Bristol parks sell-off was 'an utter disgrace'
WHILE some people are celebrating their parks being saved from Bristol City Council's sell-off plan, many are outraged about the decision to dispose of nearly 50 more.
The area green spaces plan originally aimed to sell off up to 64 sites across Bristol in a bid to raise money to improve up to 200 more.
At a cabinet meeting on Thursday night, councillors agreed to sell off 48 sites, defer seven and save nine following public consultation.
But even those who are happy to have saved their own sites after months of campaigning have raised concerns about others who have not been so fortunate.
Sam Thomson, of Friends of Horfield Common, said she was extremely pleased with the council's decision to save Wellington field from sale.
"But in terms of the wider city we're very unhappy that other groups have green spaces that are being sold," she said.
"You flog off green spaces then have money in the short term. What do you do in 10 years' time when you have no more green space to sell?"
Darren Lewis fought successfully to save part of St Anne's Park from development. He said: "We were delighted that the council has taken notice of the depth of feeling from the local community in respect of the council's proposal for St Anne's Park.
"This has taken a great deal of time, effort and resources, that could have be spent working positively with the council on helping them shape plans instead of fighting poorly thought-out ideas."
Newbridge Road open space in St Anne's will be sold off despite attracting more than 2,400 objections on a petition – exactly the same number as nearby St Anne's park.
Pledging to fight the decision, campaigner Amanda King said: "As a group we are not happy that any communities, no matter how small, should lose their valuable green space.
"All people who have signed our petitions did so for both so understandably there will be dismay at yet another bad council decision."
Alison Devonshire fought to save a number of spaces in Southmead, some of which will be sold and others not.
She said: "This is a bittersweet pill to swallow. I am pleased that some parks have been removed, but what of the rest? Lib Dems will be remembered for this sell-off of people's land as was Margaret Thatcher for the poll tax."
Opposition politicians have condemned the decision to go ahead with the sell-off despite opposition.
Councillor Mark Weston, for the Conservatives, said: "The decision of the Lib Dem cabinet to push through this slightly modified scheme was an utter disgrace.
"It seems particularly inept to pursue a selling strategy at a time when the amount of money realised through such forced land sales has fallen so much since it was first devised."
Councillor Jenny Smith, for Labour, said: "The Lib Dem administration haven't done their homework properly and they can't wait. It's a 20-year strategy – why the rush?"
The Lib Dems say they hope people will begin to see the benefits of the plan, which will potentially see millions invested in the parks that aren't sold-off.
Council leader Barbara Janke said: "I can assure all those who have taken part that we have listened very carefully to all the points raised and changes have been made as a result.
"But these disposals will not happen tomorrow – this is a 20-year strategy, and there will be ongoing extensive involvement of local residents, and increasingly the Neighbourhood Partnerships, through the planning process and any future development of these sites."
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by ed, bristol
Monday, December 20 2010, 3:58PM
“All the people who are moaning about land loss are selfish people who don't want anything in their back yard, anything which means land prices will go down or more homes built will be a good thing.”
by Billy, Briz
Monday, December 20 2010, 9:28AM
“20 year stratagy. O well the lib dems won't be about much longer now that everyone knows what a bunch of liars and cheats they are both at national and local level.”
by jim penny, shire
Sunday, December 19 2010, 11:15PM
“Councillor Jon I must also say to you that there are still petitions not accounted for for our area, I am sure that you have not counted the 277 signatures charlotte leslie has put on one petition, and there is another one that siobhan kennedy hall had on e petitions bristol.gov.uk, I am not able to submit these petitions myself so perhaps you could look into that. I can however e mail you the link if you want to see them. I know that a media consultant in Shire has written letters too one from her mother also, a long letter and she also submitted a petition, we dont know whether that was received as she has had no feedback.
Please be so dynamic as to contact me about this or inform me who to contact. Very concerned about our WNS and SCNIs in Shire, and other parts of the city.
