Residents always tell me they love our area due to the beautiful surroundings - nice places to walk and green spaces to enjoy. Ensuring we keep Meir Park a pleasant place to live has always been one of my priorities.
Over the years I've worked with local groups, businesses, churches and residents to place more benches and flower planters, maintain pathways and keep the area tidy. All these things make Meir Park the lovely community it is. Can you help me demonstrate how our green spaces have been used as village greens over the years?
Applying for Village Green status on the greenspaces across Meir Park will enable us to protect them for generations to come. Do you have photos of activity taking place on the greenspaces across the area? This could be children playing, dog walking or just enjoying the space!
Alongside this, statements from residents who have used the space over the years is also essential, especially if you have lived on Meir Park for over 15years. This helps to demonstrate that the greenspace has been used as a village green.
How can you help the Meir Park Village Green campaign?
There are lots of people who can help gathering evidence, and not just those who live on Meir Park now.
If you've lived on Meir Park in the past, or have used the greenspaces around the area for walking your dog, any kind of physical activity or generally for relaxation, then you can help too!
1. We need any *historic* photos that you're happy to share of yourself or others using the greenspace. It doesn't have to show you doing anything other than enjoying the space. Walking the dog, picnicking, playing games - all are really helpful to show how the greenspace has been used for recreation. If you can add an idea of the year the photo was taken, even better.
2. Don't worry if you don't have photos, we also need statements from residents who have used the greenspace over the years. This can be for anything from dog walking right the way through to building dens. If you're an adult who grew up on Meir Park and can remember playing football on the greenspace with your friends, or fishing in the pond, then even better. If you can write down any details you can remember, including what you did and when that time period was, it helps us to again establish how the greenspace has been used for recreation.
Ideally, we need statements dating back to when the estate was first starting to be built, so if you have older relatives or friends who can share any details, that would be fantastic.
You can send any information you have to [email protected]
3. You can join my newsletter - on the homepage - to receive the latest updates on the campaign and other useful information for local residents.
Why do we need this information?
If we can supply information to the city council that the greenspace around Meir Park has been used by a significant number of local people for recreation 'as of right' (ie without permission, without force and without secrecy), we can potentially ensure it is classed as a Village Green.
Does this only apply to land the city council own?
No, it applies to any land that has been used 'as of right'. This includes any land that the original developers have sold off recently to private individuals.
What do you mean by 'greenspace'?
Meir Park is surrounded by a green 'border' and also has a number of smaller greenspaces within the estate itself. We are looking to see if all these spaces could be classed as 'village green' - but we need evidence concerning as many of them as possible. If uncertain that the area near you could be included, please get in touch!
And what would creating a Village Green do?
Town and village greens are protected by:
• Section 12 of the Inclosure Act 1857 against injury or damage and interruption to their use or
enjoyment as a place for exercise and recreation. It is a criminal offence to cause injury or
damage to village greens.
• Section 29 of the Commons Act 1876 makes encroachment on, or inclosure of, a green, and
interference with or occupation of the land, illegal unless it is with the aim of improving the
enjoyment of the green.
When are you looking to submit the application?
As soon as possible! But we need as much evidence as possible, photos and statements about use of the greenspace around Meir Park.