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Campaigns :: Protect our green spaces![]() ![]()
Recently published Government figures show that the proportion of new houses built on previously residential land such as gardens has risen dramatically, from one in ten to one in four between 1997 and 2008 – robbing communities of green breathing space, safe places for children to play and havens for urban wildlife.Instead of being protected as havens for wildlife, not to mention the sheer pleasure they bring communities, gardens have had the status of neglected industrial wasteland. We have now changed that, as we said we would before the election. I’m delighted that the Government has taken action to help local people protect the character of their area and empower councillors to stop inappropriate developments. The Department for Communities and Local Government will remove gardens from the definition of brownfield land in Planning Policy Statement 3, and will abolish national ‘density targets’. There are so many cases of garden grabbing in the area – too many for any MP to fight. That’s why I helped to establish the following website; www.protectourgreenspaces.com. It’s a web-based campaign toolkit designed to help people campaign more effectively. If you have time, I encourage you to have a look. It has helped others and I hope it will help you too. If you need advice or assistance with your own 'Garden Grabbing' issue, please contact, Helena Reimnitz on reimnitz@btinternet.com or call on 020 8939 0321 and she will investigate your situation and help you develop an effective campaign. Alternatively, please visit the designated website: www.protectourgreenspaces.com. It has helped others and I hope it will help you too. I will be encouraging the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Rt Hon Eric Pickles MP to change the rules so that local Councillors can campaign on behalf of their constituents without fear of breaking the rules of ‘pre-determination’ and losing their right to vote. The current rules make no sense at all.
Zac talks about 'Protecting our green spaces' Further reading
Update: 20th January 2010 Councils CAN stop Garden Grabbing
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