Maintenance tax proposed for beauty spot

Those who live near the Downs may have to pay a tax for its maintenance every year

A new tax has been proposed for people living near a public green space to help pay for its maintenance.

Residents living near Clifton Down and Durdham Down in Bristol may be asked to pay a "small precept" for their upkeep, which may be £20 a year.

The Downs, surrounded by some of the wealthiest areas of the city, operates at a financial loss, last year a loss of £194k was covered by tax payers.

Other plans to bring in more income, such as replacing the toilets near the Sea Walls with a cafe, have also been suggested.

Despite revellers flocking to the area for festivals, the Downs still made an annual loss last year

Despite receiving income from hosting events such as Forwards Festival and Funderworld, the Downs has suffered from a lack of funding for several years.

Hosting such events creates extra maintenance work, due to issues like grass damage.

Last year, £570,000 was spent on things like staff, maintenance and cleaning but only £376,000 was made in income.

Under the new plans an area would be drawn of an undetermined size around the Downs and a levy would be charged on anybody living within that zone, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Early discussions among Bristol City Council staff are taking place about its introduction.

Mini golf course

The new levy was discussed by the Downs committee on June 10, with Caroline Gooch, a Liberal Democrat councillor for Westbury-on-Trym and Henleaze, saying that £20 would bring in "a big amount of money".

She added that those who live nearby "benefit the most".

"Why don’t we just put a small precept on the houses that are within a certain distance of the Downs?" she said.

"I don’t see why we shouldn’t do it, if it’s done in other cities."

Kevin Jay, council finance officer, told Dr Gooch: "I have done an initial look at that.

"I can come back to you with what we found. I’ve spoken to Patsy Mellor, the director [of management of place], about that.”

Building a mini golf course by the water tower and installing cricket nets and padel courts have also been suggested as ways to increase income.

Personal trainers who put on classes at the Downs could also soon be charged a levy to do so.

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