Portishead council to manage local parks as part of new devolution deal
Community assets are set to be locally maintained and improved
Portishead is set to take control of its local parks and facilities through a new initiative with North Somerset Council.
The programme aims to improve and preserve community assets by having them managed locally.
The assets to be transferred include the Lake Grounds, Battery Point, East Wood, Kilkenny Fields, several play areas, numerous smaller green spaces, the litter bin service, and Somerset Hall.
The plan is to roll out changes in phases, with major assets expected to be transferred to Portishead Town Council this summer
Paul Gardner is the Chair of Portishead Town Council:
“People want parks, play areas, open spaces, facilities and public buildings to be a source of civic pride—places that are well cared for and enjoyed by everyone.
"Working together with North Somerset and the Portishead community, we are committed to ensuring that our amenities thrive under responsive, locally based management.”
Mike Bell, Leader of North Somerset Council, echoed this sentiment: “Local Devolution is a key part of our wider strategy to protect valued community spaces while ensuring decisions about them are made closer to the people who use them every day.
"This gives communities greater influence over the assets and services they care about most and enables local priorities to shape how those places are managed for the future."