North Staffs Greens Back Fight to Save Berryhill Fields.

 

The Green Party in North Staffordshire has given its backing to campaigners fighting to save Berryhill Fields from being developed for housing.

 Campaigners from the Save Berryhill Fields Action Group wrote to all 43 members of Stoke-on-Trent City Council in April asking for the site to be protected as the council draws up its Local Plan.

A quote written in support of their petition to Stoke-on-Trent City Council says: Quote from petition site SOTCC “Berry Hill fields brings so many benefits to our community and should be given funding to be more accessible to everyone across the city due it being such a beauty spot”.

This would see 21,480 new houses built across the Potteries by 2040, under the original Local Plan created in partnership with Newcastle Borough Council 1,316 homes were planned for the Berryhill Fields site.

The joint Local Plan has since been abandoned and the site, which was previously designated as part of a local nature reserve, has been declared unsuitable for housing. However, campaigners fear the city council may change its position if government funding becomes available. 

Speaking to the Sentinel in April Save Berryhill Fields Action Group vice chair Dave Burgess said “In the strategic housing land availability assessment, Berryhill Fields was listed as not viable for development. But that status could change if the council gets some new funding from the government – that could mean it becomes viable”.

Adding that “is why we want the land retained as a local nature reserve, to prevent any future development." [1]

Sam Hackney of the action group has since launched a petition calling for Berryhill Fields to be protected from development, the text of which reads: ‘We the undersigned petition the council to We want the council to completely and unequivocally rule out building on Berry Hill fields as residents have time and time again said we do not want this to happen due to their being a vast array of brown field sites within the city that can be used instead’.

A spokesperson for North Staffs Green Party said, “over the past year and a half we have all learnt how vital green spaces are for our physical and mental wellbeing, they are also key to halting the rapid decline in biodiversity”.

Adding that, “we fully support this campaign and hope to work with them on protecting Berryhill fields for generations to come to enjoy”.

The Petition has gained more than a thousand signatures and can be accessed on the city council website by following: 

http://www.moderngov.stoke.gov.uk/mgEPetitionDisplay.aspx?id=229&TPID=49793014

 

[1] https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/stoke-on-trent-news/campaigners-resume-fight-protect-berryhill-5355627https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/stoke-on-trent-news/campaigners-resume-fight-protect-berryhill-5355627