We're not here for a picnic – we want to make a point
PROTESTERS met for picnics at four sites to oppose plans to sell off acres of parkland across Bristol.
The events were organised for open spaces earmarked for development by Bristol City Council.
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Picnicking at Daisy Field, Shirehampton, were Paul and Sarah Griffiths with their son Joseph, being fed by his grandmother Chris Griffiths
Families went along to the Daisy Field in Shirehampton, Okebourne Road open space in Henbury, Horfield Common and Lockleaze open space, off Romney Avenue.
Each was organised by Bristol North West MP Charlotte Leslie and local Conservative councillors to highlight the importance of the open spaces to local people and how much they mean to them.
Miss Leslie said: "While we have no objections to selling off genuinely unused green space to enhance the space we do use, we do not believe that all of the sites listed in Henbury, Brentry, Avonmouth, Shirehampton and Lockleaze are 'unused' open space. They are very much used and valued by the community.
"We all want to enhance green space, but we also want to save our community green space for future generations."
The MP visited all the picnics during the day.
At Lockleaze she said the site under threat was "a real gem" enjoyed and used by many local people.
St James' Church youth worker Chris Parsons, 24, said the area was well used by local youngsters, who played sport and games such as football and rounders on the land, enjoying the fresh air.
Jason Parsons, 32, of Romney Avenue, said: "I have two dogs and I'm over here three hours a day. Children play here because it's safe and clean. It seems crass that anyone wants to build on such open space.
"We have a gate that backs onto the field and we see birds, deer and other wildlife. What would happen to them if this site was lost?
"If houses are built, it would also have an impact on Muller Road, which is already clogged up with traffic."
Lockleaze councillor Guy Poultney stressed that council officers have suggested using housing to reduce potential antisocial behaviour around a proposed new children's play-park and a seated area for the elderly on the far southern edge of the open space.
He said: "The implication, certainly the impression left with members of the public, is that the council is trying to sell off the whole of Lockleaze open space, and it's just not true.
"We're consulting the public about an option put forward by officers that affects one corner of the park. No decision will be made until we've listened to the public. I've had phone calls and emails from residents who are scared witless that the council is going to destroy their favourite parkland.
"I've never met anyone who wants to see housing on Lockleaze open space, and the Liberal Democrats have fought for years to protect it. I'm glad that Charlotte's trying to help, but we've got to focus on what's actually going on. I'm unambiguously opposed to housing on Lockleaze open space. There is so much else we could do with it: better signage, proper entrances, better disabled access, and the educational potential in the park is staggering.
"I don't think Charlotte's opposed to those things, but by getting everyone terrified of a non-existent threat, good ideas are getting pushed out of the discussion."
Miss Leslie said protesters were fully aware of where development could take place at Lockleaze, and met where they did simply to be visible.
5 Comments
by Joanne, Lockleaze
Wednesday, July 21 2010, 9:57AM
“Having attended the protest picnic with my family and been told we had been lied to about the proposals for Lockleaze open space.I have to disagree.The area marked out for disposal by Bristol City Council may have proposals to hold a playground but is it worth losing what looks on the council website to be a third of our much valued open space to also hold housing,with the excuse it would deter anti-social behaviour. There are already houses along Lockleaze open space,it has never deterred anti-social behaviour before,why would more housing improve the area. Most people I spoke to at the protest are also concerned that once the council start building on this open space,it will then be easier for it to continue in the future. The area marked is not unused,it is very much valued by the residents and visitors to the area and also the wildlife that it contains.A playground really isn't compensation to what we could lose.”
by The Ferret, Bristol
Monday, July 19 2010, 6:05PM
“"I have two dogs and I'm over here three hours a day. Children play here because it's safe and clean....
Yeh I know you always pick up the turds I don`t think.”
by Jeff, Bristol
Monday, July 19 2010, 5:11PM
“Damn hippies - oh wait, hang on a sec..
They're just ordinary people with consciences about the world we live in”
by Nelly, Bristol
Monday, July 19 2010, 2:42PM
“I think the whole thing of selling off any space that is Green is a complete joke. Our kids are getting fatter, therefore putting a strain on our health services, recreational sports is costly, especially for struggling families with low incomes or more than 1 child. It is not always possible to take your child miles to a green play area, yet our doorstep greens are now housing estates. Where there is Green there is Brass, so it appears.”
by Worried, Lockleaze
Monday, July 19 2010, 2:09PM
“Lockleaze Open Space is very well used - lots of children playing football, frisbies, flying kites. Dog walkers, picnickers, ramblers, - they all mix together in this huge, beautiful space.
And the wildlife! - foxes, hawks, deer, rabbits, jays, woodpeckers.
It's not just a well mown area to play games on and run around, it's also got an orchard meadow which provides much needed wildlife habitat in the heart of the city.
The council have NOT suggested development just on the far southern edge of the open space - no, they have been much more circumspect.
The council have outlined a "development which would create a safe and welcoming area where a high quality new park containing a range of facilities for the community as a whole can be developed. This will accommodate new housing that can face onto the new park, improving overlooking of the space and helping deter mis-use and anti-social behaviour¿.
The council have already won the fight to put playing fields on south Purdown.
We must be on guard, we must protect our cherished green spaces, we must object to the council stealing our amenities.
If we do not, then our beautiful open spaces will be taken from us.”