Victory in Town Green battle

CAMPAIGNERS have won a significant victory in their fight to keep Stoke Lodge playing fields open to the public.

Bristol City Council’s public rights of way and greens committee has decided to register the 23-acre site as a Town Green.

This is likely to mean that Cotham School, which uses the fields for games lessons, will have to take down the 1.5km long fence it put up in 2019 to safeguard its students. By law, town and village greens cannot be enclosed. The campaign group We Love Stoke Lodge are delighted at the committee’s decision and have called on the school to work with them to find a way to ensure the playing fields can be used for the good of the whole community.

It is not yet known whether Cotham School will seek a Judicial Review of the decision in the High Court.

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