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The Lib Dems Are Lying over Parks Sell Off (This Is Getting Depressing) - Glenn Vowles, 31 January 2008
To: Bristol Evening Post
Dear Sir/Madam
No, no to Lib Dem Councillors Tim Kent and Neil Harrison (`The future of Bristolīs parkīsī, 31 Jan 2008). The Lib Dems are in fact all in favour of flogging off the family silver in the form of Bristolīs green spaces.
Remember Castle Park? They were certainly ready to flog off a big chunk of its green space until public opinion stopped them. They obviously donīt want history to get in the way of their opportunist party political posturing. If they were running the city they would now be selling off a significant portion of Bristolīs green spaces too. In fact Councillor Gary Hopkins fails to outright condemn and oppose the loss of 90 acres, which now seems to be agreed, whilst trying to give the impression he would be happier with losing 40 acres (`Parks saved by council U -turnī, Post, 31 Jan 2008) - either represents a significant loss!! Far from losing green space any `UK green capitalī should be greening up our city!
Cllrs Kent and Harrison misrepresent both Green views and actions. Its been Green Party policy to protect, enhance and indeed where possible establish more, green spaces in cities since its very foundation - on the Castle Park issue our local website states our policy principle that Bristolīs green spaces cannot be funded by selling off sections of parks and allotments as this is not a sustainable strategy for the future. Everyone will indeed appreciate that this is not news!!
Green Councillor Charlie Bolton only gets included in cross-party this or that on the council when it suits the big three parties. Councillor Bolton was unhappy at the possible sale of any land in council meetings. However, he has experienced a total lack of support for genuinely green policies from any of the three big parties, all of whom subscribe to the principle of raising money by flogging off green spaces. Clearly they all have a vested interest in marginalizing our lone councillor as well as misrepresenting Green Party policies.
All the big parties are out of tune with what Bristolīs public wants. Just take a look at the comments on the petition opposing the sell off of acre after acre of green space on the city council website [ http://epetitions.bristol.gov.uk/signatures.php?id=166 ]http://epetitions.bristol.gov.uk/signatures.php?id=166 . You will find comment after comment from people saying that green spaces are extremely valuable, for our health, wellbeing, climate, wildlife, and security from floods, and they donīt want to lose any, let alone 90 or indeed 40 acres.
Yours
Glenn Vowles
Bristol Green Party
