Stone protesters fight to protect 'vital' Westbridge Park
MORE than 700 people have backed a campaign to stop development plans at a popular town park.
Residents in Stone fear green space at Westbridge Park could be swallowed up if the site is earmarked for a 'mixed use development' in Stafford Borough Council's local plan.
-
LAND BATTLE: From left, protesters Lin Davies, Kristan Green, Councillor Mark Green, Linda Weaver and Councillor Jackie Nelson.
The site is also home to many community events, including Stone Food and Drink Festival, below, which took place at the weekend.
Now an online petition has been set up to preserve the space.
BlueSky CVs are offering 20% discount to all Thisisstaffordshire/Sentinel readers until the end of May.
Need a CV to help you get a new job - don't waste any more time - contact BlueSky CVs now!
Terms:
valid until 31.5.2013
All CVs purchased to be paid in full - via website prior to commencement of work.
Contact: 01538 710408
Valid until: Friday, May 31 2013
Councillor Rob Kenny, who started the petition, said: "We do not want any sort of development on the site."
Council officials stress no housing would be built there.
But campaigners believe if shops are created, it could damage the local economy.
Jill Hood, councillor for Walton, said: "The number of people that have signed the petition proves the outrage that the community feels.
"It is a beautiful park, which people enjoying spending time in, and it's a vital part of Stone's local economy.
"The shops, restaurants and pubs in the area all rely on visitors to the park, which will diminish if developments are made."
Mrs Hood said Stone's economy partly relies on the annual festivals held at the park, including the food and drink event which attracts thousands of visitors.
She added: "There is also wildlife to consider. There are two sets of badgers living in the park. What will happen to them and the wildlife in the river if the council develops the area?"
Kristen Green and her husband Mark, from Newcastle Road, Stone, organise the annual Stone Lions' Park Fun Day on the site in July.
Mrs Green, aged 62, said: "If we didn't have the park, we wouldn't be able to hold the festivals. There's nowhere else in Stone that's big enough."
Mrs Green also runs Mayfield House Bed and Breakfast and said the business would suffer without trade from the festivals.
George Bennett, aged 31, of Stafford, took his four-year-old daughter Molly to Westbridge Park at the weekend.
He said: "I'd never really come to Stone before the food and drink festival. It would be a shame if shops were built on the park because it's such a pretty area."
Maggie Salt, aged 52, from Tunley Street, Stone, said: "The last thing we need is our park taken away from us."
To sign the online petition, visit 193.25.117.136/stafford/Sign.aspx?Pet=32.
Comments
by Westbridge
Thursday, October 11 2012, 4:46PM
“Fantastic news, the "Keep Westbridge Park Green" petition has reached over 1,800 signatures. This comprises of 1,040 signatures on the ePetition and 780 have signed the written petition. A week ago Stafford Borough Council claimed the petition to be "misleading". Since then a further 1300 signatures have been collected. This goes to show that people fully understand the meaning of the "Keep Westbridge Park Green" petition. People can sign the petition online or at local shops, cafes, restaurants and pubs throughout Stone.
It is ironic for the petition to be labelled by the Borough Council as "misleading". When it was submitted online to the Democratic Services department, the Head of Law and Administration, or his department, could have rejected the petition if they thought it to be frivolous. They did not. Accusations of "misleading" have only arisen since the petition has had such an amazing response.
Although we have now reached the over 1800 signatures it is imperative that we continue to get as many to sign as possible. The more that sign the more they will have to sit up and take notice of how strongly people think about mixed use development on Westbridge Park.”