Call for resignations in wake of High Court ruling over Stoke Lodge playing fields

A High Court ruling that councillors acted “unlawfully” in evicting Cotham School from its playing fields has given rise to further political disputes.

Labour’s Mike Langley is calling for his Conservative, Lib Dem and Green colleagues to resign in the wake of an “erroneous” decision that he claims cost tax payers tens of thousands of pounds and brought the council into disrepute.

But his opponents have hit back and accused the Brislington East councillor of exploiting the ruling in order to score political points.

It was on Friday, May 3 that High Court judge Sir Wyn Williams published a verdict that the decision of the council’s public rights of way and greens committee to grant Stoke Lodge playing fields ‘special status’ – thus preventing Cotham School from using them – was unlawful.

Cotham School had a long-running lease to use the fields

The ruling brought an end to a long-running battle between the school, which had a 125 year lease to use the field, off Shirehampton Road, and needed to fence the area for the safety of students, and residents who campaigned for the playing fields to be registered as a village green with public access.

Despite advice from officers and opposition from Labour members, the committee voted in favour of granting the special status, with Peter Abraham, the Tory councillor for Stoke Bishop and chair of the committee, casting the deciding vote.

Mike Langley

Speaking after the high court ruling, Mike Langley, councillor for Brislington East and Labour’s lead on the committee, said: “Bristol’s opposition parties have cost the city’s council taxpayers tens of thousands of pounds, with a High Court judge slamming them for ‘erroneous and unlawful’ behaviour in public office.

“Despite calls from all Labour councillors on the committee and sound advice from council officers, the Tory ward councillor for the Stoke Lodge playing fields refused to recuse himself from the crucial chair’s position and went on to cast the decisive vote.

“Backed by the Lib Dems and the Green Party, he has discredited the committee and brought Bristol City Council into disrepute.

“I am therefore today calling on councillors Peter Abraham, Charlie Bolton, and Tim Kent to resign from this council committee and for their parties to not put them forward ever again.”

Mark Weston

But opposition leaders have rallied in retaliation, with Conservative group leader Mark Weston calling Langley’s words “disappointing – although not surprising”.

He said: “As is usual in these kinds of appeal, in the end, the High Court ruling turned on fine (technical) legal definitions around the basis of the public’s use of the playing fields, and a perceived lack of explanation on the part of the committee for departing from the planning inspector’s final recommendations.

“There is absolutely no suggestion that councillor Abraham, or opposition members, acted through some conflict of interest or personal impropriety.

“Unfortunately, councillor Langley is indulging in a baseless politically motivated bout of mud slinging – I can only assume that from now on he intends to follow all officer advice no matter what that advice is.”

Kent also defended his actions, saying that the committee “took a detailed and extensive look at the application for a town green”.

Eleanor Combley

Eleanor Combley slammed Langley’s statement as an “absolutely farcical to attempt to use complicated committee decisions like these to demand resignations”.

She added: “What’s probably needed after this high court decision is more rational assessment of why this judgement has found against the committee’s decision, and less kneejerk opportunism.”

Bolton also responded, saying: “What’s the point in having elected councillors if they are just a rubber stamp for the administration? I had a look at the evidence, I read the report, I visited the site and I formed my view at the time based on that evidence.”

Giving its own reaction to the High Court ruling, Cotham School posted a statement on its website expressing delight at the decision.

It said: “We have been unable to use our playing fields at the Stoke Lodge site since 2014 and now look forward to students playing sports on the fields again in the very near future.

“We also recognise that these playing fields are a valuable community resource and welcome the opportunity, as we always have, to work with local residents to produce a cohesive plan for sharing use of the space in the future.

“Obviously this is the best news possible, but there is some work to do in terms of making the site secure before we are able to make use of the playing fields again.”

The school thanked all those who have supported its campaign and is now hoping it will be granted planning permission for a new sports pavilion, funded by the Education Funding Agency.

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