North East Lincolnshire Council
Living Space
A Green Space Strategy for
North East Lincolnshire
photo
DIRECTORATE OF
Environmental
Services
North East Lincolnshire Council
North East Lincolnshire Green Space Strategy
CONTENTS
Page
INTRODUCTION
The Vision
What is the Strategy?
Public Consultation
The Council’s Priorities
Partnership Working
Public Accountability
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5
STRATEGIC CONTEXT
Planning Policy
Regional Planning Guidance
Structure Plan
Local Plan
National Planning Policy
National Playing Fields Association
CABE Space
Sport England
Community Strategy
Urban Renaissance
Cultural Strategy
Allotments Strategy
Bio-diversity Action Plan
Landscape Character Assessment
Environment Strategy
Demographic Profile
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GREEN SPACE PROVISION
The Green Space Audit – Supply Analysis
Quantity
Quality
Local Green Space Typology
Assessment of existing provision
Demand Analysis
Public Consultation
Assessment of survey information
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GREEN SPACE MANAGEMENT
Assessment of existing funding
Community involvement
Raising awareness
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GREEN SPACE DEVELOPMENT
Supply and demand analysis
Identification of deficiencies in quantity
Identification of deficiencies in quality
Priorities and opportunities
Green Networks
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ACTION PLAN
The way forward
Performance, monitoring and review
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APPENDIX A – Planning Policies relevant to the Green Space Strategy
APPENDIX B – Public Consultation
APPENDIX C – Areas identified as lacking in green space provision
APPENDIX D – Action Plan 2005 - 2009
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North East Lincolnshire Green Space Strategy
1
INTRODUCTION
1.1
It is widely accepted that green open spaces are an essential
resource in creating a balanced and agreeable quality of life within an
urban environment. Parks and open spaces can be wildlife havens,
places for quiet relaxation or for healthy exercise, and focal points for
community interaction. They also make a key contribution to the
image and identity of any urban or rural settlement.
1.2
The people of North East Lincolnshire have shown in recent surveys
that safety and cleanliness of parks, and the fear of crime are key
concerns, but that many residents still regularly visit local parks and
open spaces. As part of its commitment to improving the environment
for all sections of the community, the Council is looking at how its
green spaces can be managed and developed in the longer term to
ensure that they become more inviting places to visit and take their
rightful place in making North East Lincolnshire a more attractive
place in which to live, work and to visit.
The Vision
1.3
“By 2022 North East Lincolnshire will have a diverse network of safe,
accessible and attractive green spaces that are well managed and
maintained, through community participation, to enhance the quality
of life, sense of well-being, health and learning opportunities of all
sections of the community.”
What is the Strategy?
1.4
The Green Space Strategy is a statement by North East Lincolnshire
Council of the overall aims, medium term objectives and key actions
which it plans to address within the next five years. The Council’s
overall aims are to identify the current provision of facilities, to
manage those facilities effectively and to seek to develop them in
order to continue to meet the needs of the local community.
1.5
The Green Space Strategy is defined by three key aims, set out in the
following pages, relating to Provision, Management and Development.
Following on from each of these aims is a series of key objectives and
a statement of the policies and related actions that will enable these
objectives to be achieved. The strategy is not a static document, but
will be reviewed regularly to ensure that it can be adapted to meet
changing circumstances and new challenges as they arise.
1.6
The strategy will enable longer-term strategic planning and
management of parks and open spaces. This will involve agreeing the
strategic role and intended use of every park and open space taking
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North East Lincolnshire Green Space Strategy
into account the needs of organised and informal leisure activities,
environment, heritage and the needs of all sections of society.
Public consultation
1.7
A vital element of developing a strategy such as this is to ensure that
it addresses the issues that are important to the local community. A
questionnaire survey has already been undertaken within parks and
via user groups to establish the key issues for members of the public.
The draft strategy, which has been developed following that survey,
will be widely circulated for consultation before it becomes a final
document containing clear commitments from the Council.
The Council’s priorities
1.8
North East Lincolnshire Council has a number of priorities to improve
its services to the public. Among the priorities that the Council will
focus on over the next few years are the following:



