People urged to have say on green spaces in Telford

Consultation on Telford & Wrekin Council's "Green Guarantee" scheme will open to the public on Monday.

For the first phase of the project, 116 sites have been proposed for formal recognition as areas of open space for leisure, recreation and biodiversity purposes.

If the move goes through, it would protect the beauty spots being targeted by housing developers.

The initial list was approved by the authority's ruling cabinet earlier this month.

Councillor Richard Overton, cabinet member for housing, public health and protection at Telford & Wrekin Council, said: "Consultation and engagement with local interest groups and organisations, through town and parish councils will begin on Monday to ensure support for the identified Green Guarantee sites, gather any local knowledge and to clarify site information including site boundaries.

"Our Green Guarantee will ensure that we can protect council-owned land that people use for their leisure and recreation from future development.

"We want to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to benefit from the green spaces we have in the borough and that these will be protected for future generations to enjoy.

"Living close to accessible and open green spaces is good for people's health and helps tackle issues such as stress, obesity, heart disease and mental health as well as ensure that our borough continues to have the facilities of a modern progressive town with many accessible green spaces."

There are a number of green spaces already protected in the borough.

They include six nature reserves, eight Sites of Special Scientific Interest, three Fields in Trust sites and sites that have been designated as "village greens".

The consultation will run until the end of January next year.

Later in 2016, the council will ask the community to identify an additional at least 50 Community Green Spaces, which are owned by Telford & Wrekin Council, to be included in the Green Guarantee.

These will be identified through further public consultation from December next year.

The Green Guarantee scheme is part of the Local Plan drawn up outlining the shape of Telford over the next 16 years.

It also includes plans to build nearly 3,500 new homes on brownfield sites.

The biggest development is at Muxton, where an estate of 750 homes is mooted to support the Ministry of Defence's new logistics hub at Donnington, which is being developed and due to open in 18 months.

There are also plans to build a total of nearly 600 houses on five school sites which have shut or are to close – Sutherland School, the former Madeley Court School site, the former Phoenix Secondary School, Charlton School, and Blessed Robert Johnson.