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2009 -Is the alarm bell ringing for open spaces?
As the available building land in the village has dwindled away one of the fears of local residents has been that the focus will be put on Groby's open spaces, and several times over the last few years it has been suggested to readers that a way needs to be found to put such assets beyond development. The Parish Council's policy has been that it has no intention of releasing it's open spaces for development but the concern has always remained that such promises are not binding on a future Parish Council. Residents believed that the Borough Council had a similar policy and may have drawn comfort from the recent site allocations consultation listing open spaces in the village which should be protected as local amenity land.
So neighbours in the Forest Rise area were angry when they heard that, despite representations by local members, an outline planning application for a dwelling on one of the open spaces included in the consultation had been approved by a majority of one vote. The application was made by the owners, Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council, apparently driving a coach and horses through it's own policy proposals for the site. Although disposal of the land may require further approval the granting of planning consent overcomes the first hurdle.
The land in question is just grass and a tree. But it is one of several open spaces at the junction of Stephenson Way, Forest Rise, Lawnwood Road and Martinshaw Lane which gives the area an open aspect. This is a busy junction as it is part of the local bus route and Forest Rise serves the local school. In addition Stephenson Way is used by some employees as an access to GESensing (Druck).
When the Borough presented it's preferred sites document earlier this year it recommended that this plot remains as open space. Groby is described by the planners as one of four settlements in the Borough with “the most significant shortfalls of green space provision.” They go on to say that there is a need to not only increase green space provision, but to protect and improve existing provision to ensure it better meets the needs of local residents. They conclude that in relation to site allocations, the Hinckley and Bosworth Core Strategy should “address the existing deficiencies in the quality and quantity of green spaces.”
What does the Borough Council say?
“While it is true that the 'preferred option' for the plot of land in the LDF is open space, the LDF has not been adopted yet,” said a spokesperson. “Furthermore, the site is not designated as open space in the Adopted Local Plan, which is still the relevant guide to planning policy in the Borough.”
“In addition, the committee was advised by the Council's Green Spaces Team that the open space is small and there are several other small areas of open space within 400m of this site. Therefore, the loss of this open space will have minimal impact on the availability of informal open space and children’s access to play space. It should also be borne in mind that the applicant will be required to make a contribution of £1,250.80 towards the provision of off-site public open space.”
Unanswered questions
This leaves unanswered questions in the minds of local residents. If it is now unimportant as open space why was it listed for protection a few months ago? And should the Borough Council be capitalising on the delay in getting it's Core Strategy approved in order to push through approval under current guidelines? Shouldn't it be setting an example to others and accepting the spirit of it's own site allocation proposals even though they haven't yet been finally adopted?
But there may also be an issue for the village of Groby to consider. This plot is small and may not be the most desirable of open spaces or suitable for recreational purposes, but it is a breathing space in a crowded residential area. It's real importance may be as a feature of the street scene, and is this is something which could be recognised in a Village Design Statement(VDS)? The Statement can be adopted as a Supplementary Planning Document, and although it does not tie the hands of planners it is one which they would refer to when considering development applications. A VDS requires a significant community effort, but if it would help in such situations is the time approaching when Groby will need to look again at taking on such a project?
This may seem just a small piece of marginal open space but it has importance for the local community. The land has not yet been sold for a house to be built on it and the debate concerning this matter of principle may not yet be over. But when the alarm bell is ringing it can be a mistake not to take notice. And there can be no doubt the bell is ringing.