1.9
The Council will improve the safety and cleanliness of the street
scene and public places;
The Council will help to reduce crime;
The Council will help to create conditions that encourage
businesses to locate in the area and be competitive and profitable.
This strategy addresses all of these issues. It considers the
management of parks and open spaces in the context of making them
more attractive, safe and clean; it looks at the design of parks to help
reduce the opportunities for crime; it addresses the need for adequate
provision and diversity of parks, open spaces and recreational
facilities to make the area a better place in which to live and a more
attractive area to which businesses can relocate.
Partnership working
1.10
The aims, objectives and actions contained within this strategy cannot
be achieved solely by the Council. The strategy therefore encourages
a range of different partnerships from within the wider community. The
Council already works with organisations such as the Heritage Lottery
Fund, New Opportunities Fund, Countryside Agency, English Nature
and Sport England, as well as a number of local voluntary, residential
and user groups on park and open space improvements. Whilst the
strategy will play an increasingly important role in justifying and
supporting external funding bids, its aims will never be realised unless
all of the partners work together towards the common goal.
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North East Lincolnshire Green Space Strategy
Public accountability
1.11
The Parks and Open Spaces Strategy will establish what are the
important issues for people living in and around North East
Lincolnshire and will help the Council direct its resources to where
they are most needed.
1.12
North East Lincolnshire Council is accountable to its local community.
The Strategy will provide a baseline for evaluating progress and
achievement against stated objectives. The Council’s performance
will be regularly reported to residents.
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North East Lincolnshire Green Space Strategy
2
STRATEGIC CONTEXT
Planning Policy
2.1
There are Planning Policies relevant to Planning for Open Space,
Green Space, Sport and Recreation uses contained in adopted
Regional, Strategic (i.e. County), Local and National Planning
documents relating to North East Lincolnshire. A wide range of
planning Policies is listed below, but there are others that may be
pertinent. (For example Circular 1/97 on the use of Planning
Obligations to secure open space improvements in association with
proposed developments).
Regional Planning Guidance (RPG)
2.2
The Regional framework for development is provided by Regional
Planning Guidance for Yorkshire and the Humber (October 2001). This
Guidance provides a broad regional spatial planning strategy for
development and land use to 2016 and beyond; within which local
authority development plans and local transport plans can be
prepared. This Guidance is currently under review. (See Appendix A.)
The RPG will eventually be replaced by the Regional Spatial Strategy
(RSS) for Yorkshire and the Humber, a statutory document to be
issued under the new Planning and Compulsory Purchase legislation.
The Structure Plan
2.3
Strategic guidance for the North East Lincolnshire Local Plan is
presently set by the 1987 Humberside Structure Plan as amended by
certain policy alterations in the 1993 Humberside Structure Plan:
Alteration No. 1. The Humberside Structure Plan provides the broad
strategic policy framework for planning and development control at the
local level. It also secures consistency between local plans for
neighbouring areas within the Humberside area. (See Appendix A.)
The Local Plan
2.4
The North East Lincolnshire Local Plan 2003 was Adopted on 24
November 2003, setting out local planning policies. The essential
purpose of the Local Plan is to provide clear positive guidance to
developers and communities within the plan area regarding what land
uses will be protected and what land uses will be provided or
promoted. (See Appendix A.)
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North East Lincolnshire Green Space Strategy
The Vision of the Local Plan (Chap.2) is to help shape an
environment that creates confidence in the area: by creating
confidence for investment and regeneration, and confidence for
communities that the environment and facilities they value will be
protected. Valued open space contributes to this.
The Local Plan has adopted certain Broad Aims (Chap.2) as being
central considerations in the implementation of policies and its
operation. These Aims include the following, which all have relevance
to everyday provision and location of open space, green space and
recreation: 
to maintain the well being of the environment, its resources and
health of its inhabitants for now and the future;

to manage land use development to reduce the number and
necessity for journeys by private car and to encourage public
transport development and use, cycling and walking to benefit all
of those that need to travel for everyday tasks;

to encourage and sustain the provision of services and amenities
such as shops, leisure, tourism, employment generating uses and
recreation facilities at both town centre and local neighbourhood
level ensuring access for all;

to safeguard and enhance the natural environment;

