Labour u-turn on parks
01 February 2008
Prospective Conservative MP, Charlotte Leslie, has congratulated local campaigners, including the Bristol Parks Forum, on fighting off Labour Council plans to sell off swathes of parkland and open space for development.
There were fears that as much as 200 acres of parkland would be lost under a swathe of concrete. The Quality of Life Scrutiny Commission overwhelmingly passed a Conservative motion on 21st January, demanding that the ruling Labour Cabinet reject the disastrous proposal. Now, we are delighted to hear that the Cabinet has backed down and agreed to reduce this to 90 acres, with 70% of the capital receipts reinvested in green spaces.
Charlotte comments, “It is great news that campaigners and Conservative Councillors have fought off the crazy idea of selling off such a huge part of our parks. However we have only won a battle and not the war. We will be very closely scrutinising where the 90 acres that the Council claims is “surplus” actually is. It may well prove that whilst the Council thinks it is surplus the community and local residents may take a very different view. Not only is there the loss of open space, but the threat to wildlife and the impact of more housing, all of which must be carefully considered.”
There were fears that as much as 200 acres of parkland would be lost under a swathe of concrete. The Quality of Life Scrutiny Commission overwhelmingly passed a Conservative motion on 21st January, demanding that the ruling Labour Cabinet reject the disastrous proposal. Now, we are delighted to hear that the Cabinet has backed down and agreed to reduce this to 90 acres, with 70% of the capital receipts reinvested in green spaces.
Charlotte comments, “It is great news that campaigners and Conservative Councillors have fought off the crazy idea of selling off such a huge part of our parks. However we have only won a battle and not the war. We will be very closely scrutinising where the 90 acres that the Council claims is “surplus” actually is. It may well prove that whilst the Council thinks it is surplus the community and local residents may take a very different view. Not only is there the loss of open space, but the threat to wildlife and the impact of more housing, all of which must be carefully considered.”