MORE than 1,000 people have signed a petition demonstrating against the proposed sell off of land in Hartcliffe, and 800 more in Bishopsworth.

The possibility of building 21 homes on King's Head Lane Park and the threat to Pigeonhouse Stream have attracted particular criticism from residents.

<p>But other parks in this part of the city are under threat too, including part of Withywood Park, Billand Close, land at the junction of Huntingham Road and Keble Avenue and parts of Willmott Park. </p> <p>Vicarage Lane resident John Collins organised a meeting of residents in August to fight the proposals for Bishopsworth. He described the green space plan as " raving="" mad".="">

Mr Collins said: "I've not yet met one person who has said this is a good idea.

"They're riding roughshod over people's wishes. I don't think this is the way to do it.

"The park has been established for 50 years and to come out of the blue and say they want to put 21 dwellings – it doesn't seem a lot of forethought has gone into it.

"It's not a large park and the chunk they're going to take will spoil it.

"There's no going back – you can't build houses and then 12 months later say it's not working and knock them down. It's just not wanted full stop."

Mr Collins is also concerned that any money raised from the sales would either be spent on things residents didn't actually want, or go to wealthier parts of the city.

He said: "The money could be spent in Clifton or wherever, that's the fear from these proposals.

"It's just turning the community upside down."

Keith Way lives in Hartcliffe and is concerned about the proposal to sell off two plots of land along Valley Walk, which includes Pigeonhouse Stream.

He said: "We've got a lot of wildlife in south Bristol, I don't think people realise.

"That's a nice quiet park, lots of trees, good for wildlife.

"These sites should never have been put forward in the first place."

Environmental campaigner and former Hartcliffe resident Glenn Vowles has been involved in the petition against this part of the proposals, so far signed by around 120 people.

A petition against the general proposals for Hartcliffe has attracted more than 1,000 more.

Mr Vowles said: "I look at it from a quality of life, health and wellbeing point of view. You need green spaces to provide a decent standard of life.

"People simply don't like the sell off policy. It seems to be a sales target for selling off land.

"Like so many council consultations, most people you talk to have not known about it."

The council has put forward a number of ideas for areas that could be improved when money raised from land sales is reinvested over the 20-year period of the project.

Although it won't have the money to fund them all, the authority wants residents to say which they would prefer.

Proposals for this part of the city include a toddler play area for Willmott Park, while new seating and entrances could be added to St Augustine's Park.

The redundant area of school car parking off Teyfant Road could be incorporated into Hartcliffe Millennium Green and Dundry Slopes could be turned into a country park.

The consultation period is set to continue until Friday, October 29, and the council has urged residents to keep sending in their views until then. Spokeswoman Helen Hewitt said: "The plans give local people some suggested ideas of what the next 20 years could bring in terms of investment in our parks and land disposals.

"At this stage no decisions have been made."

To view the detailed proposals, go to www.bristol.gov.uk/agsp.

What do you think of the proposals for your area? Email s.rkaina@bepp.co.uk or write to Sam Rkaina, Evening Post, Temple Way, Bristol, BS99 7HD.