The popular park was “left wild and unmaintained” after the council cut funding

A popular park in east Bristol is to be ‘left to go wild’ and no more repairs will be made – because the city council stopped funding the trust that runs it.

Barton Fields Trust told people living nearby that they have run out of money, spent all their savings and “exhausted all avenues” of trying to convince the council to continue their funding.

And that means the open space between Hillfields and Speedwell will be left unkempt, with grass and hedges “left to go wild” and benches, paths and gates unrepaired, the Trust warned.

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A spokesman for the Barton Fields Trust said they were “very concerned about the future” and were “very disappointed” that the council had simply stopped paying a £16,000 grant. That was more than a year ago, and since then the Trust – a not-for-profit organization set up to manage and maintain the park – has been trying to persuade the council to reintroduce funding while also trying to maintain the park. using the little money saved.

Barton Fields was a former wasteland which was converted into fields in the late 20th century. More than 20 years ago the council secured the support of what was then the National Playing Fields Association – now Fields In Trust – to prevent the fields from being developed and the local Barton Fields Trust was set up to manage.

Bristol Live understands that at the time the Council allocated £16,000 a year towards the maintenance of the Trust, and this amount has not increased at all since then. The grounds include rugby pitches for Barton Hill RFC – and the club has agreed to pay for the upkeep of the pitches it uses – but the rest of the park will be left to “go wild”.

It is understood there has been a dispute in recent years over ownership of the land and who is responsible, with the arrangement set up more than 20 years ago when the Trust was first established being an informal one, according to the council. now he says he has no reason to continue.

In a statement, the Barton Fields Trust asked local residents to complain to the town council and ask for the grant to be reinstated and appealed for any financial help from local donors.

“Bristol City Council has reduced our funding for the maintenance of the pitch,” it said. “We have had no funds since the 2022/23 financial year and all avenues of getting what should have been paid to us for 2023/24 are now exhausted and all the funds accumulated over the years through good management are now exhausted .

“We regret to inform you that the only part of the ground that will be maintained in the future will be the rugby pitch as Barton Hill RFC have agreed to cover the maintenance costs. This means that all other grassy areas will be left to grow wild and no hedges or trees will be cut, and no more repairs will be made to benches, driveways and walkways.

“We thought it only fair to make you aware of the current position to date. It is very disappointing for us as an all-volunteer Trust to have our funding stopped. We know how important our domains are to the local community.

“It costs £16,000 a year to maintain the field and we have no way of replacing the grant we have had from the council since the Barton Fields Trust was set up. If you are in a position as an individual or business, you can make a donation that will enable us to continue even if it is just small repairs/maintenance then this would be appreciated,” the statement added.

Bristol Live has asked Bristol City Council about the future of Barton Fields and a response is awaited.