Tong, Fulneck and Micklethwaite protestors' joy over land plans (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Pledge by ministers to give communities a greater say to protect their open spaces

9:52am Thursday 9th June 2011 in News By James Rush, T&A Reporter

Green space defenders in Bradford have welcomed Government proposals for communities to get new powers to protect green spaces they enjoy.

Ministers have promised to ensure communities get new powers to designate protected green areas as part of its Natural Environment White Paper.

The paper also sees the Government pledge £7.5 million to help create a dozen large-scale zones protecting nature and pilot ‘offsetting’ measures to allow developers to compensate for natural losses their developments may cause by restoring or expanding habitat elsewhere.

The Reverend Canon Gordon Dey, who is fighting plans for housing in the Tong and Fulneck Valley, said: “It sounds exactly the kind of treatment that we would like to see brought to the Tong Fulneck Valley. This is already a very important heritage site and we have already got significant evidence of wildlife that needs to be protected – so yes, come on, let’s see what we can do.”

The White Paper has been published following a major assessment which revealed the financial and health benefits of parks and the countryside.

The Government has insisted protecting and improving the natural environment remained a core objective of the planning system, which is currently being reviewed.

Terry Brown, of the Greenhill Action Group, which formed to fight proposals for more than 400 canalside homes in Sty Lane, Micklethwaite, said the proposals could help for future battles.

He said it might not help their cause as it wasn’t clear what could be done with existing applications.

• Read the full story Thursday’s T&A