to safeguard and enhance the built environment and its historic
heritage.
Sustainable Development is central to all the aims of the Local Plan.
National Planning Policy
Planning Policy Guidance (PPG) 17: Planning for Open Space,
Sport and Recreation (Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, July
2002)
2.5
Government national policy guidance in PPG17 (July 2002)
emphasises the value of open space to people’s quality of life and
states that planning policies for open space are fundamental to
delivering broader Government objectives. It sets out how well
designed and implemented planning policies for open space, sport and
recreation can deliver the Government’s broader objectives of urban
renaissance, rural renewal, social and community inclusion, health and
well-being and sustainable development.
In PPG17 the government sets out its commitment, and its expectation
of local planning authorities, to protect and meet communities’ needs
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North East Lincolnshire Green Space Strategy
for playing fields, sports facilities and open spaces. The government
recognises that all open space is important for its contribution to the
quality of urban and rural life (whether or not there is access to it, or
whether in private or public ownership).
PPG17 provides robust guidelines for local planning authorities on the
need to protect open spaces and playing fields. It emphasises that
local authorities should rigorously ensure that communities needs for
open space, playing fields and sports and recreational facilities are
met.
In PPG 17 the government also sets out strict criteria to limit the
circumstances in which playing fields can be developed for nonsporting and recreational purposes. Under the Playing Field Direction,
Sports England must be consulted on development proposals affecting
land used as playing fields above 0.2 ha in size
Overall Requirements of PPG17: Local authorities are required by
PPG17 to: assess local needs for recreational facilities (assessments and audits);
identify quantitative or qualitative deficits or surpluses in the provision
of public open space;
set local standards for the provision of open space , sports and
recreational facilities in their areas;
protect existing open space, recreational land and buildings, unless it
can be shown they are surplus to requirements.
Definitions: In paragraph 1 of the Annex to PPG17, open space is
defined:
“Open Space is defined in the Town and Country Planning Act 1990
as land laid out as a public garden, or used for the purposes of public
recreation, or land which is a disused burial ground. However in
applying policies in this Guidance, open space should be taken to
mean all open space of public value, including not just land, but also
areas of water such as rivers, canals, lakes and reservoirs which offer
important opportunities for sport and recreation and can also act as a
visual amenity“. It then lists a broad range of open spaces of public
value.
PPG17 is forthright on Needs Assessments:
“…it is essential that the needs of local communities are known. Local
authorities should undertake robust assessments of the existing and
future needs of their communities for open space, sports and
recreational facilities.”
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North East Lincolnshire Green Space Strategy
On Open Space Audits, PPG17 advises Local authorities to undertake
audits of existing open space, sport and recreation facilities, including
a quantitative and a qualitative element. Such audits and assessments
would then form a starting point for an effective strategy for open
space, sport and recreation at a local level, linking into the Community
Strategy and the development plan (local plan, unitary development
plan or the new local development frameworks).
Assessing Needs and Opportunities: A Companion Guide to
PPG17 (Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Sept 2002)
2.6
Advice on the production of such Audits and Assessments is to be
found in the PPG’s companion document “Assessing Needs and
Opportunities”. Published by the Government some weeks after the
revised PPG17, the companion guide is a comprehensive and
valuable ‘handbook’ that elaborates upon the task of undertaking local
assessments of need and audits of provision for open space and sport
and recreation facilities
Working Together. Crucially, the guide emphasises the need for
assessments and audits to be undertaken by cross-departmental
working within local authorities, thus linking the town planning process
with the Community Strategy and the Best Value process. Local
planners are advised to work with their colleagues responsible for
management of open space, sport and recreation facilities in compiling
audits and assessments. External stakeholders, too, are to be an
integral part of the framework that delivers local assessments and
audits.
Assessment Process. At the heart of the guide is a five-step process for
undertaking a local assessment: Step 1: Identify local needs.
Step 2: Audit local provision.
Step 3: Determine provision standards.
Step 4: Apply the provision standards.
Step 5: Draft policies.
Post Assessment: When the audits and assessments are complete,
the local planning authorities are then advised that they should set
local standards for the provision of open space, sport and recreation
facilities, including quantitative and qualitative elements and an
accessibility component. No reference is now made to the National
Playing Fields Association (NPFA) Six-Acre Standard and the
guidance specifically advises against the adoption of national
standards.
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Other National Policies and Guidance
National Playing Fields Association
2.7
The NPFA produced the “Six Acre Standard” which for many years
has been the yardstick by which the level of recreational open space
provision has been judged. It applies a standard nationally based on
provision of set amounts of recreational open space per head of
population. Whilst still providing a guide on which to base standards
of open space provision, the Government now recommend that levels
of green space provision are best set locally rather than nationally
(see PPG 17 above).
CABE Space
2.8
CABE Space, established in 2003, is part of CABE, the Commission
for Architecture and the Built Environment, which champions the
quality of our buildings and open spaces. It was set up by CABE at
the request of the Government, following the recommendations of the
