LIKE asking "turkeys to vote for Christmas" was how one Horfield resident described the council's green space consultation.

That was one of hundreds of comments made by residents who won their campaign to save Wellington field from development – but other areas were not so lucky.

This part of the city had one of the largest responses to the green spaces consultation, including 653 pages of public responses and 318 petitions against sales.

The majority focused on saving Wellington field, which was put forward for sale by officers on the grounds that it was "mostly used by dog walkers". Of the four sites in Horfield this was the only one to be saved.

The Dovercourt Road open space will be sold, pending further research on flood risk, despite a petition to save it, while decisions have been deferred on Lockleaze open space and Muller Road recreation ground.

The council argues that selling off green spaces is necessary to help invest of scores of other parks across Bristol, after a lack of investment for decades.

During the consultation period residents were asked to fill in questionnaires saying which of their local parks were most important to invest in and which investments in each park they wanted most.

Of the 297 questionnaires returned, the majority felt Horfield Common and the Ardagh centre were the priorities for investment. Rowlandson Gardens open space was considered the least important.

On the list of proposed upgrades, the majority wanted to "maintain the tennis courts but review the number".

Most residents also wanted to maintain the bowling green.

Two options for the pavilion were both considered important – either to keep the current function or to change it so there is a cafe outside, modern toilets with a community room that could be hired out.

Relocating the courts received an overwhelmingly negative response, while "providing new formal gardens" came bottom of the list.

All of the public responses had names removed when the council published them last month.

One questionnaire comment said: "Don't spend loads of money on 'public art' and sculptures, as they only end up getting damaged. Keep open green spaces as they are – grass itself is a 'multi use games area'."

Another read: "Please don't waste money on unnecessary improvements like making a space in a space. Grass is just fine and lovely. See the example of St Andrew's park and how the basic facilities will attract lots of visitors. "

Rowlandson Gardens open space came bottom of the list on areas that need improving.

Money raised from sales will be added to funding from developer's, grants and the parks department budget and then divided between areas in the city.

Residents will be able to have their say on where the money should go at Neighbourhood Partnerships meetings, and over the next six months a "shopping list" of improvements will be drawn up for each area.

Council spokesman James Easey said: "We are now focussing on the investment into our parks and green spaces. We shall work with a sub-group of the Neighbourhood Partnership and representatives from local parks groups, and it will be for them to draw up a priority list of improvements and new facilities they would like to see for parks and green spaces in their area.

"So that when money becomes available – either through section 106, disposals or grant funding, we shall have a clear idea of which projects to take forward."