CAMPAIGNERS will urge councillors today to help save green open spaces near their homes.

They are fighting to stop the sell-off of open land in the council's controversial open spaces strategy which is being discussed at a full meeting of the council at College Green.

Campaigner Tom Thomas who is fighting to save an open space at Bracey Drive in Downend said residents had carried out their own assessment, based on a local questionnaire, which showed beyond doubt that the site should be saved from the bulldozer.

He said: "The local community would be disadvantaged if this space was disposed of as it provides a safe, open and trouble free space for all age groups to enjoy.

"It also provides a valuable green space with mature trees, and is close to home for families with children, physically disabled and older people living in the locality."

He said the estate had a variety of homes ranging from one bedroom bungalows and starter homes as well as larger properties and therefore has a varied demographic in terms of its residents.

He said: "The land is level and provides for those with poor mobility.

"A number of physically disabled and older residents have confirmed in writing that they use the green because 'it is easily accessible and on level ground'. Clearly, disposal of the green space will greatly disadvantage this group of residents."

Bracey Drive is one of 11 sites which look like to be provided with an escape route from being sold off for housing.

But a big question mark still hangs over the future of a further 38 sites.

One of these is in Dovercourt Road, Horfield where campaigners met up with members of the Narroways Hill group in St Werburgh's at the weekend to discuss forging links to provide a stronger campaign.

Narroways' campaigner Mo McManus said: "We feel that working together will emphasise the importance of our open green spaces. We're suggesting that other groups in the city could link up so they can create a joint approach to save their own sites."

The campaigners say that losing the Dovercourt Road green space, it would have a negative health and social impacts on people's lives.

Councillors will decide whether all 49 sites should be considered by the council's Neighbourhood Partnerships – or just 11 of them.

The partnerships, the new council committees which give local people a say in decision-making, would be asked what to do about the future of open spaces in their areas.

It is highly likely that the partnerships would recommend to stop any new development.

But a working party which was set up to carry out a review into the controversial open spaces strategy would allow partnerships to use any money from the sale of land in their own localities.

It is highly likely at today's debate that Labour and Tory councillors will join forces to outvote the Liberal Democrats. But the Lib Dems will have the final say because they run the council and hold control of the ruling cabinet which will have to sign off any decision.

The Lib Dems had to promise to a review in order to hang on to power after the last local elections which saw them lose their overall majority.

It is unlikely that the cabinet would go against the wishes of the council because it might trigger a vote of no confidence to oust the Lib Dems from power.