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."