‘Protecting Doncaster Road Park should have happened long before a by-election’

Another election, another promise by Bristol Labour in the middle of an election campaign to suddenly reverse an unpopular policy in order to gain votes.

Nothing better demonstrates how desperate Labour are to stop losing yet another council seat.

Some time ago, a local survey by Southmead Development Trust showed that Doncaster Road Park was the most popular park in Southmead.

So it’s no surprise that many residents have raised concerns about the news that the Labour-run council were looking at redevelopment of the park.

But the resignation of one of their councillors in Southmead, triggering a by-election, has seen a sudden U-turn by Bristol’s Labour mayor.

A photo call and press release proclaimed that Doncaster Road Park was safe from redevelopment.

Many people will be reminded of a similar announcement during last year’s local elections that Brislington Meadows would be protected from development, and it has since emerged it is not.

This time – unlike Brislington Meadows – the council haven’t already sold the land, so the only threat to the park continues to be from the council itself.

It therefore should be easy to protect Doncaster Road Park, and should have happened long before a snap by-election focused the minds of Bristol’s Labour politicians, and made them suddenly take notice of the local community.

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Read more: Labour councillor lambasts mayor over Meadows

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Can residents trust these promises being made during an election?

Brislington Meadows is still being developed by the owners who were sold the land by the council.

A promise to deliver a referendum on residents’ parking zones in Southville was shelved once the election was over.

Labour’s support for a declaration of a Climate Emergency was followed by support for expansion of Bristol Airport, and continued plans to build on green spaces across the city including land within the Green Belt.

I believe the only way to protect valuable green space is by locking in protection for local green spaces into the upcoming Bristol Local Plan, set to be adopted next year.

Until then, under the mayoral system, much loved green spaces like Doncaster Road Park are at the whim of this Labour administration.

Doncaster Road Park is one of the most popular green spaces in Southmead – photo: Google

Last year, Green councillors worked cross-party to get the council to provide stronger protection for local green spaces including Sites of Nature Conservation Interest and wildlife corridors in the Local Plan.

Labour were the only party not to vote in favour of the motion – presumably because the motion would mean placing green spaces like Doncaster Road Park beyond the reach of the mayor.

As a Green councillor, unlike my Labour Party equivalents, I will be free to represent the people of Southmead, and will vote to protect our precious green spaces with binding commitments in the adopted Bristol Local Plan.

That is worth far more than a Labour election promise that can be abandoned once the votes have been safely counted.

Ed Burnham is the Green Party candidate in the Southmead by-election on February 17

Main photo: Green Party

Read more: Green Party by-election candidate says he is ‘proud of Southmead’s community’

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