FEARS for the future of green spaces across Thornbury and Alveston have been allayed following confirmation that they will be protected from development.

As part of the South Gloucestershire Council Places, Sites and Policies Plan, which was launched earlier this year, the wide ranging consultation sought to allocate spaces that would be safeguarded.

Concerns were raised shortly after the first draft was released in June, when a number of open spaces, including greens near Streamleaze and Osprey Park in Thornbury, and Down Road in Alveston, had been removed from the list of sites submitted by the town and parish councils, following objections from officers South Gloucestershire Council.

But in a decision made by councillors, the sites, and 20 others have been reinstated onto the list. A decision that has been welcomed by both the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats, who had previously spoken on the issue.

Among those who raised concerns over the omission of the sites to the list were Thornbury and Yate MP Luke Hall, and Conservative Cllr Dave Chubb, who represents Thornbury on South Gloucestershire Council. 

Cllr Chubb said: “I am delighted that after raising concerns so strongly on behalf of our residents’ that officers at the council will be removing their objections and the council will be seeking local green space designation for all three areas, which I know many residents support.”

Also welcoming the decision were Liberal Democrat councillors who had campaigned to save the spaces, having handed in a petition of almost 400 names to the council’s environment and community services committee.

Cllr Claire Young, the party’s lead member for environment and community services, said: “With almost 400 people signed our petition to have the greens at Streamleaze, Osprey Park and Down Road protected from development, which shows just how important these spaces are. We are very grateful to everyone who took the trouble to do this.”

Thornbury and South Gloucestershire councillor Maggie Tyrrell added: “Greens like the ones at Streamleaze, Osprey Park and Down Road are important open spaces, well used by local people. They were created when the houses were built, so children would have somewhere to play and people of all ages would be able to walk around and meet their neighbours. 

“So we were horrified when South Gloucestershire Council, as the owner of these spaces, initially refused to protect them. Thornbury Town Council had already agreed that the open spaces it owns should be protected in this way.”

A South Gloucestershire Council spokesman said that responses from the most recent consultation, which ended on September 8, will be reviewed before it is submitted to the secretary of state next month, subject to the number of representations received.

The spokesman said: “The current consultation is being managed our planning policy team. All representations submitted to the consultation will be made publicly available as soon as possible once it has closed, including any provided by South Gloucestershire Council’s property services team, acting as landowner."

“The inspector carrying out the examination will consult on any modifications that they consider appropriate.” 

For further information on the Policies, Sites and Places plan, visithttp://www.southglos.gov.uk/environment-and-planning/planning/planning-local-plans/policies-sites-places-dpd/policies-sites-and-places-dpd/