CHESTERTON & RED STREET Land off Shrewsbury Drive

Reasons For The Residents’ Objections 1.It is the only amenity to the east of Crackley Bank & Liverpool Rd 2.The site was earmarked as a public open space 3.Development of the site would be detrimental to the health of local people 4.The loss of biodiversity 5.Increased traffic: noise, pollution and danger 6.Lack of places at the local school 7.Land may be unsuitable for development due to former mining usage. 8.Area surrounding Red Street community is industrial/ commercial 9.Savings to the council’s budget for green space maintenance is negligible. 10.We have heard from Helen Beech that N- U – L can fulfil its housing obligations without developing this site. Residents ask “Does the Council have a social conscience or is it motivated purely by financial greed?”

Extensively used by residents for recreational purposes

The space is used by young and old alike

Who says that this space is SURPLUS to requirements? WE DON’T!!

Developing the site could be detrimental to the health of residents Chesterton is recognised as an area of poor health, unemployment and low income Young and old alike can use this space to exercise freely and safely in the fresh air There is a possibility that the incidence of childhood obesity could rise as a result of removing a safe recreational area. We would remind the council that it has an obligation to promote good health.

The nearest designated children’s play areas both involve crossing very busy roads….Liverpool Road

Deans Lane The council has an obligation to safeguard children… not to commit them to crossing busy roads and being away from their parents!

The loss of bio-diversity

Birds seen on the site

How can building here lead to environmental sustainability?

Increased traffic Increase in the number of vehicles using the Mitchell’s Wood estate which poses an increased risk to residents, particularly children and the elderly or infirm. Increased pollution levels from both exhaust gas emissions and increased noise and disturbance The current road infrastructure would be difficult to upgrade

Bell’s Hollow Our direct link to the A34 A single track road with passing places

The lack of places at the local school….St Chad’s CE Primary

The school is full and 4 mobile classrooms are already in use

Former mining usage may render the land unsuitable for building upon The land has been mined in the past Many of these former mine shafts are unknown From time to time mine shafts have opened in local fields and have had to be filled in The local school has suffered from this problem and its grounds were thoroughly surveyed. Even so, yet another shaft has opened up this spring in the car park! Previous surveys did not reveal this danger. At the site visit, an official from the council’s technical dept. confirmed that the land does indeed have issues.

The area is surrounded by seven industrial estates…Parkhouse E&W

…and High Carr are on our doorstep

….the others are Jamage Apedale Holditch Peacocks Hay (just slightly further away) The more enlightened factory owners of the 19 th century ensured that their workforce had open recreational areas. Does N-u-L Council want to turn back the clock 200 years? Are we to have any open green spaces?

Saving on maintenance costs The land is mowed by the gang mower approximately six times per year How little does this cost? There is no children’s play equipment to maintain We are not asking for any…people are happy to play ball games, fly kites, practice golf swings and learn to ride their bicycles….. SAFELY

What next? Newcastle claims that it is “Putting People First” When we started a petition amongst the local residents, we quickly gathered over 350 signatures from residents of Mitchell’s Wood, against the proposal to develop the site. (On average 1.75 per household) If people are to be put first … …put us the residents first … … LET THE DEMOCRATIC WILL OF THE PEOPLE PREVAIL SAVE OUR GREEN SPACE