Urban Green Space Taskforce. CABE Space is publicly funded by the
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. CABE Space is the national
agency dealing with green spaces and has produced guidance and
held training seminars on the production of Green Space Strategies.
Their Good Practice Guide for Green Space Strategies was produced
in 2004.
Sport England
2.9
Sport England is the national agency dealing, inter alia, with playing
pitch provision. In March 2003 it produced “Towards a Level Playing
Field: A Guide to the Production of Playing Pitch Strategies”, working
in conjunction with the Central Council of Physical Recreation,
National Playing Fields Association, Local Government Association
and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. The guide demonstrates
how a playing pitch strategy sits under a Green Space Strategy and
links with the Community Strategy, Local Plan and Cultural Strategy.
Other Local Policies and Guidance
Community Strategy
2.10
The Government has required each Council to work in co-operation
with a Local Strategic Partnership to prepare a Community Strategy
for its area. This is intended to improve, in a sustainable way, the
economic, social and environmental well being of the area. The
Community Strategy, produced in April 2003, identifies and delivers
the most important things that need to be done in our area and keeps
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North East Lincolnshire Green Space Strategy
track of progress made. At the heart of the strategy are issues which
impact on the quality of life and on improving the physical appearance
of the area, including the Urban Renaissance initiatives, and which
feature strongly the principles of safety, cleanliness and community
involvement and ownership.
Urban Renaissance
2.11
Urban Renaissance is an initiative led by the Regional Development
Agency, Yorkshire Forward, directed towards a number of towns and
cities within the region. Initially focused locally on Grimsby, the
initiative was extended to cover all of North East Lincolnshire. Urban
Renaissance is founded on the principle of Town Teams, assisted by
professional experts, working towards a vision of regenerated towns
in the next twenty years. In North East Lincolnshire, one focus of
Urban Renaissance is the Freshney Forest project – an ambitious
scheme to develop a ‘green mantle’ of space around the urban areas
containing trees, wildflower meadows, footpaths and cycleways. The
future implementation of the Green Space Strategy will provide the
link between urban green space planning and the idea of the
Freshney Forest. Other elements of Urban Renaissance locally
include the growth of a ‘healthy living heart’ – urban regeneration
taking account of quality urban design, urban spaces, parks streets,
etc., with safety and cleanliness as core values. The Green Space
Strategy again will play a key role in achieving this objective.
Cultural Strategy
2.12
The North East Lincolnshire Cultural Strategy (December 2002) is an
emerging strategy which will be influenced by the outcomes of the
Community Strategy. It highlights the national, regional and local
context and links for cultural development, and focuses on a number
of themes, including “responding to change and building on North
East Lincolnshire’s diverse landscapes, heritage, built and natural
environments”. It identifies links, through community consultation,
between the management and development of green spaces and the
cultural enrichment of the lives of local residents and tourists.
Allotments Strategy
2.13
The North East Lincolnshire Council Allotments Strategy is currently
being developed and will be out to consultation during 2004. Allotment
provision is being rationalised as, in 2004, 50% of allotments are
vacant and are thus a drain on the Council’s resources. A significant
reduction in the number of plots could provide resources for better
management of retained sites, thus making allotments a sustainable
proposition. Redundant allotment sites can also have the potential to
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North East Lincolnshire Green Space Strategy
be developed as open green spaces if they are located in areas found
to be lacking in suitable provision.
Bio-Diversity Action Plan
2.14
The North East Lincolnshire Bio-diversity Action Plan (BAP) is being
developed from the Lincolnshire BAP, produced through consultation,
in May 2000. The Lincolnshire BAP contains plans aimed at species
and habitats requiring conservation action in the historic county of
Lincolnshire (which includes North East Lincolnshire). A number of
these actions are relevant to the management of green spaces,
particularly the natural and semi-natural areas such as woodlands
and Local Nature Reserves.
Landscape Character Assessment
2.15
The North East Lincolnshire Landscape Character Assessment is
being developed during 2004 from an original study produced by
Gillespies for Humberside County Council and the Countryside
Commission in 1995. Whilst the assessment concentrates on
landscape character of rural areas rather than the towns themselves,
it gives a broad illustration of the local character of the borough and
provides the framework and context within which urban green space
sits.
Environment Strategy
2.16
North East Lincolnshire Council’s Environment Strategy was
produced in December 2003. It develops the Council’s commitment to
producing a safe and clean environment in which people can live,
work and visit. The strategy focuses on achieving two aims: to set the
Council on a path towards best practice in environmental
management; to bring environmental issues on an equal footing with
economic and social concerns in the context of sustainable
development. Of particular relevance to the Green Space Strategy are
the links to biodiversity and to the built environment, development and
land use.
Demographic Profile
2.17
The 2001 Census has produced demographic information relating to
North East Lincolnshire. This information, including population and
age structure, car ownership, etc., is broken down into Wards and, in
conjunction with the mapping of existing green space provision, can
help identify those areas of significant population which may have an
under-provision of accessible green space.
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North East Lincolnshire Green Space Strategy
3
GREEN SPACE PROVISION
Aim:
To provide parks, open spaces and recreational facilities for the
benefit, enjoyment, health and well-being of local residents,
businesses, visitors and wildlife
Objectives:

