Three Leicestershire green spaces protected from development 'forever'

Three Leicestershire green spaces are to be protected from development "in perpetuity". Blaby District Council (BDC) is to sell two popular parks and a collection of village allotments for £1 each to local parish councils, with the condition that the sites must be kept in their current use forever.

Members of BDC agreed at a meeting on Tuesday, November 19, to transfer the spaces, including the much-loved Southey Close Recreation Grounds in Enderby, nicknamed Wimpey Park by residents after the developer who built the area’s homes, to the smaller councils.

In the case of Southey Close, BDC had already pledged that no development would take place there. The transfer, to Enderby Parish Council, reinforces that commitment, said a spokesperson. Due to its former use as landfill, discussions will take place around BDC's responsibility for any future monitoring and remediation work, if required.

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Jubilee Park and the attached car park are also to be transferred to Enderby Parish Council. Both Jubilee Park and Southey Close are deemed to not have “development potential”, and by selling them to the parish for a nominal amount, BDC will save on maintenance and running costs.

A third site – Hold Crescent Allotments, in Thurlaston – is also to be sold. Thurlaston Parish Council will pay £1 to acquire it. The site is again considered to not be suitable for development.

Councillor Nigel Grundy, of BDC, said: “We have been working with both Enderby and Thurlaston Parish Councils for some time to arrange these transfers. The move ensures a secure future for these popular green areas.

“As well as ensuring they are safe from development the transfer allows the Parish Councils to follow local need, access funding opportunities unavailable to us and offer more in the way of community events and activities. We are delighted these green spaces will be safeguarded for generations to come.”

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