NEWS RELEASE

From the Labour Councillors on Bristol City Council

for immediate release, 16th January, 2015

Save Our Park Keepers say Labour

Labour are backing park keepers as the Mayor looks to save 500,000 on maintaining
our parks, green spaces and grass verges.
Park keepers are likely to disappear in Bristol at the end of April as the contract for
grounds maintenance is taken back in house and the city council workforce take on the
job.
Our experience is that park keepers take a real pride in their work and want everything
to look its best. Its this attitude that makes our parks attractive to people of all ages and
makes them increasingly popular.
If there isnt enough money then the Mayor must find the money and if he doesnt
councillor should be seeking an amendment to the council budget to support our park
keepers.
Why the Mayor is prepared to risk losing our parkies when he is leading Green Capital
Year I just dont know. But if he is looking for a lasting green capital legacy then Bristols
parkland and open spaces look like a good choice, says Cllr Chris Jackson, Labour,
Filwood.
The idea is that under the new system travelling teams of grounds maintenance workers
will descend on an area and then move on.
We know that parkies give much more added value. They foster good relations with
park users, reduce vandalism and litter and encourage more people to use the park and
make more frequent visits. Parkies are a treasure which we are in danger of throwing
down the drain. I dont doubt they had a lot to do with the improvements to parks which
then gained the Green Flag accolade. They are greatly valued by local people, said Cllr
Jackson.

Cllr Chris Jackson - 07968 503208

or Labour councillors office - 0117 922 2013 or 07957 474865

Labour creating a fairer Bristol