To ensure an appropriate level of provision of open space
to meet the needs of the community

To ensure that parks, open spaces and recreational areas
are of a good quality

To ensure that parks, open spaces and recreational areas
are suitable for the needs of the users

To ensure that there is a broad diversity of open space
types
The Green Space Audit – Supply Analysis
3.1
The information gathered for the Green Space Audit of North East
Lincolnshire relates to the quantity of open space, its quality and a
local open space typology.
Quantity
3.2
The amount of Green Space throughout the Borough, and the
quantity by category has been assessed. All sites have been
identified from detailed land use maps. Sites have then been visited
by officers, for a more detailed assessment. The sites have been
mapped based on the following categories:





Major parks (minimum 40 hectares)
District parks (minimum 10 ha)
Local recreation areas/parks (formal) (minimum 2 ha)
Small open spaces (informal) (minimum 2 ha)
Local amenity open space (minimum 0.2 ha)
Nature conservation areas and woodlands (within the size limitations
above) have been included where they are accessible to the public.
The initial mapping exercise has excluded the following:
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North East Lincolnshire Green Space Strategy






Linear open space
Allotments
School playing fields
Private sports fields
Cemeteries
Equipped children’s playgrounds
Where areas of under-provision are identified on the map, the types of
open space in the second list above – if normally accessible to the
public – will be taken into account in assessing the need for future
provision. Where they are not normally accessible, they may form the
basis of negotiation in order to increase the supply of open space in
deficient areas.
Whilst major cemeteries are open to the public during daylight hours
and can be used for quiet recreation (walking) and nature study, they
have not been included in the assessment of provision because of
their sensitive nature. Their presence will, however, again be
considered where deficiencies are identified.
All green spaces, whether accessible or not, have a visual value and
play a separating role between areas of development. Whilst some
areas have been omitted from the audit for reasons given above, the
should nevertheless be regarded as contributing to the quality of life
of those living and working within the borough.
North East Lincolnshire is fortunate in having a coastline, part of
which is accessible to the public for recreation. Whilst this area – the
beach from Cleethorpes to Humberston – can be regarded as
recreational open space, it has not been taken into account in the
audit of green space. The existence of such an extensive area, which
is well used by residents and visitors throughout the year, can
therefore be regarded as a bonus and must not be overlooked in
terms of its benefits for the health and well being of the community.
Quality
3.3
All of the major sites have been assessed for their quality value. The
quality assessment was undertaken by a team of professional
officers, using an impartial scoring system taking account of condition.
The appraisals were based on a number of criteria:

