‘Lockdown highlights the importance of Medway’s green spaces’ say Medway Liberal Democrats
As Medway enters another lockdown, the importance of access to green spaces and nature for physical and mental health has been starkly highlighted. Those who live alone across our towns, or without access to gardens, balconies, or green space, exposure to nature is a key factor in maintaining positive mental health.
Liberal Democrats would bring green space's to the top of the agenda in every new local plan, and would improve environmental standards in the Medway Towns by adopting sensible and consistently applied planning policies which are in line with the surrounding environment. Any future local plan should emphasise the provision of green infrastructure, particularly in Medway's urban areas.
Whilst we recognise the need for new housing, it must be in the right places, and that any planning system delivers a comprehensive network of green spaces where there is a good provision of infrastructure. We would concentrate new housing developments in areas with good bus and rail links to reduce car usage, and in locations where there is scope to provide decent pedestrian, cycling and public transport connections.
Vivienne Parker, Chairperson for Medway Liberal Democrats said "The Conservative-led Council, by not having yet adopted a Local Plan, has had less control over developments in order to meet the Government's housing targets and this means developers often win their planning appeals, thereby causing great harm to our green spaces.
In these challenging times, Liberal Democrats want to preserve open spaces around our towns, giving the local community space for leisure and recreation, without causing harm to Medway's most sensitive wildlife habitats and species. We would improve the connectivity of habitats to provide robust ecological networks and provide new allotments on 'brown build' sites to provide for an increased population.
The limitations imposed by the lockdown have brought to the forefront that Medway's parks and green spaces are vital resources for us all, bringing our communities together with appropriate adjustments for social distancing, that benefits our physical and mental health and wellbeing."
ENDS
References:
The social impacts of Coronavirus (COVID19) on Great Britain, May 2020. Office for National Statistics
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-advice-on-accessing-green-spaces-safely