Bristol residents stage campaign to try to save their Elderberry Walk area
SOUTHMEAD and Brentry residents are staging a protest tomorrow in the hope of saving one of their green spaces from sale.
Bristol City Council agreed to sell part of Elderberry Walk despite more than 1,650 people signing a petition saying they didn't want any of it disposed of. Instead of pulling the site for sale the council cabinet decided to sell a smaller part than originally planned.
The Friends of Elderberry Walk want the whole site kept and so are calling on people to show their support at an event tomorrow.
It is set to take place between 10am and 11am at Elderberry Walk.
Friends member Alison Devonshire said: "We are a group of concerned residents that value our local park and want to promote its beauty for others to enjoy.
"Join us to help show how much Southmead and Brentry residents value this treasure."
Elderberry Walk is situated off Charlton mead Road, just off the top of Knole Lane. Anyone who wishes to join the campaign to save the site should email elderberryfriends@ hotmail.co.uk or call 0117 949 8062.
Council spokesman James Easey said: "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."
"It is important to remember that these disposals only represent just over two per cent of all our parks and green spaces. And with the imminent acquisition of Stoke Park we will actually have more public parkland for people to enjoy than at present."
8 Comments
by Squirrel, Stokes Croft
Friday, March 18 2011, 9:14PM
“@Steve, Bristol
You seem to have forgotten Brandon Hill, Castle Park, Kings Square & College Green.”
by Steve, Bristol
Friday, March 18 2011, 7:59PM
“@Hedgehog, the inner city of Cabot Ward has very little council parkland -queen square, the bearpit and some land by the M32 and under cumberland basin.
Redland has Redland park, but otherwise the downs, which aren't the council's to sell of.
What clifton and redland do is have lots of gardens -look in google street view and count the trampolines- Those families who have garden access have less need for parkland.
Some parts of the city are, well, bleaker. Lockleaze, east horfield, filton. The greenery nearby makes up for a lot of it. Once you sell of the parkland, things will only get grimmer.”
by Hedgehog, Horfield
Friday, March 18 2011, 5:11PM
“@ Resident
"There may be trouble ahead.... "
I certainly hope so...”
by Resident, Bristol
Friday, March 18 2011, 3:09PM
“Aha! Thank you Hedgehog for enlightening me. Who would have thought such blatant and diabolical discrimination could still be practised by those in charge of the fair City of Bristol? The Council clearly has very little knowledge of how the good people, in areas other than their own, really live.
As the old saying goes " A Little Knowledge is A Dangerous Thing".
It wouldn't do any harm for the Council to remember that as they don't seem to be listening and learning to those in the threatened areas. In fact they MUST do so as it is part of their job and ALL of the City's residents should be treated equally..and their voices heard. There may be trouble ahead....”
by Hedgehog, Horfield
Friday, March 18 2011, 2:39PM
“Well, Resident, we have to remember that the 'posh' areas of Bristol are those where the Council cabinet members have their seats...”
by Resident, Bristol
Friday, March 18 2011, 2:03PM
“Philip and Hedgehog: Our family could not agree with you more. Our green spaces, of whatever size, are very important to residents. I know that the Brentry and Southmead residents are feeling very worried that the Council is going to commandeer the vital green spaces in their area and put buildings on them. Those green spaces are as vital to these residents as they are in any other area of Bristol. The 'posh' areas don't get picked on do they? Hmmm! Something is not right there.”
by Philip, Brentry
Friday, March 18 2011, 1:13PM
“We have all heard about only 2% of the total of green spaces being lost! but if they are lost people will need to drive to any green spaces and parks that are left. most of these spaces are local on your doorstep!
Bristol is supposed to be a green city but if you have to drive to a park or green space you are defeating the object.”
by Hedgehog, Horfield
Friday, March 18 2011, 11:11AM
“Let me wish the people of Southmead and Brentry the very best of luck. Keep fighting, and remember that there are elections on the way.
Wellington Hill has been saved, despite the Council's lies about its lack of use, but NONE of these spaces should be flogged off and this whole absurd scheme should be ditched today.
BTW "It is important to remember that these disposals only represent just over two per cent of all our parks and green spaces."
How many of those parks and green spaces are in the sacrosanct areas of Clifton, Redland, and Stoke Bishop? Alters that statistic a bit, doesn't it?”