Tories' call to scrap green space sell-offs
CALLS have been made to back a Bristol City Council motion that could see the green spaces sell-off plan scrapped.
The Conservatives have tabled a proposal on the £87 million plan to sell off up to 62 sites across Bristol, which is due to be discussed next Tuesday.
The proposal by Henbury councillor Mark Weston argues the area green space plan should be abandoned due to the significant public backlash.
Thousands of people have signed petitions opposing the plans, either on general principal or for the specific areas on the "at risk" list.
Mr Weston described the plan as "fundamentally dishonest" and "extremely divisive".
Liberal Democrat councillor Gary Hopkins has argued the Tories were "making fools of themselves" by opposing a strategy they originally supported and that the plan was necessary to fund a 20-year improvement plan for parks in the city.
But the green spaces plan is too important to become a political football, according to one resident.
Philip Pover said: "I'm just somebody who doesn't want our city to be sold off and to lose all our lovely green space, dotted around the city.
"I feel a bit betrayed that it is the council who are pushing this, who should instead be protecting our city, both from losing green space and from overcrowding."
Mr Pover wants people to sign an online petition backing the motion.
He said: "I think most people aren't even aware e-petitions exist and this might be a good way of showing the strength of feeling to the council.
"From past experience, I know the council can be very stubborn but we should try to do what we can."
So far 74 people have signed the petition, which can be seen at http://epetitions.bristol.gov.uk/epetition_core/community/petition/1283.
Council spokeswoman Helen Hewitt said: "People need to send in petitions before noon the day before the meeting. We're not going to comment on a petition before we've got it."
● 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.
4 Comments
by caroline cat penny, Bristol
Wednesday, November 10 2010, 8:15PM
“People need to look at the allotments and the allotment strategy for it is one thing to form new allotments and take people off the waiting list, then sell off other allotment land as so called surplus leaving people still waiting for an allotment. Then build them a house without a garden on the old allotment land.”
by dan, Bristol
Wednesday, November 10 2010, 3:51PM
“They could just use the £15 million of unuased s.106 money sitting in their accounts. This was given to the city to spend on things like parks.”
by Fed up with idiots, Horfield
Wednesday, November 10 2010, 1:08PM
“Just signed the petition.
Our Green spaces are what makes Bristol what it is, we don't want a concrete jungle thank you very much. BCC needs to stop taking the easy options and come up with something new.”
by Stockwood Pete, http://stockwoodpete.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, November 10 2010, 11:33AM
“It's a pity that the Tory motion talks of 'scrapping' the whole of the Parks Strategy, when what matters is finding alternative funding instead of selling off valued open spaces.
The Parks Strategy itself does anticipate this, and has an option to review the funding strategy if there's not enough unwanted land available.
Surely that's the way forward, and all councillors could agree on it instead of this ridiculous party squabbling.”