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Council rules out selling part of Exeter park

Monday, 1 July 2019 14:35

By Daniel Clark, Local Democracy Reporting Service

Leader Phil Biaylk says he wants to keep the current open green space

Part of a beloved Exeter park will NOT be sold off to become a turning point for cars to access a new housing development.

Exeter City Council has announced that they have reversed an earlier decision made by its executive committee to sell 130 square metres of Bull Meadow Park to the Exeter Homes Trust.

Back in February, the committee, despite hundreds of local residents objecting, agreed to dispose of the land, subject to Exeter Homes Trust’s £9m redevelopment plans of the Fairpark Almshouses, at the bottom of Magdalen Road and overlooking Bull Meadow Park, being approved.

That application has yet to be determined, but Cllr Phil Bialyk, leader of the council, has today said he wanted to keep the current open green space after carefully considering representations from residents and councillors.

Local residents have reacted to the decision and called it a victory for common sense.

Nigel FitzHugh, Chairman of the St Leonards Neighbourhood Association, said: “This is a victory for democracy and a victory for common sense. The people did not want this and it made no sense and was completely ridiculous for the planning application to rely on a piece of land that not only they didn’t own but that was in public ownership.

“We are very pleased and it shows that the public when they mobilise themselves and knock on doors and campaign then things can be done.”

Juliette Stephenson, who has lived in the area for 30 years, added: “This is fantastic news. I am really pleased that the city council has listened to the response of the local people and finally that they absolutely realise the value of the green space to the local people. It was clearly something that no one in the area wanted and it had no benefit to the local people by making the turning circle. It is fantastic that responses of the local people have been listened to.

“I am pleased to see that they have gone back on the original decision and that they have now listened to the recommendation of the place scrutiny committee who said that this should not be sold.”

Bull Meadow Park features a range of mature trees, a separate play area for young children and green open space.

Cllr Bialyk, who back in February had voted in favour of selling the land subject to planning permission for a scheme that required the land for the turning circle being approved, explaining his decision to now not sell the land.

He said: “Good space like this is at a premium, and to inch away at it is not the best policy. Of course we want to provide houses for people, and we will have those discussions. But I’m not minded to sell this – I want to keep it as open space.

“A lot of local people have made representations and the local councillors here in Newtown and St Leonards have worked very hard on their behalf to get that message across.

“We have said that this new Labour administration will be listening to people, and we will make changes where we can make changes. I don’t want to make a mistake just because it is what we said we would do.”

He added: “I want to listen to people in Exeter and work with people in Exeter. That’s the best way forward. I want Exeter to thrive, I want it as the place to be. I just can’t stand by and watch this space go, because once it has gone it has gone forever.

“We’ve listened and we intend to listen. But listening is a two-way street. There will be times when I will be asking residents in Exeter to listen to what we are proposing, for the good of Exeter.”

The £9m redevelopment plans of the Fairpark Almshouses would have seen 31 new homes for individuals over 55, who can demonstrate a connection to Exeter and be capable of independent living, built, to replace the Fairpark Almshouses, at the bottom of Magdalen Road and overlooking Bull Meadow Park.

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