Context and character

Access and circulation

Facilities

Security and safety

Management and maintenance

Heritage

Health and education

User needs
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North East Lincolnshire Green Space Strategy
In assessing the condition of public parks, note has been taken of the
results of the Urban Parks Assessment undertaken on behalf of the
former Department for the Environment Transport and the Regions.
This reported in 2001 that since the introduction of Compulsory
Competitive Tendering there has been a £1.3 billion shortfall in the
budgets for green space nationally. As a result of this, standards in
green space provision and condition have declined nationally.
Local Green Space Typology
3.4
The North East Lincolnshire Local Plan includes a hierarchical list of
open space standards (see table below), developed from the National
Playing Fields Association “Six Acre Standard”. The categories
included on the map (where publicly accessible) have been assessed
against these standards.
North East Lincolnshire Local Plan Open Space Hierarchy
Type and Function
Size
Distance from Home
A
Major Park or Ecosite
(Formal and Informal).
Natural Open Space or formal park
Minimum 40 ha
Within 3000m
B
District Parks
(Formal and Informal).
Wide range of recreational activities. Weekend
visits on foot.
Minimum 10 ha
Within 1000m
C
Local Recreational Areas/Parks
(Formal)
Pedestrian visits. Providing court games and
playing fields where size permits. Local Nature
Reserve.
Minimum 2 ha
Within 400m
D
Small Open Spaces
(Informal)
Pedestrian visits, especially young mothers and
children to play and enjoy natural areas.
Minimum 2 ha
Within 400m
E
Local Amenity Open Space
(Informal)
‘Kickabout’ area
Minimum 0.2 ha
Within 200m
F
Linear Open Space
(Informal)
Pedestrian appreciation. Often enjoyable views
without direct public access.
Variable
Wherever possible
G
Equipped Children’s Play Area
LEAP standard
Within 400m
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North East Lincolnshire Green Space Strategy
The mapping of appropriate catchment areas for each green space, in
accordance with the table, has been undertaken on a simple radius
method that may enclose potential access barriers such as main
railway lines, roads and watercourses. Most of these have safe
crossing points, but where none exist the radius of the catchment
area may have been varied accordingly.
Assessment of Existing Provision
3.5
The mapping exercise carried out has identified that the green spaces
meeting the above criteria in North East Lincolnshire are fairly well
distributed throughout the Borough. However, there are a number of
areas where open spaces of types B, C, D and E are not within the
given access distances for residential areas. (For this purpose, the
spaces of Type A, which are often accessed by car or public
transport, have been disregarded unless they are within walking
distance of the area. The areas identified as lacking in green space
provision are shown in Appendix C. There are no obvious areas of
over-provision identified from the mapping exercise, although local
studies may reveal small, unmapped areas which could be put to
alternative uses.
Demand Analysis
Public Consultation
3.6
The assessment of quality and quantity of green space provision, as
outlined above, was undertaken by a team of officers from the Council
and based on set criteria. A vital additional element to the assessment
exercise is consultation with the local community, which produces an
understanding of the public and user perception of levels of provision.
Desk-top studies can highlight potential areas of under-provision, for
example, but consultation with the community helps to paint a realistic
picture of peoples’ expectations in terms of facilities and travel
times/distances.
3.7
A survey was carried out in 2003 to gain an understanding of the
public perception of parks and open spaces (see Appendix B). This
has been supplemented by further consultation carried out through
parks focus groups and through questionnaires distributed at specific
parks events to target as many users as possible (see Appendix B).
Assessment of Survey Information
3.7
From an analysis of the limited survey results that were available,
various themes begin to emerge. Most users tend to walk to parks
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North East Lincolnshire Green Space Strategy
under a mile from home and their principle activities are walking,
children’s play and exercising dogs. The majority of those questioned
visit the park at least once a week. Principle deterrents to using parks
were identified as dog fouling, drugs/drink abuse and vandalism,
although a majority said they felt safe within the park. Two thirds of
respondents on the 2004 survey thought that the parks and green
spaces were not well looked after, and nearly as many felt the parks
did not offer the facilities they needed. The facilities that were seen as
most likely to encourage greater use were toilets, more seating, better
play areas, more litter and dog bins, and the presence of park
wardens. Linked to this, the eradication of anti-social behaviour was
identified as a priority. More activities for young people were thought
desirable. A slight majority thought there was insufficient variety of
green space types available.
Policies: Green Space Provision
PP1
Seek to maximise external funding opportunities, planning
agreements and opportunities for re-use of redundant
facilities or surplus land to provide suitable additional green
space in identified areas of under-provision
PP2
Seek to maximise external funding opportunities and
planning agreements to provide new equipped play areas in
areas of deficiency or new development
PP3
Seek to maximise external funding opportunities and
planning agreements to bring all equipped play areas up to
recognised national standards
PP4
Seek to provide a more varied mix of green space types
through diversification of management regimes, acquisition
of additional spaces and encouragement of new accessible
land management and planting schemes by private owners
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North East Lincolnshire Green Space Strategy
4
GREEN SPACE MANAGEMENT
Aim:
To manage parks, open spaces and recreational facilities to
achieve inviting and inspiring spaces for people and wildlife
Objectives:
 To ensure that parks, open spaces and recreational
facilities are well maintained through effective use of
resources
 To create a safe, clean and attractive open space
environment
 To conserve
environment
and enhance
the
natural
and historic
 To increase public awareness of the environmental and
heritage aspects of parks and open spaces
 To encourage greater public use of parks, open spaces and
recreational areas
 To involve the local community in the management of parks
and green spaces
Assessment of Existing Funding
4.1
The management and maintenance of the Council owned green
spaces of North East Lincolnshire has traditionally been covered by
annual revenue allocations. Until recently this was applied through a
number of grounds maintenance contracts and based on
specifications describing operations and their frequency. In addition to
the revenue funding for operational maintenance, allocations were
made towards occasional development work within parks, such as
provision of play equipment, sports facilities, etc.
Other sources of income have included commuted sums payable
through Planning Agreements covering the provision of new facilities,
and various grants obtained from external funding organisations.
Following internal reorganisation in 2003 the Council ceased to
operate the old grounds maintenance contracts and proceeded to
deliver a service in-house through the adoption of an Outcome
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North East Lincolnshire Green Space Strategy
Specification. This specification essentially focused on the expected
outcome of the grounds maintenance operations rather than the input
