Protesters get vocal over plans to sell off Bristol's green land
MORE than 50 people gathered on College Green to protest against plans to sell off plots of green land across Bristol.
Residents representing more than half a dozen of the 62 sites Bristol City Council is considering disposing of assembled in front of the Council House ahead of last night's council meeting.
Inside they submitted five petitions with thousands of signatures opposing the proposed sales, and public speaking time was extended twice to allow 15 statements to be read out, to roars of applause from the gallery.
Outside protesters chanted slogans including "Don't be mean, keep it green" and "Save our green spaces", while holding placards and banners.
All argued that their respective green spaces were well-used by people of all ages and should not be sold off for development by the authority.
Councillors were accused of "selling off the family silver" by one speaker.
Residents attended the meeting from a number of areas affected, including: Lodge Hill in Kingswood; Begbrook Drive, Stapleton; Bracey Drive, Fishponds; Okebourne Park, Brentry; and Kings Head Lane Park, Bishopsworth.
The protesters were joined by Kipper the horse and his owner, 26-year-old student Evita Gonzalez, of Fishponds.
Ms Gonzalez said: "We've been using a field in the centre of Fishponds for 13 years.
"We found surveyors coming to look at the fields, and when we asked the council they said they were selling it. They gave us one month to find him somewhere to live.
"Lots of children visit him, people give him carrots on the way to work, so it's not just us that is being affected, it is the community.
"We're here to hand in a petition with 300 signatures, with 300 more online."
Retired David Reeve, 63 of Stockwood, was representing the Stockwood Open Spaces group.
He said: "We are protesting because all of these green spaces need to be kept for future generations, our grandchildren, and their grandchildren.
"We have a lovely area, kids use the open space and then all of a sudden the council is saying it needs to be sold off. We're saying 'no'."
Residents from Totterdown, including nurse Angela Russell, 52, and part-time teacher Philippa Gardener, 44, were opposing any plans to build houses on Higham Street Green in Totterdown.
Ms Gardener said: "We've got a green space used for dog walking, kids, disabled people and has been established for years.
"It's valuable to us as space. We are incensed."
Inside the meeting, Rosemarie Rendu-Jeffries presented a petition with 894 signatures against the sale of land in Lodge Hill.
She said: "Once it's gone, it will be lost forever.
"The site at the top of Lodge Hill is well kept, and people enjoy the magnificent views over Bristol and the Welsh hills. Please leave it as it is.
"We like it as it is, we want to keep our spaces green ."
Dr Innes Newman presented another petition, with 724 signatures, against the potential loss of land at Begbrook Drive.
She said: "Begbrook Drive open space has been a playground and park used by the local community since 1946. Officially referring to our community green space as a 'disposal site' in recent council literature has created an enormous distress and anxiety for many residents.
"To lose our beloved green space would be more detrimental to us than you can imagine.
"What you have proposed for our neighbourhood lacks thought, good judgment and maturity.
"We feel it is a complete betrayal so we therefore ask that you abandon development proposals. Please do not deprive us of our beloved green open space."
Executive member Councillor Gary Hopkins was booed and heckled by the public when he stood up to address questions.
He said: "When you look at the overall strategy it will be impossible to please everyone. It can't be done because everyone values their open space."
This promoted calls of "then leave them alone then".
Mr Hopkins continued: "In the past our land and open spaces was sold off on the quiet, without anyone being made aware of it.
"We will take into account all the comments that are being made and the strategy will probably change quite significantly.
"But the green spaces strategy is too important to abandon because it will bring investment into our parks."
