Cruising bushes removal 'against gay rights'

A £20,000 clear-up of The Downs by the Avon Gorge has had to be put on hold as Bristol Council's own lesbian, gay and bisexual action group - The Rainbow Group - have objected to the plans to clear bushes from heathland saying it was a threat to gay rights. Officials are consulting local police and THT to ensure there is no discrimination.

Conservative councillor Peter Abraham branded the accusations of discrimination against gays and bisexuals as 'offensive'.The 5 year redevelopment plan was proposed 3 years ago to protect rare wildlife known to inhabit the area, with the removal of the bushes in the next three months.

Peter Wilkinson, Bristol city council's head of parks said to the Metro, 'The general public are unhappy about people taking part in lewd behaviour in public spaces, whether it's between men and women or people of the same sex.'

'We're making sure people know what we are doing so we are not seen to be discriminating.'The same area made the news last year when a group of Bristol firefighters were disciplined and fined for shining high-power torches in to the shrubbery on the Downs.