I have just learnt that the Labour Executive have just had a rethink on their mass sale plans of our parks, which I stopped last month.
The new proposals will see 90 acres sold off - instead of the 200+ acres in their orginal plan.
I am delighted that 110 acres have been saved but the 90 acres concerns me. This is nearly double the orginal proposal from a few months ago. We still do not know where this will be, which community affected. What we do know is that the Council wants to build a lot more houses in south Bristol so it is reasonable to fear that much of this will be south of the river.
Here is a statement I have just sent in to a Council watchdog committee that is discussing the plans tomorrow:
Statement to Physical Environment Scrutiny Commission 31st Jan 2008
Re: Parks Strategy
Dear Scrutiny Commission Members,
I am pleased that at the last minute the Labour Executive have pulled back from the mass sale of Bristol parks that they tried to sneak through at the January Executive Meeting.
It does concern me that it would appear the Council held back the statement of their sudden change of heart until the last minute. It would be interesting to find out when they decided to reverse the mass build strategy and why news of this was released to coincide with the deadline for submissions to this Commission (I am hoping that you will allow late statements).
When I attended the January Executive I was shocked at how such a large financial change, which would impact so heavily on our City, could be considered for adoption with no consultation. I was surprised that such a fundamental change to our lives, communities and open spaces could be considered without question.
Democracy in our City appears to be in a poor state when such a terrible proposal was stopped by my use of a technicality. If a minor mistake, of not printing a few maps, had not occurred then this Council would have been committed to selling off over 200 acres of parkland with virtually no public debate.
With the time that we bought the Executive have had a rethink. Now they need just 90 acres! It should be noted that this is nearly double to the original amount consulted on . A pyrrhic victory.
It is important that we do not now all just act with relief, think that it is just 90 acres. These 90 acres constitute someone's green space, someone's park, and in someone's ward. At the moment we still have no idea where these 'low quality' green spaces are.
I would like to put on record my thanks to Cllr Gary Hopkins, Alison Bromilow of the Parks Forum and Steve Grainger of Avon Wildlife Trust, who along with myself were the only people to stand up and challenge the sale of our parks and so today give you the chance to consider a policy that sees 110 acres of parkland saved.