News Releases >

Fears for South Bristol's Green Spaces

Cabinet overrides Green protest, prepares land sales

For immediate release

 
Bristol's Labour Cabinet today brushed aside Green Party objections and gave the all clear for a sale of the city's green spaces for development.

Council officers have been told to identify land that might raise £90 million for the city's coffers, and - if it is considered of 'low value' to local residents, to go ahead and sell. 70% of the proceeds will go toward improving the remaining parks, and the rest will go into general funds.

There was a last ditch attempt to persuade the Cabinet to think again from the Green Party in South Bristol, where the new policy is expected to hit hardest.

Spokesman Peter Goodwin brought the council evidence ^{[note 1]} that

• they had insufficient reports to make a judgement
• no-one has been told what land might be involved
• there is no certainty that'low value' land can be found to raise the money
• This 'selling off the family silver' is not a sustainable policy
• South Bristol is already to lose its bordering green belt to new development in the form of huge 'urban extensions'

Mr Goodwin said:

"South Bristol is often seen as the 'poor relation' of the north. Now it looks like one of its few amenities - the open green spaces that make the place attractive to live in - will be sold off to developers."

"Although local people make good use of them, some of these council-managed areas have become increasingly neglected and poorly maintained. You get the sense that they're being intentionally run down, to prepare the public for them being sold off. Already, the council intends to oppose ^{[note 2]} any attempts by local people to get land registered as village or town greens - even before they've decided what land they want to sell"

"There's no question, this decision is bad for the quality of life in South Bristol. "

ENDS

Notes

1. Statement from Bristol South Green Party to the Cabinet, 21/2/08


2. Cabinet meeting report, para 23: "Ensure appropriate legal advice is taken to minimise the risk of town green applications frustrating the strategy"


3. For a Green Party view of the Parks and Open Spaces Strategy see our 'hot topic' page

Contact:

Peter Goodwin (Green Party Press Officer) 01275 543280