City parks may get £700k investment after council vote

The amendment will go to a final vote on 29 February

A city's parks could receive a £700k fund after Conservative councillors successfully had a budget amended.

During Bristol City Council's annual general meeting on 20 February, Tory councillors won support for their plan to spend money raised from the strategic community levy (CIL) on parks.

The Liberal Democrats supported the amendment, Labour abstained and the Green Party voted against.

Conservative John Goulandris said: “Parks give a wide range of benefits to the whole community, providing opportunities for physical activity as well as improving mental health and wellbeing."

"Here in Bristol, our forefathers established many beautiful parks and green spaces. It’s a great legacy but sadly in recent years investment in our parks has reduced," he added.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Green Party councillor Martin Fodor said: “This raid on the budget needed for the Frome Gateway regeneration is unwise and inadvisable.

"This will reduce the funding available to commission the Frome Gateway framework."

Labour said the council is already investing £6m into improving parks

As well as this, multiple changes are planned for Castle Park to make the city-centre area safer at night.

Councillor Ellie King, cabinet member for public health and communities said: "We’ve currently allocated around £6 million for improving our parks, including Redcatch, Hengrove, Oldbury Court, Argyle Road, Victoria Park, St Agnes and Rawnsley, alongside nine refurbished play parks on council estates.

"Strategic CIL is a finite resource that can only be used in areas of growth and regeneration, and must also be used for other vital projects such as road improvements, green infrastructure and active travel facilities.”

The amendment will be voted on when the budget is next discussed on 29 February.