News / Society
Port sell-off to benefit local communities
One million pounds has been ringfenced for local communities after Bristol City Council finalised its deal to sell the freehold of the city’s docks to the Bristol Post Company.
The money will be spent on local projects in Avonmouth, Shirehampton, Lawrence Weston and Sea Mills.
The Bristol Port Company bought the port from the council in 1991 and agreed a 150-year lease on the understanding it could buy the freehold at a later date.
is needed now More than ever
Avonmouth councilor Matt Melias said: “It would have been a scandal if the local people in Avonmouth and Kingsweston, who live in the shadow of the port, did not benefit from this sale so I am delighted that Mayor Ferguson has listened to our case and agreed to ringfence £1m.”
Darren Jones, Labour’s candidate for Bristol North West, who called on Ferguson last year to give at least £1m to the areas surrounding the port, said: “Whilst it was clear that we were going to be unable to change the decision to sell the Port freehold it was clear to me that we needed to ask for at least £1m of the proceeds for our local community to ensure that local people and organisations benefit from the sale as much as is possible, which I did from the very start last May.
“This is very positive news for the people of Avonmouth, Shirehampton, Lawrence Weston and Sea Mills.”
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