Q 37 - Compensatory Provision for removal of land from Green Belt.

I applaud the removal of site 13 from the plan and this area should now be at least made into a formal public open space or even designated as a nature reserve due to it being an area of biodiversity and habitat of value, an important area for local wildlife in Shirley. We have lost too many of these areas already.

However, the fundamental aim of Green Belt policy is to prevent urban sprawl by keeping land permanently open; the essential characteristics of Green Belts are their openness and their permanence. Green Belt serves five purposes:

a) to check the unrestricted sprawl of large built-up areas;
b) to prevent neighbouring towns merging into one another;
c) to assist in safeguarding the countryside from encroachment;
d) to preserve the setting and special character of historic towns;
e) to assist in urban regeneration, by encouraging the recycling of derelict and other urban land.

The development of sites 4, 11, 12 & 26 is contrary to the fundamental aim of Green Belt policy and is counter intuitive.

Of all the sites in and around Shirley sites 11 & 12 are the ones that I consider to be the least controversial. However, if this land is removed from the green belt then compensatory provision should be made by protecting sites 13 and 26.

Site 13 should be designated as formal public open space or as a nature reserve due to its significant amount of wildlife in the area and its biodiversity. The site has a number of eco systems that range from grass land to marsh and heath land, evergreen forest and mature deciduous trees and hedgerows. There is a network of drainage ditches and well-established farm ponds and also a sink area which is effectively bog land. This is very well utilized by the community and it is land that helps to foster a community, by being land that they are able to meet one another whilst walking over. It also plays a significant role in both the health and wellbeing of a great number of residents in the area.