saving-the-bedmond-lane-wildlife-meadow

The land between Bedmond Lane and Mayne Avenue in St Albans, Hertfordshire is a wildlife meadow in the Green Belt, which has been used by the local community as recreational open space for decades.  The land is currently under threat from 2 applications:

1. Planning Application:  5/2014/1394 – an application by Banner Homes Ltd for change of use of the land to allow for the keeping of horses and to permit the fencing of the land to accommodate them.

• Wildlife: The proposed change of use would result in the loss of, or significant damage to, the wildlife on the land, the biodiversity of which is much valued by the local community.   Though the Application is not supported by any survey of the wildlife on the land, we note the belief of the Hertfordshire and Middlesex Wildlife Trust that the land fulfills the criteria of a local wildlife site and their concerns in relation to the application.
• Recreational use: The land is widely used by the local community for pastimes including walking, dog-walking, cycling, play and the enjoyment of nature.  This use, which has continued for decades, would be prevented by the enclosure of the land and is inconsistent with the Council’s duty to preserve existing recreational open space wherever possible.
• Footpaths: The land already has 2 designated public rights of way across it (FP32 & FP95) and other un-designated paths.  The application would interfere with the public’s use of these paths.
• No requirement for proposed use: There is no demand for the proposed use for the grazing of horses in the locality and therefore no requirement or justification for the interference with the Green Belt.

2. Review of Community Asset designation – a request by Banner Homes Ltd for St Albans City & District Council to review its decision to include the land as an Asset of Community Value under the Localism Act 2011.

• The land contributes significantly to the social wellbeing and/or social interests of the local community in that it provides a semi-wild habitat adjacent to the Verulam Estate which is much used for relaxation.  All other land surrounding the Estate which is not built upon is cultivated, and does not afford anything equivalent to the same access.
• There is every reason to believe that the use of the land by the local community as set out above will continue, since it has done so for at least the last forty years.

We value this local resource, and urge the St Albans & District Council to do everything in its power to preserve it for the local community.

We, the undersigned, call upon St Albans City & District Council to refuse the planning application and to maintain the land on the list of Assets of Community Value.

Verulam Residents Association    Contact the author of the petition