Fight to save Bristol's green spaces that are 'estate's lifeblood'
STOCKWOOD residents say they do not want more houses – they want more facilities and to keep their green spaces.
In a public meeting at Christ the Servant Church last night, more than 150 people came to discuss the city council's Area Green Space Plan.
There are ten Stockwood "disposal" sites identified for possible sale and development, including: part of Craydon Road open space; part of Sturminster Close open space; and small areas near Burnbush Close and Maple Close.
The city council has promised to reinvest 70 per cent of any money made from sales back into improving parks and green spaces across the city. The other 30 per cent will go into general funds.
Passionate residents said they cherished the pleasant views they enjoy and were concerned whether there was the infrastructure to cope with more housing and people.
Friends of Stockwood Open Spaces chairwoman Margaret Short said: "The green space is Stockwood. It's the lifeblood of our estate and it's why people love it so much. We don't need houses, we need better facilities for the community."
In a fiery public meeting, the council's cabinet member for strategic transport, waste and targeted improvement, Gary Hopkins, came in for criticism.
Residents said he had been "disrespectful" and "appalling" for apparently laughing several times as he fielded questions.
The Liberal Democrat member said he was not laughing at the issues in hand but found it ironic that Conservative ward councillors Jay Jethwa and David Morris had been "doing nothing for two years" while the plans were being developed by officers, with input from the Bristol Park Forum.
Mr Hopkins said: "All three political parties, not including the Green Party, were in agreement with the strategy two years ago.
"I fully understand that people are very concerned about the land next to them. I would be."
Mrs Jethwa accused Mr Hopkins, whom she called a liar, of failing to respond to a number of concerns she had emailed him. She said there was no need to sell land to fund improvements to the parks because there was more than £200,000 of Section 106 money – banked from developments in the city – earmarked for Stockwood.
Residents were concerned transport in the area and schooling, now that Stockwood Green School has closed, would not be able to cope.
For more information visit the FOSO website http://tinyurl.com/fosos or ring Ms Short on 0117 983 5204. For the council plans, call 0117 922 3719 before October 29.
3 Comments
by Paul, Stockwood
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 11:48PM
“I also attended this meeting and was appalled by Mr Hopkins attitude towards the residents of Stockwood. The majority of valid questions and points could not be answered by him in a dignified matter and it became obvious he had no knowledge of the area or how local constituents felt about the matter and was not prepared to listen. The Stockwood area does not have enough amenities to support the current residents with 10 days waiting times for a Doctors appointment etc so there is no need for more housing in the area instead any monies available for Stockwood could be spent more wisely. From Mr Hopkins attitude however, it was obvious the words wise and the current council do not go together. From the way that meeting went its clear Stockwood itself will get no voice or opinion on the plans unless something urgent is done. I tried to make the point that no-one from the area that were present had been consulted but this was swifly moved away from. We can only hope more people from the area can make a stand against this waste of time and money. Stockwood is fine as it is thank you very much Gary and Chums!!”
by Craig, Stockwood
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 10:53PM
“I was at the meeting & was absolutely disgusted by the attitude, of Gary Hopkins the council official. He seemed more interested in laughing at local residents when they voiced their concerns, ignored others or dodged valid questions. If he came to the meeting hoping to convince residents that this was a proper consultation and that our concerns would be listened to I'm sure the majority were left as I was with no real confidence that he would really take anything we said seriously and that the whole range of council proposals was a done deal. Im sure they will make the odd change here & there to make it look as though they have listened but in reality trying to sell this open space plan by promising long term care of parks & preserving some open spaces is in my mind not the real reason this is being done. Gary dismissed my opinion out of hand that this was nothing to do with providing housing and that this was a secondary matter. The council I believe has to provide at least 10,000 houses in the next 20 years. Areas like Stockwood that are blessed woth open space will be pillaged to provide that land to build those houses on. Supposedly the land will be sold on the open market but it is obvious that the highest bidders will be developers who will want to maximise the value of the land. Feelings did run high & fair play for Gary actually turning up as he must have known that he was likely to get a frosty reception when people realised his role but he did nothing to convince us of why we had to buy into this plan, prefering a more bullish attitude which will no doubt drive these proposals through with the same aggressive power as the bulldozers ripping out the mature trees around our open spaces.”
by Martin, Clifton.
Tuesday, September 07 2010, 5:48PM
“The clue is in the name. "StockWOOD". Buldozing the green spaces would be like re-routing the river away from Avonmouth.”