'Property theft' Cllr Eddy hits out as council considers selling Mansion House

BRISTOL City Council is considering selling off the Lord Mayor's Mansion House, sparking anger that is showing "contempt" for the city's history and "brazen glorying in property theft".

- Adam POSTANS

The local authority has confirmed that a review of the current and potential future use of the historic Victorian building is being carried out.

No decision has yet been made but council services will be asked if they could make use of the property before recommendations are brought forward whether to keep or dispose of it on the market.

Leading Tory Cllr Richard Eddy, who is 'Father of the House' having been elected for Bishopsworth 33 years ago, has slammed the Green-led administration for proposing the move, claiming it "knows the price of everything and the value of nothing".

In response, council deputy leader Heather Mack said the former Conservative government had left local authorities with a funding shortfall legacy that meant they had to "choose between heritage and homelessness".

She said vital services required big investment, some of which came from selling properties, and that the council owned many buildings which, if faced with the decision to buy today, would not be prioritised above delivering what residents needed and relied on.

The Mansion House, near the top of Bridge Valley Road in Clifton Down, has been the official residence of Bristol's lord mayor for 150 years, although they no longer actually live there.

It was built in 1867 as a private home for Alderman Thomas Proctor, a successful Bristol fertiliser company owner, and donated to the local authority following his death seven years later, as were his wishes.

Cllr Eddy said: "For months, there have been rumours that the city council wanted to sell the Mansion House and its beautiful grounds in Clifton.