Bathpool Park is one of 88 council-owned sites that could receive legal protection to safeguard them in perpetuity as part of Fields in Trust status.
Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council is looking to enter into bespoke and legally-binding agreements with the Fields in Trust charity to ensure that popular council-owned land – including parks, open spaces, playgrounds, sports fields and cemeteries – remain publicly accessible for recreational activities, and nature appreciation, in the future.
It has drawn up a list of 88 sites – including Bathpool Park, the full list is available at https://www.newcastle-staffs.gov.uk
Securing this special status would provide an additional layer of protection for much-loved spaces in the borough, over and above local policies such as current council strategies and the emerging Local Plan – due to be considered at a public examination in the summer – which classifies specific areas as green and open space, rather than for development.
In November 2021, the council was the first in Staffordshire to adopt a Nature Recovery motion at Full Council, in recognition that nature is in long-term decline and urgent action is needed to halt and reverse this.
Speak Your Mind
You must be logged in to post a comment.