Council consultation seeks views on local green spaces

RESIDENTS are being encouraged to share their comments and views on the district’s local parks, woodlands, recreation and green spaces.

An online consultation has been launched to help Mendip District Council evaluate the offering and services that currently exist at various green spaces across the district which includes those at Packsaddle Way, Austin Close and Mountsfield in Frome.

“The council recognises the protection of existing green spaces, green networks and the creation of appropriate new greenspaces is essential to healthy and vibrant local communities,” says the council. “Also important is the audit and mapping of current provision, and the quality of open space across the district.

“The council is therefore preparing a Greenspace Audit, mapping greenspaces across Mendip, with a focus on the settlements. The audit will update previous open space studies undertaken in 2008 and 2012 and consolidates and aligns with the assessment work carried out whilst preparing the council’s Local Plan Part 1 and Local Plan Part 2.”

Comments of Mendip’s consultation are invited now, on the draft SPD and Greenspaces Audit. The consultation closes on 25th November. To complete a consultation form, residents are being signposted to the Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) which covers Local Plan policies relating to new and existing open spaces and recreational spaces, and provides a description of the valued characteristics of sites.

The SPD can be viewed at www.mendip.gov.uk/sci where a consultation response form is also available to download.

The Audit can be viewed at www.mendip.gov.uk/evidencebase Any queries should be directed to the planning policy team planningpolicy@mendip.gov.uk or by phone on 0300 303 8588.