the long post, but I'm tired of having my ideas misrepresented.”
by The Hedeghog, Horfield
Sunday, January 30 2011, 6:48PM
“Thank you, clive, but isn't that an argument for protecting THIS bit?”
by harry, Bristol
Sunday, January 30 2011, 6:46PM
“I am equally amazed that any one in Horfield would attack Ashton Vale's town green application as anyone in Ashton Vale would attack Horfield's.
I guess Hedgehog you may be reeping what you have sown across the message boards.”
by clive, horfield
Sunday, January 30 2011, 6:21PM
“let them build on it they builds every where else”
by The Hedgehog, Horfield
Sunday, January 30 2011, 6:03PM
“Good question that, Joanne. The last person who repeatedly defended the sell-off disappeared toot sweet when asked about their motives. Wonder why...”
by JOanne Wallac, Lockleaze, Bristol
Sunday, January 30 2011, 4:52PM
“Excellent contribution there Anon! - that's complete rubbish - this field is used on an almost daily basis by Toddler Groups (you can see their fire assembly point in it!), Scouts & Guides and Youth Groups etc as well as by local residents & I'm not aware of any problems from undesirables hanging around or making trouble there - that's why people want to retain it because it is safe for kids to use - rather than being Anon - why don't you let us know who you are? Does it serve your purposes to rubbish the idea that this is worth saving from being sold off?”
by Anon, Bristol
Sunday, January 30 2011, 3:30PM
“Yes lots of druggies and tramps use this field they have done for many many years”
by Joanna Wallace, Lockleaze, bristol
Sunday, January 30 2011, 2:29PM
“Well said Harry. Any ways of retaining green spaces for use by people who live near them should be welcomed - people aren't NIMBYs (Stan) just because they live in another part of the city - if you look at the info on this application it's clear that the field is used by lots of people who want to be able to continue using it - yet despite this the Coucnil's officers still said it should be sold. The issues in Ashton Vale are different & it's not fair to merge them together in relation to this - good luck to Ashton Vale being able to resolve the issues there - there's a meeting tomorrow to mediate between the two sides - let's hope it's a success; but regardless of that - this application in Horfield seems like a very good idea and people across the city should support it.”
by Dog Walker, Bristol
Sunday, January 30 2011, 12:24PM
“Come on Hedgehog, you should know by know, everyone is against the anti-stadium people - if you're not with use then you're against us mentality. They are being persecuted and ridden over roughshod by the corporate evil that is Steve Lansdown.
And they are absolutely not manipulating a piece of poorly written leglislation to their own ends. By doing so, they are totally not putting the future of the leglislation at risk and hence the future of many genuine town/village greens. Oh no, definitely not.”