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Bristol Parks Forum

Parks & Green
Spaces Strategy

Bristol's Parks & Green Spaces Strategy was adopted at the Council Cabinet Meeting on 21 February 2008 - it is aimed at raising the quality of parks and green spaces throughout the city over the next 20 years. As part of the implementation of the strategy Bristol Parks are now consulting on Area Green Space Plans.

Bristol Parks Forum have been closely involved in the development of this strategy over the last three years and welcomed its adoption.

Areas Green Space Plans Consultation 14 June to 29 October 2010

A key element of the Parks & Green Spaces Strategy as proposed is the production of 'Area Green Space Plans'. It is these plans that are intended to determine where the capital to be invested in parks is to be spent to improve the local environment. They will also determine which areas of green space the community think are 'low recreational value' and could therefore be sold and put to better use.

Richard Fletcher has been leading the work to produce the Area Green Space Plans. As Community Development Officer Richard has led the development of the Parks Forum over the past few years and his involvement in the Area Green Space Plans means that park groups can have a high level trust that the process has been carried out as intended by the strategy. There is an Area Green Space Plan for each of the 14 Neighbourhood Partnership areas.

www.bristol.gov.uk/agsp

See also:

Important background information in the AGSP Frequently Asked Questions pages

www.bristol.gov.uk/siteallocations - includes list of drop in sessions.

AGSP - Easy Guide by Alison

How will the value of spaces be assessed? - P&GSS Appendix 5

20 Reasons to support P&GSS/AGSP by Rob

Information on the Bristol Neighbourhood Planning Network website.

BPF Letter to Cllr Gary Hopkins 27 July 2010 - AGSP consultation and Cabinet Decision on Land Disposal

The Strategy

The strategy and some of the background documents can be downloaded from the Bristol Parks website.

Bristol Parks P&GSS page - www.bristol.gov.uk/parkstrategy

Bristol Parks Forum issued the following statement to the 21 February Cabinet meeting:

The Bristol Parks Forum welcomes the revised Parks and Green Spaces Strategy.

The strategy will be the basis on which the city can improve the many low quality parks and open spaces to create a network of recreation and wildlife spaces that a city of Bristol's size and standing should have. This being done without the loss of any valuable spaces.

We support the revised financial template for funding the improvements and maintaining the parks at a good standard after the initial improvements are completed.

We look forward to engaging with Bristol Parks to create the Area Green Space Plans. These plans will identify the way in which open space will be improved, which low amenity value areas may be available for disposal for other uses, and where certain types of park space are missing or overprovided. This will help to form parks and open spaces that the local communities can value and appreciate and that the city can be proud of.

Press Reports on the P&GSS

'This is Bristol' reports:
We're disgusted at Bristol City Council's idea for homes on our park - Brentry 20 August 2010
It would be dreadful to sell our green fields for housing - Site Allocations - Brislington 19 August 2010
The Green Goddesses on a Drive for People Power - Lodge Hill 18 August 2010
We weren't consulted on green space plans - Horfield 29th July
You can't sell land that belongs to us - Knowle West 21st July
We're not here for a picnic – we want to make a point - North Bristol 19th July 2010
List is not complete - NSI letter 25th June 2010
'Leave Park as it is' - St Anne's Park 18th June 2010
Launch of AGSPs 14th June 2010
Bristol parks sell-off delayed January 11, 2009
More money for Bristol's play areas Sunday, January 11, 2009
Bristol resident fears green space will be sold off Sunday, October 26, 2008

P&GSS Background Information

The strategy was put out to public consultation during the summer 2007 and was due to be adopted at the Council Cabinet meeting on 10 January 2008. To the surprise of the Parks Forum the financial information in the version submitted to Cabinet had changed from that in the consultation version. Due to a technicallity relating to maps the strategy was not adopted in January and the decision was delayed to 21 February.

Following the meeting of the Bristol Parks Forum on Sat 19 Jan 2008, representatives of the Forum had a number of meetings and discussions with Cabinet members and Parks officers. The version of the strategy that was adopted by Council Cabinet on 21 Feb includes changes that were agreed as part of those discussions and was welcomed by the Parks Forum. More details of the events at the begining of 2008 can be seen here:

Parks & Green Spaces Strategy Funding - How Bristol’s Parks were Saved!

Links to other information about the strategy and the debate about funding are shown below:
Consultation - Questions & Answers - Bristol Parks Forum Conference 15 Sept 2007
Report to Cabinet 10 January 2008 and Revised Strategy Document
Bristol Parks Forum Statement to Cabinet 10 January 2008
Bristol Parks Forum statement at the State of the City debate with full council on Tuesday 15 January 2008
Minutes of Parks Forum Meeting 19 Jan 2008
Meeting of the Physical Environment Scrutiny Commission - 31 Januay 2008:
Meeting agenda/reports/minutes
(The financial information in the report to this committee clarifies the figures as they were before the Parks Forum Meeting on 19th January).

Message to Bristol Parks Forum members 30 Jan 2008 - Good news on funding of Parks and Green Spaces Strategy

Bristol Parks Forum Press Release about the Parks & Green Spaces Strategy 30 Jan 2008

Reports and Agenda for 21 February Cabinet meeting including revised Parks & Green Spaces Strategy
On this page: Area Green Space Plans | The Strategy | Background Information |
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