CONCERNED residents have accused Bristol City Council of not consulting properly on plans to sell off green space in the Horfield area.

It was standing room only last night at a public forum to discuss the "area green space" proposals that could see Wellington Hill playing fields sold for development.

More than 100 people crammed into Ardagh Bowling Club Pavilion off Kellaway Avenue for the meeting, organised by the Friends of Horfield Common.

The playing fields are on a list of green spaces the council has earmarked for sale in the Horfield area, which also include Dovercourt Road open space and two more sites near Muller Road.

Well-used tennis courts and the bowling green itself could also be removed under the proposals.

But a number of residents said they only knew about the plans by word of mouth or the Friends group and not from the authority itself.

One resident said: "We look out onto the common so we have a vested interest in this but we've had no letters from the council. There are probably a lot of people who don't know about this. It's disgraceful."

The council has claimed the playing fields are only used by dog walkers but many at the meeting disagreed.

Dominic Arnal from the 62nd Bristol Scout group, based in Rozel Road, said: "We've been there for about 70 years, and we have 90 to 120 children using the Scout hut and the fields every week.

"Where have the council got this information from? It must have been at midnight on a Sunday."

Concerns were also raised about the lack of investment in the tennis courts, despite their popularity.

A number of speakers suggested the poor state of repair the courts were in would be used to justify selling them.

Samantha Thomson of the Friends group urged residents to write to and email the council to have their say on the plans.

She said although her group is planning to submit an application to register Wellington Hill Playing Field as a village green to protect it from development, that would not be dealt with until after the green space consultation ends on October 29.

Four councillors attended the meeting and promised to take residents' views on board.

Councillor Peter Levy (Lib Dem, Horfield) said: "The green space initiative is a good thing for Bristol but part of it is to have these sorts of forums where people who use this land can come forward.

"It's not as if it's a done deal."

The area green space proposals are city-wide, with the council proposing around 60 areas of land that could be sold for £90 million to fund improvements in other areas. For more on the Horfield plans, go to www.friendsofhorfield common.com or www.bristol.gov.uk/agsp.

Residents can also have their say at drop-in sessions at Brunel House, St Georges Road, on October 6 and 7 between noon and 8pm.