12 Comments
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by Patrick Lyons, St.Annes
Tuesday, September 14 2010, 1:11PM
“Congratulations Councillor Hopkins and your team, for in this era of financial austerity, amdist ever increasing pressure from Central Government to make massive savings, you and your team propose to indulge in some quasi bacchanalian orgy of spending, purportedly for the sole benfit of the residents of Bristol. Quite ingenious.”
by Oliver, Bristol
Friday, September 10 2010, 12:19AM
“they ruined my day shouting at the public whilst i was relaxing with a beer and a ciggy with daniel mullins minutes after the judge set him free.”
by Vicky Pollard, Bristol(fishpons)
Wednesday, September 08 2010, 8:17PM
“mr hedgeshogs stop bein stoopid iceland is near kingaswood in the preesinct”
by Daniel, Clifton
Wednesday, September 08 2010, 4:47PM
“Poor, poor Edward,
I think you may have a fear of horses that is seriously affecting your ability to think things through rationally. The point is the field with the horse is in the same situation as the other 61 greens and parks that are being flogged.
That golden down-pour from the council is not rain and you may not have to wait long before they try and take something that you care enough about to protest against. I just hope that there will not be an insensitive blogger who claims your actions to be shifty, sly or underhand or whatever your conspiracy theory is.
So just think Edward, how sad would you be if the council sold your home from under your nose?
But don't worry Edward, Kipper will not hurt you. But the council might.”
by kipper supporter, fishponds
Wednesday, September 08 2010, 4:39PM
“Edward, you are heavily outnumbered in your opinion. All the locals want to keep Kipper's field as it is. Maybe you would like to tell all the children that are so upset at Kipper's departure that Kipper is 'just a horse'. Shame on you”
by Fishponds Resident, Fishponds
Wednesday, September 08 2010, 4:32PM
“Oh dear Edward, You seem to be missing the point!
The paddock in question, which is known locally as Kipper's field, had been grazing land for horses for over fifity years. The horses and ponies that have lived there have brought a lot of joy to the local community both young and old, me included! We do not want the field to be developed into yet more houses. We want it to stay as grazing land and for Kipper to live out all of his days there. When he passes away we would like another horse to take his place in our community. To say that the family would think that the land is theirs is completely unfounded and slanderous. Perhaps you should worry about the green spaces in your own area instead of complaining about people that are trying to do some good for their local community. Or perhaps you would like to live in a concrete and brick world?
I say save Kipper's field and all those green spaces that are so cherished by their local communities!”
by Miguel, Fishponds
Wednesday, September 08 2010, 3:31PM
“Edward,
I can't really see what your problem is. What would you rather the banner said? "Save the field on College Road"? It doesn't really have the same ring to it, does it? Kipper is a well know character in the area, I can only assume you live too far away to know him. Kipper forms a focal point for the campaign to keep the field as pasture for horses. As regards asking whether Kipper's owners would consider themselves to own the field when Kipper dies, that is a ridiculous assumption to make, and is not based on any sort of evidence. The fact remains that the field has been pasture land for over 50 years; for approximately a quarter of that time, it has housed Kipper. There is nothing shady nor underhand about "this Kipper journey" and I seriously do not understand your problem with trying to keep an area of Fishponds as an area that most locals enjoy; or do you think tat the 300 signatories of the petition are made up? I don't see what's wrong with trying to keep the pasture on College Road as pasture land. I can only presume that you work in the construction trade and would love to see the nearby roads clogged with up to 200 extra cars for the homes that will be built on the site and on the UWE campus.”
by Edward, Fishponds
Wednesday, September 08 2010, 2:04PM
“One of the banners in the picture "Save Kipper's Field".
It's not Kipper's field it belongs to the council and kipper is just a horse. What about when this horse dies, do the owners think that the land is then theirs? Somthing not quite right about the Kipper journey..”
by Anon, Posted from my iPhone
Wednesday, September 08 2010, 1:54PM
“And this is a council that calls itself Green! What a joke...
The Hedgehog”
by Anon, Posted from my iPhone
Wednesday, September 08 2010, 1:52PM
“no its iceland innit vicky.
hows the pocks my babber? you wanna watch they. thell ruin yor complecshun.
the hodgeheg”