A community group in South Bristol was shocked after Bristol City Council tried to hike up their rent by more than 5,000 per cent. The Redcatch Community Garden group, in Knowle, currently pays the council £300 a year in rent, but was asked to increase this to £16,000 a year.
Five years ago the volunteer group began transforming a derelict bowling green in Redcatch Park into a community garden. They are asking the council for a ‘community asset transfer’, but have faced obstacles with questions over money.
Initially the council appeared keen to carry out the community asset transfer, but almost three years later no deal has been signed off. Now the latest obstacle is a row about how much the community group should pay the council each year in rent.
