Local Green Space Designation

The Growth and Delivery Team of Wokingham Borough Council have asked for suggested areas to be designated as Local Green Space.

To be designated as a Local Green Space it must be:

1. In reasonable close proximity to the community it serves
2. Demonstrably special to a local community and holds a particular local significance, for example because of its beauty, historic significance, recreational value (including as a playing field), tranquillity or richness of its wildlife
3. Local in character and is not an extensive tract of land.

The Draft Local Plan for Wokingham Borough suggests only one area in Earley be designated as Local Green Space. In February, Earley Town Council made a written submission that this be extended to 12 sites - see policy HC4 on page 3.

Earley Town Council suggests inclusion of:

1. Chalfont Woods and Chalfont Park Events Field, off Kilnsea Drive
2. The Wilderness area and Harris Gardens on the University of Reading Campus
3. Laurel Park
4. Loddon Fields London Road (the green area between A4 and the houses along London Road)
5. Pearmans Copse
6. Sol Joel Park
7. Thames Riverside (from the Waterside Centre to Kennet Mouth)
8. The Drive (green triangle)
9. The Nature Reserve at Thames Valley Park

In the Draft Local Plan (Policy HC4 again), Redhatch Copse and Maiden Erlegh Lake and Woods are protected for wildlife interest and Maiden Erlegh Lake and Laurel Park are a Site of Urban Landscape Value but recognition as Local Green Space would presumably give them greater protection.

You are invited to write to Wokingham Borough Council to support inclusion of sites you are familiar with, as well as supporting the Earley Town Council list. Here's a SOAR document making the case for the Thames Riverside to be recognised as a Local Green Space.

Thanks to John Booth for the information in this article.