We were referred to a proposal for North Yorkshire Council to dispose of an amount of land within a green space, which has an active travel path near Stakesby Road, Whitby. The notice from NYC invites comments. We responded as a joint response with our partners at Whitby Community Network CIC, as follows
Re: disposal of the land to the rear of 86 Stakesby Road
Dear Sir / Madam,
Regarding the proposed disposal of the land to the rear of 86 Stakesby Road
Loss of Green Space
Whitby parish has an established deficit of green space compared to both local and national guidelines. The most recent local authority audit was provided by Scarborough Borough Council (SBC) in 2014, where it concluded this, however this report also contained some errors which overestimated green space levels, and additionally there has been a sell off of some green spaces by SBC in the intervening years. Whitby
Community Network CIC has the most up-to-date analysis of green space [link]. This clearly shows a deficit of 5.4ha of natural, 6.2ha of urban park, and 1.0ha of sports green space, relative to the minimum standard.
North Yorkshire Council (NYC) has recognised in many reports the benefit that can be obtained from access to green space, and the NYC Director of Public Health has stated “There have been positive impacts from having accessible, local green spaces, which have supported both physical and mental health and wellbeing”. Whitby has some of the lowest health outcomes in the whole of the county, with a widely publicised coastal health crisis. It is essential that green space in such areas be both protected and enhanced to benefit the health and well-being of the community.
The green corridor where this proposed disposal is located consists of one of the very few collections of mature trees in the parish – such trees will presumably have tree preservation orders in place? It provides areas for local children to play, as well as providing a tranquil environment to walk away from cars. Such areas should be enhanced, not diminished, and removal of an area for private use only as well as providing vehicular ingress further into this area would significantly diminish it for the local community.
In deciding whether to dispose of this land, NYC should answer the question how they are going to provide the minimum standard of green space for Whitby parish? If NYC do not have a plan for that then disposal should simply not be an option.
If we refer to the current Local Plan (Policy HC 14 “Open Space and Sports Facilities”) which states
“b. The redevelopment of existing open spaces and outdoor sports facilities, including those identified within the Green Space Audit and Playing Pitch Strategy or any subsequent updates, for non-open space uses will only be permitted where
- the existing open space does not contribute positively to the character and appearance of the area; and,
- there is an identified surplus of that type of open space or sports provision in that locality and the site cannot be reclassified to meet an identified deficit in another form of open space or sports provision; or,
- a replacement open space of an equal or higher quantity and quality can be provided in a nearby accessible location.”
This green space contributes positively in that it is well used. There is demonstrably no surplus of open space in this parish, and so, based on the Local Plan, such a disposal (and subsequent redevelopment) cannot go ahead.
Promoting Active Travel
The current active Local Plan (SBC) says (Policy INF1) “promoting sustainable modes of transport other than the private car”. NYC have a declared climate target of modest increase in levels of walking, along with a 900% increase in levels of cycling by 2030. Whitby & district currently has very low levels of cycling due to the lack of infrastructure (cf UK Active Lives Survey). As a result it is essential that all existing active travel infrastructure is both protected and enhanced so as to actively encourage uptake of such modes of transport. One of the benefits of this corridor is that it is virtually free from vehicles.
The green corridor in question provides a tranquil thoroughfare for connecting residential areas with Stakesby Road and onwards (via the pedestrian crossing) to West Cliff. The forthcoming Whitby Area Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) will connect in to this access path. Disposal of this land would give vehicles access further into the tranquil area, increasing the danger to pedestrians and cyclists in an era when we should be doing everything possible to encourage the uptake of such modes of transport.
The Department for Transport have established that around 70% of the public would not contemplate cycling around vehicles. Given that the community on Byland Road has many young children, with a play park just at the end of this section, even more reason to not allow vehicle ingress further up the green corridor. Further to that, Stakesby Primary Academy often use this green corridor as a route for getting to Whitby Leisure Centre. Additional vehicle ingress will increase danger to those children, in an area that should be a safe space.
We hereby request that you do not dispose of this land. Moreover, we also request that you arrange for bollards to be installed at the Stakesby Road end of the active travel section (like there are at the Byland Road end), so that no vehicles can spoil this tranquil area.
Regards
Whitby & Esk Valley Active Travel (registered charity 1206506).
Whitby Community Network CIC (company no 06393992).