Yours in shire.”
by Ms Cole, in the real world in upper knowle
Sunday, December 19 2010, 11:07PM
“councillor jon, Dynamic and what did he say Decisive leadership,. is that what they really think they are doing? Only from where I am sitting it dosnt look like it, most people deal with finances on a daily basis too even if its just their own people of Bristol are not backdated in the ways of the world or management, many are professional individuals who have been around and many have organised leadership, consultations and the such like themselves for various reasons and they know the difference between dynamic and decisive and what we are now seeing in the lib dems, dangerous, and disorganised. The proof is in the pudding, look how many petitions were lost, how much information has not been recorded, where has it all gone, it is an inaccurate picture they have created of Bristols open spaces and they have not applied to their core strategy to protect and strengthen wildlife network sites. Then they sit there and say it was a complete success! ha ha ha ha ha so that is why its been such a joke ha ha ha ha. and a disaster.”
by carol, knowle
Sunday, December 19 2010, 9:54PM
“yes yu r right, the more housing closer to us the more litter too. Isnt gary h in charge of bins too? well he better add a big bin for this park to his wish list and write to avon wildlife about the crack heads. I dont know why he thinks building on half this field and reducing its size but increasing the population of knowle is any good. Just dont vote for them this time NO LIB DEMS we rather have labour to b honest.”
by sue in Hartcliffe, up the cliffe
Sunday, December 19 2010, 9:39PM
“I was born on the south side of Bristol and I know I love dundry and the pidgeon house stream runs from there and forms the malago vale. I am absolutely agast that the council dont seem to recognise that this area is important enough to be saved. I think the only wildlife Mr Hopkins knows is of the critter sort in Knowle -protection of the lesser spotted syringes and now he says he wants a bench for kids to sit and drink on. The only reason he wants lighting there is so he can perv the hartcliffe rapist. My aunty had her back fence kicked in there. Any housing facing this area will get the same asbos. More housing = more kids to hang around in there = more trouble = more bottles. This guy Hopkins is a total idiot, wake up man your in Knowle not barbados no one wants to sunbathe on Salcombe road no matter how many sunbeds you install.”
by John Michael Rogers, Horfield
Sunday, December 19 2010, 9:23PM
“Well said, Jim. It seems that this policy is biased towards swings and roundabouts (literally, for once) and wildlife-rich green spaces are to be ripped up for housing.
Once done, this damage cannot be repaired in the lifetime of anyone now living. The word "tragedy" is no exaggeration.”
by my real name Jim Penny, Shirehampton
Sunday, December 19 2010, 9:14PM
“Dear Councillor Jon Rogers
Have you seen the lovely areas that are still on the disposal list? Do you ever take on board that many disabled people can not get to SEA MILLS from Shirehampton to attend a public consultation or read a complicated form. The dates for this consultation were given totally wrongly to our local newspaper in shire who had to change them at the last minute, then If this was a public consultation as I am sure you intended it to be, then dont you think it could have been done in a much better way? and IN the actual areas; then the results would have been more accurate. Instead, items were missing and people could not get to the public consultations or knew nothing of them. I am glad this is a council and not a court of law for you would never be able to provide accurate evidence to support your case. I know that our neighbourhood partnership will not agree to the sale of lands mentioned in the hit list but that is beside the point, the fact that these are SCNIs and WNS should speak for itself what does that say about the area? Does that suggest something ecologically boring, something like garys field in Knowle West that could do with improvement? or does it suggest something far more rich and valuable? I think you know the answer. And why should beautiful rich wildlife areas be destroyed to provide money for benches and lighting in unsound areas of low ecological value. The core strategy states these wildlife networks and SCNIs are to be strengthened not built on. So can you please consider the areas in Shirehampton for strengthening instead of disposal as I am pretty disgusted with the council.
thank you.”
by jimbo, shire
Sunday, December 19 2010, 8:30PM
“how pitiful of the council not to want to protect areas like pidgeon house stream and the daisyfield in shire. These areas are a priority for protection. In any other council that is, but not ours dosnt care enough.”
by Dean, Whitchurch
Sunday, December 19 2010, 8:20PM
“This is the second time I have posted this.
I can only assume the lib dem's had it remove , but they can't remove your vote in May and we must remove the Lib Dem from British politic because they can't be trusted and trust is everything.
Vote out
Cllr Jon Rogers, Ashley Ward Lib Dem Councillor
Vote out
Cllr Jon Rogers, Ashley Ward Lib Dem Councillor
Vote out
Cllr Jon Rogers, Ashley Ward Lib Dem Councillor
Vote out
Cllr Jon Rogers, Ashley Ward Lib Dem Councillor
Vote out
Cllr Jon Rogers, Ashley Ward Lib Dem Councillor
Vote out
Cllr Jon Rogers, Ashley Ward Lib Dem Councillor
Vote out
Cllr Jon Rogers, Ashley Ward Lib Dem Councillor
Vote out
Cllr Jon Rogers, Ashley Ward Lib Dem Councillor
Vote out
Cllr Jon Rogers, Ashley Ward Lib Dem Councillor”