NOTE: 2 minutes of your time will make a difference – EMAIL THE SECTIONS of this as you see fit to landandproperty@plymouth.gov.uk, mentioning the appropriate green areas you value the most, BY 4th DECEMBER.
- The council knows the importance of keeping green spaces
Plymouth should be a beacon for unity with the natural environment: Plymouth University has been ranked highly in terms of their sustainability values and actions, and Plymouth itself is hold several small parks with larger areas limited to the outskirts, such as Dartmoor. We need to keep green spaces within accessible areas, which will enable those that cannot afford to travel, important due to high poverty rates.
To quote the council’s Plymouth Green Spaces strategy :
‘Plymouth’s network of parks, natural green spaces and water bodies will provide a vital visual, educational and cultural resource and will benefit the health and well-being of our citizens, as well as providing a sustainable environment for our wildlife’
- However the disposal of several green spaces, including the conservation zones at Redwood Drive and Paradise Road, have been proposed.
- Redwood Drive – a special reason to keep the field
The following is an email sent summarising why the field in particular should not be “disposed of”. Please COPY, add your own words if you wish, and EMAIL to landandproperty@plymouth.gov.uk.
“I am writing to express my firm objection to the proposed plan to sell the 6.39ha field near Redwood Drive for housing due to historic, social, and economic reasons.
Green areas provide huge benefits for mental and physical well-being, which links with economic strength due to reductions in sick days and improved productivity. Vitamin D deficiency is an issue, with green spaces providing motivation to get outside and utilise the suns energy for vitamin D production. Stress is another major concern in today’s society. Fresh air and activity inspired and provided by the outdoors reduce stress, and holds both physical and mental benefits. A ‘green’, well-designed space greatly increases happiness levels in relation to non-green spaces.
It is also important for bats, breeding birds, reptiles badgers and dormice. The area could be enhanced to provide a natural environment for recreation and education, to name a few, and should not be undervalued.”
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Paradise Road – a special reason to keep the playing field
Disposal of a 1.28 ha playing field near Paradise Road has also been proposed.
The following is an email sent summarising why the field in particular should not be “disposed of”. Please COPY, add your own words if you wish, and EMAIL to landandproperty@plymouth.gov.uk.
“The social, mental, and physical well-being (mentioned for Redwood Drive), are obviously appreciated by dog-walkers; families; City College students during study breaks; and local schools’ PE classes, who enjoy the park on a daily basis.
The field has been featuring Stoke urban landscape for many generations and it is outrageous that in 2014 Plymouth City Council, who should look after its citizens’ welfare, have decided to sell it for a one-off lump sum that hardly makes a dent in the required funds to counteract budget cuts: £1.5m against £64m budget cuts.
The amount of endangered wildlife that benefits from the presence of a green area in such a central position is incomprehensible (hedgehogs, newts…), especially considering the site is in the middle of Stoke conservation area with grade II-listed buildings featuring on the North, West and East side of it.
Residents in Albemarle Villas will see the value of their properties slump and the whole area will lose one of the most scenic and heart-warming sights in the City.
The plan to build new houses on this 1.28 ha patch of land is simply nonsensical. I am urging the Council to quickly review the plan before it is too late and to reconsider dedicating GREEN areas to houses.”
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Other proposals for disposal are as follows:
DEADLINES are all 24th DECEMBER
Maps can be found at the link below:
aquacultureandi 