required in order to achieve the result. Existing revenue budgets were
realigned to cover the cost running and equipping a workforce to
deliver the outcomes. A key action taken as part of the working review
was to link the activities of cleansing and grounds maintenance. This
aimed to ensure that there was an effective sequence of litter removal
prior to, for example, grass cutting. Steps were also taken to address
the problems of fly tipping, with a dedicated team being established to
provide a Borough-wide rapid response function.
In 2004 the Council was successful in attracting three major funding
packages for green spaces. The Heritage Lottery Fund awarded
funds towards the development of a restoration project for Peoples
Park, Grimsby. The New Opportunities Fund awarded funding for
improvements to the management of open spaces in the more
deprived wards of Grimsby and in Immingham. The Office of the
Deputy Prime Minister awarded Liveability funding for the
improvement of green space management focused on ten specified
green spaces throughout the Borough. Together these funding
packages have so far injected a total of almost £4.5m into the green
space management and development budget. Services are still being
realigned to help deliver the improved service that is an essential
outcome of the awards.
Community Involvement
4.2
For many years the provision and management of open spaces was
seen as a Council service delivered to the public. Inter-reaction with
the public was largely limited to liaison with local sports leagues or to
addressing occasional complaints about standards, damage, etc. the
Local Government agenda of the twenty-first century is much different
– councils are accountable to the community and it the community is
becoming increasingly involved in management processes.
In more recent years small “Parks Friends” groups have been formed,
mainly to address specific developments or problems. With the award
of Liveability funding the Council is committed to establishing Friends
groups for all of the parks specified in the funding package. These
groups will normally consist of interested local residents and users of
the park. Groups will work through new Park Pride Wardens and
Community Liaison Officers to become involved in preparing
Management Plans for individual parks, with advice from specialist
officers. These plans will be consulted on in the wider local
community before being adopted. It is intended that the groups may
then “take ownership” of delivery of the management plans through a
direct involvement in the decision making process and operational
delivery. It is anticipated that the Council will retain ownership of the
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North East Lincolnshire Green Space Strategy
green spaces but management responsibility will move significantly
towards the local community.
A study carried out by the Economic and Social Research Council
and highlighted in a report published in 2004 showed the importance
of urban green spaces as living spaces, vital for the diverse range of
people and other creatures that make their way in the urban
environment. The spaces are important contributors to making towns
and cities more liveable. The report placed great emphasis on the
need to engage the energies and enthusiasms of residents, which are
as diverse as the urban green spaces which exist in towns and cities
and form part of what can be called vernacular ecologies.
Vernacular ecologies include the often unique assemblages of
animals, plants, soils, water courses that exist in towns as well as the
expertise, embodied skills and daily practices that town residents
bring to a site and develop as they take care of and nurture urban
green spaces. The report concludes that in order to enhance the
potential of urban green spaces, organisations need to carefully
consider how they work together with residents.
Involvement with the community is, therefore, far more than simply
asking local people what they want in their green space. It is about
harnessing the areas of interest and expertise which individual
residents possess in order to develop green spaces as living spaces,
where people and nature co-exist and interact to produce spaces that
have the greatest benefit to all. The creation and development of
Friends Groups can enable local people with local knowledge and
skills to use these assets in achieving these objectives and balancing
the ecological and recreational needs of the community through the
creation and implementation of their management plans.
Raising Awareness
4.2
The involvement of local communities and open space users is a vital
tool in encouraging others to make use of green spaces and to
discover more about the heritage of some of the parks. North East
Lincolnshire is fortunate in having a number of parks which date back
to the late 19th or early 20th Centuries. Their names – such as Grant
Thorold Park or Sidney Park – tell us about their founders or
benefactors who held important positions in local society in bygone
days, and as such are part of the rich history of the Borough. The
Borough’s premier park – People’s Park in Grimsby – is a fine
example of a professionally designed park being given to the people
of the town and surrounding land being sold off for fine residences to
be built facing on to and enjoying the park.
Where Friends groups exist, or are formed, in connection with the
historic parks or recreation grounds, they should take the opportunity
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North East Lincolnshire Green Space Strategy
to work with local historians to discover the origins of their park.
Management Plans should then be used to ensure that historic fabric
and layout of parks is not lost and that the opportunity is taken to
incorporate
appropriate
interpretation
of
the
park’s,
or
neighbourhood’s, history in order to educate and enlighten others.
This could be a useful tool for schools and could help to interest
young people and encourage their use and care of the green spaces.
Whilst parks must address the present needs of the community, and
cost of management and maintenance must be taken into account,
the heritage of historic parks should be conserved wherever possible
with the support of the community, and appropriate interpretation
made accessible to increase learning and appreciation of local and
national history.
Involvement of local people in the management of their green spaces
can also extend into the organisation of events designed to use the
spaces and generate interest amongst others. In this way the local
green space can become the focus of a community and develop into
a meeting place and diverse facility for all manner of events. The
increasing of awareness through means such as this will help to
encourage usage and thereby minimise potential abuse.
The support of the local community in all of this is of vital importance
in ensuring the sustainability of parks and open spaces. Management
should be designed to offer long term beneficial effects for the
immediate and Borough-wide community.
Policies: Green Space Management
MP1
Seek to involve the local community in preparing
management plans and development programmes for parks
and green spaces
MP2
Ensure that maintenance and cleansing of green spaces is
satisfactorily achieved in accordance with the relevant
specifications
MP3
Seek to conserve, enhance and interpret the natural and
built heritage of historic parks through the preparation and
implementation of appropriate management plans
MP4
Seek to promote the organisation of programmes of
appropriate events within green spaces to encourage
community interest and involvement and increase usage of
green spaces
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North East Lincolnshire Green Space Strategy
5.
GREEN SPACE DEVELOPMENT
Aim:
To enhance and develop parks, open spaces and recreational
areas in order to meet the aspirations of the community
Objectives:
5.1

