The Gatley Carrs Conservation Group had a fascinating talk from Jamie Leeson, Fields in Trust, when they met on Tuesday 17 December 2019.

Jamie explained that protecting a green space with the new legal mechanism from Fields in Trust is very different to the old covenant method.

CGGC want to ensure that the Carrs is protected for future generations. There’s no immediate threat of development, but who can say what might happen in 10, 20 or 50 years time.

Protection with Fields in Trust is cheap (it would cost the council just £80). It’s flexible, permitting ancillary development like play areas or sports pavilions, and allowing some parts of a green space to be excluded from the protection. And it’s simple, ensuring that the current landowner – in this case the council, retains ownership and control.

Unfortunately, Stockport Council has been dragging its feet. Iain, Graham and Keith have been pushing for Fields in Trust status to be progressed for nearly three years now, and GCCG submitted a petition with over 2,000 names. We were told the problem was that the council didn’t have a policy, so Keith wrote them a policy! But it’s gone quiet again.

“Gatley Carrs Conservation Group have led the way on using Fields in Trust to protect our precious public green spaces,” said Keith. “I would like to thank them for their hard work and promise that the local Lib Dem team will continue to work to make this happen.”

Other councils protecting their green spaces in this way include Sheffield, Liverpool and Preston.

More about Fields in Trust.

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