Protest over farm sale

10 March 2010

MORE than 100 people turned out to protest about the sale of Portishead's Court House Farm on Saturday.

Members of the community are furious that owner, Bristol City Council, has put the High Street farm up for sale and fear another part of the town's history will be lost forever if developers move in.

The farm is to be auctioned in London on May 10 and the hour-long demonstration in the Precinct highlighted the passion people feel about protecting what is left of the town's heritage.

This Tudor farmhouse is a much-loved landmark in the town and campaigners want to see it remain in public ownership.

The Precinct gathering replaced a planned protest march through High Street, which had to be cancelled in the eleventh hour when organisers discovered they needed to close the road to hold a safe march.

However, that didn't dampen the spirits of those fighting to save the farm. Some protesters dressed in costumes from days gone by, representing the history of the town, others waved banners and all joined in to sing Jerusalem, which has become the campaign's signature song.

Campaigner Pat Gardiner, aged 52, said: "It is a scandal that Bristol City Council is planning to sell off this farm - it is like auctioning off the family silver of Portishead."

A petition demanding the farm is saved is in most Portishead shops and a Facebook campaign is gathering momentum.

More than 3,000 people have signed the petition with some people threatening to lie down in front of the bulldozers if at any time in the future they move in.