Green spaces may be protected forever - council

Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council ensure that popular council-owned land remain publicly accessible

More than 80 green spaces across Newcastle-under-Lyme could benefit from legal protection to safeguard them forever.

The borough council may enter into legally-binding agreements with the Fields in Trust charity to ensure popular council-owned land remains publicly accessible.

This means 88 parks, open spaces, playgrounds, sports fields and cemeteries would stay public for recreational activities and nature appreciation in the future.

Bathpool Park, Brampton Park, Lyme Forest at Keele, Sandy Lane in Newcastle and Wolstanton Marsh are the sites currently being assessed for lodging Deeds of Dedication applications.

This involves a landowner permanently designating land for a specific public use without transferring ownership.

The council said securing the special status would provide an "additional layer of protection" for much-loved spaces in the borough from being considered for development.

'Hugely valuable assets'

Leader Simon Tagg said the authority was committed to enhancing and preserving these sites.

He said: "Newcastle-under-Lyme is home to many wonderful natural environments from amenity green spaces and award-winning parks to green corridors and nature reserves.

"These areas are hugely valuable community assets; they boost residents' health and well-being, provide habitats for a diverse range of wildlife and capture and store vast amounts of harmful carbon dioxide from the atmosphere."

Tagg said giving the sites a Fields in Trust status would mean "permanent protection forever".

"They would be retained as public parks, playing fields and recreation grounds for generations to come", he added.