Council support for residents' community farm bid

Council chiefs are poised to back moves for one of Portishead's last remaining High Street farms to be turned into a community farm and heritage centre.

Portishead Town Council chairman, Councillor David Pasley, has put forward a motion to the town council urging members to call for Court Farm to be retained for future generations, and it will be discussed at a council meeting on Wednesday night.

The move comes after Bristol City Council, which owns the site, announced plans to sell off the historic farm and outbuildings at auction in May.

Local residents have launched the Save Court House Farm campaign pressing for the sale to be halted and talks to be held with the local community about setting up a trust to run the site as a community farm and heritage centre.

Dozens of campaigners held a protest in Portishead on Saturday, pressing for the sale to be stopped.

Mr Pasley said: "Court House Farm is of the utmost importance to the town's history and character.

"The sale of this historical site by Bristol City Council is deeply concerning.

"The town council expressly wishes the buildings and land to be protected from development, now and in the future.

"The open amenity space which has been used as grazing and agricultural land for centuries and is classed as such, must remain a green and open space as any form of development would seriously and permanently damage the character of Portishead.

"The town council fully supports residents' efforts to form a charitable trust."