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'To Maintain, Improve and Extend the Play and Recreational facilities within the Parish of Doxey for its Present and Future Population' |
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Stafford Borough Council - Development Plan
19th OctoberWe have now sent our submisssion on the Develoment plan to the Borough :
'Play
Space for Doxey';
a group of Doxey residents who are worried about the lack of
recreational facilities in the area, and the threats to those that we
do have, would like to make the following observations on the draft
development plan.
[PS4D does not take a position on the desirability or otherwise of the proposed housing and employment development. But it is important that whatever plans are made, the recreational needs of the whole area are borne in mind.]
In view of the current under-provision of resources, in addition to catering for the inhabitants of the new houses, the Plan should provide additional recreational facilities which can be used by the present residents of Doxey. (This is in accordance with Core Policy 25 – Open Space, Sport and Recreational Facilities - p124 in the Development Plan).
The rugby pitches (either side of Kingsway) should be preserved. They not only serve as playing fields but as open spaces in an area that is the hub of a number of roads and paths. It also is the start of the 'green lung' – see below.
Since any new playing areas are going to be built to the south of the main road through Doxey, there should be safe foot and cycle paths to provide access from the existing residential areas. This should eventually provide a proper cycle route from Doxey to the centre of Stafford. There should be clear Rights of Way across this land.
It would the desirable if the Greenway was a 'spine' around which the major new recreation areas were provided. This would link the Rugby pitches, the Castlefields open space, the Castle View recreation area and the existing Football Pitch area with the more rural open spaces of Duddas Wood and the Millennium Green in Derrington. New playing fields and open space would then be part of a 2 mile 'green lung' accessible not only to the new housing but to other Stafford residents. Any main access road though the area should bridge the Greenway – not too difficult as, in the west of the area, it is already in a cutting.
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New open areas used by children should be easily visible from housing and well used paths, this will reduce
the dangers of vandalism and bullying. -
We support the Parish Council's comments on the desirability of a 'Parish Hall' which could be used for indoor recreation.
On
behalf of Play Space for Doxey
Iain
Simpson
7th October
Stafford Borough have now published its draft development plan for the next 20 years. There was an exhibition held at the Church on Sept 20th followed by a Parish Meeting called by the Parish Council on 6th October attended by a representative of our M.P. Jeremy Lefroy and our County and Brorough Councillors – Mark Winninington, Peter Goodland and Isabella Davies.
The meeting felt that if the building of another 2,200 new houses were to go ahead it was essential that the road system be put in place before any houses are built. Other points were made regarding the 'zoning' of housing and employment suggestions. A report of the meeting is on the DCA website (www.doxeyca.org.uk).
PS4D will not be taking a position on the desirability or otherwise of the housing plans but it is important that whatever plans are made, the recreational needs of the whole area are borne in mind. With that in mind we are going to make a submission to the Borough saying that :
- In view of the current under-provision of resources, in addition to catering for the inhabitants of the new houses, the Plan should provide additional recreational facilitates which can be used by the present residents of Doxey. (This is in accordance with Core Policy 25 – Open Space, Sport and Recreational Facilities - p124 in the Development Plan).
- Since any new playing areas are going to be built to the south of the main road, there should be safe foot and cycle paths to provide access from existing residential areas. This should eventually provide a proper cycle route from Doxey to the centre of Stafford.
- The Greenway should a 'spine' around which the major new recreation areas are provided. This would link the Rugby pitches (which should be kept as recreational areas and not developed for commercial use) , the Castlefields open space, the Castle View recreation area and the existing Football Pitch area with the more rural open spaces of Duddas Wood and the Millennium Green in Derrington. New playing fields and open space would then be part of a 2 mile 'green lung' accessible not only to the new housing but to other Stafford residents.
- New open areas used by children should be easily visible from housing and well used paths, this will reduce the dangers of vandalism and bullying.
- We support the Parish Council's comments on the desirability of a 'Parish Hall' which would be available for indoor recreation.
Make your views heard
Show your Support
We will be starting a new page so that you can put your point of view regarding play facilities in Doxey.Send us an email.
Current Recreational Facilities in Doxey
How little space Doxey really has, what we have lost, What other areas in Stafford haveMaps showing facilities
Why I Support PS4D
Who are we ?
We are Doxey residents who are concerned about the threat to our already limited recreational facilities. We want to ensure that, with the increased residential development, the recreational needs of all Doxey residents, new and old, are properly provided for.What are we doing ?
We set up PS4D in February 2011 and since then we have held a number of meetings, with supporters in Doxey, our MP, the Borough Council and local Sports Bodies,We will be submitting our comments on the local development plan with the hope that future developments in the area will provide those extra recreational facilities which are so badly needed in the area.
We have issued a number of press releases, details from which have appeared in the local papers and on Radio Stoke.
For Previous Activity - click here