Green space petitions are handed in
PEOPLE opposed to plans to sell off swathes of green space across Bristol packed into the Council House last night to hand in petitions filled with thousands of signatures.
Residents from across the city received round after round of applause as they each presented bulky petitions to councillors and delivered passionate speeches at the end of a five-month consultation into the project.
Dog walkers, boy scouts and brownies were among those who united to vent their anger at the proposals to sell 90 acres of parkland at a meeting of Bristol City Council's cabinet.
Residents attacked plans to sell green space they claimed was regularly used for recreational and sporting activities or as a tranquil getaway from hectic city life.
At the meeting, Gary Hopkins, councillor with responsibility for targeted improvement, said: "Although we can't make any decisions in advance, intelligent arguments will be listened to very closely indeed."
The city council plans to sell off "low value" land as part of a project to improve nearly 200 parks and open spaces across the city over the next 20 years. The proposals were published as part of the council's Area Green Space Plan in June.
In December the council will draw up a list of sites that could be sold off. The public will then be asked which areas they would like to see improved. At last night's meeting, petitions were handed in by residents representing Southmead, Brentry, Hartcliffe, Knowle West, Brislington and Stockwood.
6 Comments
by Steve Lansdown, Channel isles
Friday, October 29 2010, 6:05PM
“I totally agree we must save the green spaces!!
Starting in Long Ashton!!
We don`t need a big stadium in league 1 !! we can`t fill ashton gate in the championship!
i don`t care what people think in Bristol now i don`t live there!!
so long suckers !!!”
by Brian, Horfield
Friday, October 29 2010, 2:51PM
“The article fails to mention that all the Scouts, Guides etc were all there to demonstrate against the proposed disposal of Wellington Hill Playing Field ¿ Horfield. In fact there were so many present supporting Wellington Hill Playing Field that there wasn¿t enough space for all members of the public who wanted to attend the meeting in the room ! This shows the depth of feeling by these organisations and forced the Deputy Leader of the Council to change the order of Public Representations at the meeting so that the Wellington Hill Playing Field representations could be heard first, and they could then leave to make room for everyone else !
Well done to these Youth Groups - you deserve to win !
They also demonstrated outside the Council Offices prior to the meeting, along with other Youth Groups, local residents, Councillors and representatives from the Friends Of Horfield Common all in support of the same campaign for Wellington Hill Playing Field and the Ardagh, probably around 100 people in total of all ages.
See photos at: http://friendsofhorfieldcommon.weebly.com/”
by mac gordon, Bristol
Friday, October 29 2010, 12:35PM
“Not surprisingly, all the green areas targeted are in 'less affluent' parts of the city.
Just imagine the response if Redland, Cotham, or Clifton had been the targets!
I'm glad people are fighting for their green spaces. Once they've gone, they can't be brought back.”
by gerry, bristol
Friday, October 29 2010, 11:17AM
“Not wasted Alice it will be recycled.”
by God of all things green, Bristol
Friday, October 29 2010, 9:24AM
“It was for a good cause, Alice..
I'll forgive them”
by Alice Judge, Clifton
Friday, October 29 2010, 9:10AM
“How ironic they wasted all that paper to do so...”