More protection for green spaces?

COUNCIL scrutiny chiefs at Warrington are to be asked to decide if there are any benefits for the town in seeking Queen Elizabeth II Fields of Trust status for some of its green spaces.
Members of the Environment and Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee will consider the issue next week, following a motion put to the last meeting of the borough council calling for Peel Hall Park and other appropriate sites to be put forward for the scheme.
Liberal Democrat councillors Bob Barr (pictured) and Sandra Bradshaw proposed the motion – regretting that Warrington had not put forward any recreational spaces for the Queen Elizabeth “Challenge” and suggesting that Peel Hall Park should be considered.
Their motion was not carried – but an amendment by Labour’s David Keane and Linda Dirir was, and as a result the issue was referred to scrutiny chiefs.
The Queen Elizabeth II Fields Challenge aims to safeguard hundreds of recreational spaces across the country in perpetuity to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee.
St Helens Council has put forward two sites and Halton one – but Warrington has not.
Warrington has always believed it has substantial protection for its green spaces within its Unitary Development Plan.
The council will not permit development likely to results in an unacceptable loss of green space within built up areas, playing fields, or may effect nature conservations, fishers, landscape, etc.
But many people fear a question mark hangs over the future of Peel Hall Park where plans for 1,400 homes have been discussed for some years.
The Friends of Peel Hall Park have expressed outrage that the council has not sought the additional protection the Fields Challenge would bring.
Town Hall officers are now asking the scrutiny committee to decide whether there would be any benefits in submitting a bid to the Challenge.
But they are also warning that entering into a long-term contract with the Trust could prevent future development on the sites involved unless it was to enhance their current use.

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4 Comments

Dr Paul Speake on 29th February 2012 7:06 am 7:06 am

As a community we should all back this and get our green spaces protected as soon as possible to prevent inappropriate loss of recreational grounds not just for us but for our wildlife that we share this area with.

Reflex on 29th February 2012 9:05 am 9:05 am

This scheme offers nothing more but cost and bureaucracy – it is a red herring as far as Peel Hall is concerned.

Dizzy on 29th February 2012 9:23 am 9:23 am

I agree and its awful that WBC haven’t put any green spaces forward. However, Mill Lane Playing Field in Stockton Heath has been put forward to become a QE2 Field but NOT by WBC. The Parish Council who own it have done it themselves. Appleton has it’s ‘Millenium Field’ which is already in trust but again that was not done by the Council…. it was the residents who fought for it to be included, named and protected as a green space for generations to come.

Karl on 29th February 2012 10:48 am 10:48 am

“Warrington has always believed it has substantial protection for its green spaces within its Unitary Development Plan.” – but as we have seen time and again whenever it is convenient to do so the UDP is cast aside or ignored on grounds of expediency. How can we be sure t won’t happen again? If, as it seems, there was unanimity of intent between the parties, why did we have to go through the perennial party posturing of having a vote on an amendment in order to point score. Surely the interests of Warrington people, from whatever source should override establishing the political highground?