More on the Local Green Space consultation

A number of people have asked questions about the informal consultation on proposed Local Green Spaces. These are sites that local people have nominated for special protection from development. The aim of the consultation is for residents and landowners to comment on the current list and provide further justification for why they should be designated. No new sites can be proposed at this stage.

What land has been nominated?

The first thing to do is to check the list of pieces of land nominated. There are over 500 in the spreadsheet but you can sort them by Parish.

There has been a lot of focus on sites like Woodlands Farm and Engine Common but there are many others proposed locally. In Westerleigh Parish for example:

• Ram Hill Colliery
• Kingshill, Westerleigh
• Logger Steps, Westerleigh
• Bitterwell Lake/Newman Field
• The Pound, Westerleigh
• Fields to edge of settlement boundary between Roundways and the Railway (Coalpit Heath)
• Mayshill
• Village green and war memorial, Westerleigh
• Westerleigh Playing Field
• Ivory Wood
• Pansy Vale
• Pansy Vale and Broad Lane RUPP
• Green area at top of Mill Crescent
• Triangle of land at top of Shorthill Road

How do I comment?

If an area of land is of interest to you, make a note of the "Green space code" in the first column and then look along to the row to see whether it meets the criteria and whether further evidence is needed.

You then need to download and complete this form and email it to PlanningLDF@southglos.gov.uk  - you need to use a separate form for each space you want to comment on.

What if I can't answer all the questions on the form?

Don't be put off if you can't answer all the sections. In many cases the council already has the information it needs for sections A to C (who owns the land and so on). What the council needs help with is the evidence for why the space should be designated a Local Green Space. Fill in those parts and leave the others blank.

How much detail should I provide?
As much as possible! Your local South Glos councillors have been attending meetings with Parish Councillors and South Glos planning officials to go through the lists. The planners stressed how important it is to provide details. So for example, don't just say a green space is used for recreation - detail the type of activities, who does them and how often. If it's got historical significance, spell out exactly what that is.

South Glos provided the following suggestions at their meeting which could be useful to consider to demonstrate the significance of a particular nominated local green space to the local community:

• Use by local organisations – e.g. Scouts/Cubs/Brownies, youth groups, exercise groups, religious groups
• Use by schools
• Use by local sports clubs
• Informal use – is the site publically accessible? Who uses it e.g. by dog walkers, children, general public - how busy is it?
• Local events held in the space – e.g fetes, carnivals, bonfire, heritage/wildlife talks
• Any local groups involved in managing the space e.g. friends groups,
• Allotments – is there a waiting list? Is there a management committee? Are all plots in active use?
• Investment in the space by the council, parish or voluntary groups etc – any improvements e.g tree/wildflower/other planting, new equipment, seating, works to steps, footpaths.
• Lottery/Heritage/other grant funding
• Any play equipment on the site including teen shelters,
• Facilities on site – e.g benches/seating, pavilions, band stand, shelters, information boards
• Is it a well-used route? E.g. safe route to school or route to the shops
• Ecological value – any nature conservation interest e.g. pond, stream, veteran trees, rare species, wildlife corridor
• Historical value – historic buildings (e.g church/cemetery), archaeology ( e.g remains of village pound) or historical association (something historically significant happened there e.g. Hanham Mount)
• Important in views/landscape/townscape – does the space provide a viewpoint out of the area or is it important in views into the area/settlement? Does the site make a contribution to the character and distinctiveness of the local area or streetscape e.g. provides the setting to an historic building/area.

If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to contact your Focus Team.