Green protection for Telford sports fields assured
Cricket clubs, playing fields and sports pitches are to be protected from development under new plans released by Telford & Wrekin Council.
The council's Green Guarantee report has pinpointed 104 sites which should be ring-fenced from developers, meaning that they will not be built on as the urban areas in the borough continue to spread.
It means 1,005 acres of land will be protected from housing developers, after a consultation into the proposals last year.
Parts of Telford Town Park which were not already protected under existing schemes are included, as are playing fields in Edgmond, Stirchley, Ketley, Newport and Hollinswood, among dozens of others.
Newport Cricket Club is formally protected under the plans, as is Wickes Stadium – the home of Wellington Amateurs FC – the playing fields at Madeley Ski Centre, and Leegomery's BMX track and fairground.
Originally 116 sites were part of the consultation, with some removed because they were already protected from development by other measures, such as being nature reserves or Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
Councillor Richard Overton, cabinet member for housing, public health and protection, said: "Our Green Guarantee will ensure that we can protect from future development council-owned land that people use for their leisure and recreation.
"The Green Guarantee recognises the value of these areas for the provision of open space for people to enjoy and for biodiversity.
"Ensuring that we have open spaces people can use is important for our health in so many ways and this designation will protect these areas for future generations to enjoy.
"Living close to accessible and open green spaces helps tackle issues such as stress, obesity, heart disease and mental health as well as ensuring that our borough continues to have the facilities of a modern progressive town with many accessible green spaces."
Six sites were combined with adjacent sites, where they shared boundaries where viewed by the community as a single site.
The Green Guarantee, referred to in the Telford & Wrekin Local Plan, identifies a range of locally important green spaces owned by the council which will help to safeguard these sites from development.
The council will continue to look for opportunities to protect further sites through other programmes where appropriate.
A further 50 Community Green Spaces to be included in the Green Guarantee will be identified through public consultation later this year.
The report will be considered by the Council's cabinet on March 24.
