NEWS RELEASE
PR 1706
For Immediate
Release
16 April 2004
The future of
green spaces reviewed
BATH & North
East Somerset Council is reviewing the green spaces on offer to
members of the public throughout the district.
Green spaces are the areas many of
us use for relaxation, leisure and recreation and include formal and
informal areas.
The aim of the review is to ensure
the supply and quality of all green spaces in Bath & North East
Somerset matches the demand from its residents and where appropriate
provide new or improved green spaces and ensure the right facilities
are in place.
The range of spaces on offer in Bath
& North East Somerset is vast and for the purposes of this review
the Council has divided them into the following categories:
-
parks and gardens (enclosed formal
spaces with areas of intensive maintenance)
-
amenity green spaces (general open
space, village greens, commons and recreation grounds)
-
outdoor sports facilities
-
provision for children and young
people (areas designed for play and social inclusion)
-
allotments, community gardens and
community orchards
-
accessible natural green space
(woodlands, natural and semi natural areas where people can
experience the natural environment)
-
cemeteries and burial grounds
Andy Chard, Senior Parks Officer,
said: “Work has already started on the Green Space Strategy and Bath
& North East Somerset Council recently held a number of focus groups
around the area to gauge what members of the public think about the
green spaces in the district.
“These will be followed by on street
surveys which we hope will give us a good idea of current and future
community needs for green space in Bath & North East Somerset.”
At the same time as the
consultation, the Council is undertaking an assessment the quantity,
quality and accessibility of all existing green spaces.
The two will then be combined to
create new local standards for the level of each category of green
space.
At the end of the process the
Council will create an action plan with clear priorities where
deficiencies are found.
It is likely that this plan will
form the basis of supplementary planning guidance, making provision
for the local authority to seek planning obligations from developers
in terms of the quantity and quality of green space, should
development generate local needs.
Andy added: “This work refers to all
green spaces in Bath & North East Somerset – not just those owned or
managed by the Council. When this initial work is completed, it is
planned to extend the study to look at the management of council
land only.”
Cllr Nicole O’Flaherty, Executive
Member for Tourism, Leisure and Culture, said: “Green spaces are
important to all of us and here in Bath & North East Somerset we are
very lucky to be blessed with such wonderful green spaces.
“It is important that we know what
you think of these and what you think can be done to improve them.
Please let us have your views if asked in the street or contact our
officers who would be delighted to hear from you.”
Anyone wanting further information
or who would like to give their views on green spaces in Bath &
North East Somerset can contact Andy Chard on Tel: 01225 477204 or
e-mail andy_chard@bathnes.gov.uk
For more information:
Andy Chard, Senior
Parks Officer, 01225 477204, or e-mail
For comment,
contact:
Cllr Nicole
O’Flaherty, Executive Member for Tourism, Leisure and Culture, on
Tel: 01225 310341 or e-mail nicole_oflaherty@bathnes.gov.uk
Issued by: Bath &
North East Somerset Press Office, tel 01225 477827 or 477283, email:
pressoffice@bathnes.gov.uk |
