‘Money from advertising billboards in Bristol’s parks not worth it’

“The idea of putting advertising in Bristol’s parks is crazy – just don’t do it.”

These are the words of Green councillor Steve Clarke, who joined campaigners in calling on the council to rethink the “horrific” revenue-raising measures at a meeting on Tuesday.

The Labour administration has confirmed that it will not be installing any large billboards in the city’s green spaces for now – but cannot rule out the possibility of it in the future, as austerity continues to bite.

Adblock Bristol mocked up an image of what College Green might look like overshadowed by large billboards

Plans to introduce less intrusive advertising, such as signs on bins and parking tickets, remain on the table, as the council struggles to close a £108m budget gap by 2020.

Presenting a petition signed by almost 4,000 people at a full council meeting in City Hall, Nicola Round of Adblock Bristol said: “We should be reducing advertising, not increasing it.

“Advertising exists to make us buy something and often it’s encouraging us to buy something that we probably don’t need. It often makes us feel that we are lacking in something.

“We consume in order to make us feel better, but invariably, it doesn’t work.”

Robbie Gillett, Nicola Round and Mark Round of Adblock Bristol

She said that in contrast, parks are places that people go to de-stress and said the money from advertising is not worth the wide-ranging negative impact it would have.

Agreeing with the sentiments, Harriet Bradley, Labour councillor for Brislington West, said: “Parks are one the jewels in the crown of our fabulous city.

“I agree that advertisements can have a damaging impact on young people in particular. However, if it’s a choice between failing to keep our parks, or even closing some of them, I would reluctantly take advertising until the madness of austerity is over and local services are properly funded again.”

John Goulandris, Conservative councillor for Stoke Bishop, added his voice to those opposed to the measures, saying: “Proposals need to complement, not contradict the benefits of parks. Please Marvin, no large advertising bill boards in our parks.”

But Jos Clark, Lib Dem councillor for Brislington West, said that while she is not “wonderfully excited about having advertising in our parks. In light of the position we are in, some form of advertising is a sensible solution.”

Steve Clarke says no-one wants advertising in Bristol’s parks

Backing the petition, Steve Clarke, a councillor for Southville, said: “No-one in this chamber really wants advertising in our parks.

“The question is whether to stick with this belief or take the relatively small amount of cash on offer – my view is that it’s just not worth it. The thought of large, intrusive hoardings in parks trying to sell me goods I don’t want, or need, is horrific.”

Reminding the chamber of the council’s financial position which led to the proposals, deputy mayor Asher Craig said: “In 2010, the Tories brought in austerity measures and we are experiencing a 50 per cent loss in funding from Government. As a result of that, we are between a rock and a hard place.”

She confirmed that, having looked at responses to the parks consultation, the council is not planning to introduce large advertising boards in parks at this stage, adding that she can’t guarantee it will never happen in the future if more money is needed.

Read more: ‘Bristol’s parks are no place for commercial advertising’