Pledge to voters as jeers greet Lib Dems

THE Labour and Conservative groups have promised to give the public the final say on selling Bristol’s green spaces if either of them take control of the city council in May.

Despite 7,000 people signing a petition calling for a rethink on the scheme, the Liberal Democrats used their majority to vote down a plan to give Neighbourhood Partnerships the last word.

Instead they will write a letter to the petitioners explaining the finances of the Area Green Space Plan, and speak to partnership chairmen to discuss “any residual concerns”.

The Lib Dems were jeered and heckled by the public when they approved the motion at full council on Tuesday.

The Tories and Labour made their promise at that meeting, six weeks ahead of the May 5 local elections.

Councillor Mark Bradshaw (Labour, Bedminster) said: “This is your last opportunity to do the right thing. If there is a Labour administration we will stop this process in its tracks and will give the decision to Neighbourhood Partnerships where it belongs.”

This was met by a round of applause from the public gallery, dozens of whom had attended the meeting to tell the council they did not want to lose their green spaces.

Councillor Peter Abraham (Conservative, Stoke Bishop) said: “This group also made the decision that after the May election if there is a change that we would support anyone who would support total abolition of the sale of park land in Bristol.”

Lib Dems at the meeting said although they recognised concerns from the public about the sell-off plan, scrapping it would jeopardise funding to improve around 160 other parks in the city.

Councillor Steve Comer (Lib Dem, Eastville) said the money needed to come from somewhere.

He said: “A lot of the external funding is connected to having a strategy, so without the strategy that funding disappears. What they mean is to let our parks decline.”

Executive member Gary Hopkins (Lib Dem, Knowle) also stressed that the council was acquiring large sites like Stoke Park and others like Grove Wood that would result in a net increase in land.

In a statement after the meeting, the Lib Dems said they had “launched a new dialogue with the city’s residents over possible sales of green spaces”.

Council leader Barbara Janke said: “Together we can improve this plan, but to throw it out – as some suggest we should – would set back improvements in our parks and children’s play areas.”