THE city council consultation into the sell-off of parks and green spaces has been slammed by a Bristol MP.

Dawn Primarolo, Labour MP for Bristol South, pictured, has objected to three proposals drawn up by the council: sell-offs at Salcombe Road Recreation Ground in Knowle; Kings Head Lane Park, in Bishopsworth; and Higham Street Open Space, in Totterdown.

She said: "The council's whole consultation process has been shambolic. Residents have found out about proposals to sell off green space by chance. Understandably, they are upset and angered by the council's proposals. Unfortunately, the various forms and websites seem to be designed to make it as difficult as possible for residents to have their say.

"Lots of residents in Knowle, Bishopsworth and Windmill Hill have been in touch with me to express concerns about these plans. The council's obscure funding proposals mean that there is no guarantee that money will be reinvested in the area where the land is sold off. That could mean that residents near Salcombe Road have a load of new houses on their doorstep without even an additional bench in the park to make up for it. It's just not fair that land sales in Knowle could end up paying for better facilities in Redland, however much they might be needed."

Public consultation on the sell-off ended yesterday, and the council is set to make a decision in December.