To build partnerships with users and the wider community

To consult with all users to produce sustainable
improvements to parks, open spaces and recreational areas

To maximise opportunities to enhance and develop parks,
open spaces and recreational areas

To regularly monitor and review strategic objectives in
order to help meet the Council’s priorities
Development of green space falls into two categories: the creation of
new spaces (where quantity is deficient), and the enhancement of
existing spaces (where quality or diversity is deficient).
Supply and Demand Analysis
Identification of Deficiencies in Quantity
5.2
The areas identified as being deficient in accessible green space as
defined in the open space hierarchy have been listed in Appendix C.
These will form the basis of future open space development schemes
as opportunities arise. In assessing the need for open space in these
areas in more detail, demographic information will be analysed to
establish a community profile which will help inform decisions on the
type and amount of space needed. Account will also be taken of other
green spaces accessible to the area, but which have not been included
in the initial mapping exercise because of, for example, their sensitivity,
size or lack of normal access.
Identification of Deficiencies in Quality
5.3
The audit of green spaces has identified areas of weakness in facilities,
infrastructure, etc. Areas of weakness have also been identified
through the public consultation process. Deficiencies range from the
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North East Lincolnshire Green Space Strategy
poor quality of existing fabric and maintenance, to the lack of facilities
and diversity. The development of individual management plans for
each significant green space through involvement of the local
community will also highlight the shortcomings of each space and
provide the opportunity to improve existing facilities, where
weaknesses have been identified through the audit and surveys, and to
develop new ones.
Priorities and Opportunities
5.4
Where areas of under-provision are identified, a number of options are
available to address the shortfall. These include negotiation with
landowners or managers for more access to existing green spaces that
currently have limited or no access. Other opportunities for creation of
green space will arise with plans for new residential development.
Where areas are identified as deficient, or where deficiencies could
arise through the development of further residential properties, policies
will be devised to require developers, through negotiation, to provide
additional green space ‘on site’ or to make financial contributions
towards the development of accessible green spaces ‘off site’.
Policies will also be developed to provide for the payment by
developers of commuted sums to cover on-going maintenance of green
spaces or play facilities which, subsequent to development, are
transferred to the Council’s ownership.
In order to address issues of deficiencies in quality, funds will be
needed over and above the normal grounds maintenance budgets.
Opportunities will be investigated for accessing external funding,
particularly through the involvement of community and friends groups,
who may have the opportunity to attract funding packages not
otherwise available to the local authority.
The development of management plans for individual parks will afford
local groups the opportunity to Increase the diversity of green space
types by proposing changes to existing management practices or the
development of new landscape features, such as small woodlands or
wildflower meadows.
The local communities will play a leading role in the identification of
priorities. However, it is apparent from the surveys and audits carried
out that there are a number of issues relating to existing green spaces
that need to be addressed in order to make the spaces more inviting
and safe for users. It is therefore suggested that available resources
should be directed towards addressing issues of public safety and
cleanliness relative to existing spaces as a first priority. Development of
new facilities or creation of additional spaces can then be considered
as opportunities arise.
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North East Lincolnshire Green Space Strategy
Green Networks
5.5
An alternative to the creation of additional green space is the
improvement of access to existing spaces. Various issues of access
are addressed inter alia through the Local Transport Plan and
opportunities should be investigated for improvements to pedestrian,
cycle and public transport routes to green open spaces.
A further consideration with regard to access is the ‘greening’ of access
links whereby the green spaces and their connecting routes can create
a green network throughout the Borough. The development of a green
network is in keeping with the philosophy of the Freshney Forest
initiative under the banner of Urban Renaissance. Green spaces, whilst
of value as individual facilities, can provide enhanced benefits if linked
as part of an overall network. This is particularly significant from a
visual and ecological perspective, in addition to providing attractive
linear routes for walking and cycling.
Policies: Green Space Development
DP1
Maximise opportunities identified in the Allotments Strategy,
Playing Pitch Strategy and policy documents relating to
surplus Educational land to provide or extend additional
green space in areas of identified under-provision
DP2
Maximise opportunities, through community consultation, for
alternative use or management of green space in areas of
identified over-provision
DP3
Work with the local community to maximise the opportunities
for external funding for the improvement and development of
existing parks and green spaces
DP4
Maintain an awareness of community aspirations through
continuing consultation and involvement
DP5
Maximise opportunities to increase and maintain the diversity
of types of green space throughout the Borough
DP6
Seek to develop and improve safe access routes to green
space
DP7
Seek to develop green links between spaces wherever
possible to create an accessible open space network
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North East Lincolnshire Green Space Strategy
6.
ACTION PLAN
The Way Forward
6.1
The management and improvement of existing green spaces, and the
acquisition of additional spaces in areas of under-provision is a longterm task. The Urban Renaissance programme set a vision of
revitalising the Borough by the year 2022 and that date has therefore
been set as the target for achieving a network of accessible and
diverse green spaces throughout North East Lincolnshire. This strategy
therefore aims to achieve that vision, but the achievement will be
dependent on the availability of adequate resources, both in terms of
land and funds.
It would be unrealistic to set a programme of tasks covering that length
of time, as there will be so many unknown factors likely to affect
delivery in the long term. For this reason a set of actions has been
devised for the first five years of the life of the strategy (see Appendix
D).
Performance, Monitoring and Review
6.2
The achievement of tasks set out in the Action Plan will be monitored
over the five year period and reviewed regularly to respond to varying
demands, circumstances, resources and national and local trends.
The initial Action Plan therefore covers the period 2005 to 2009, and
annual reports will be drawn up to assess performance against targets.
Subsequent Action Plans will be developed during the lifetime of the
strategy to ensure a continuing programme of actions over the full
period.
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North East Lincolnshire Green Space Strategy
If you would like to receive this information in another language or in
another format such as large print, Braille or on audio tape, please contact
M. J. Leary
Landscape Officer
North East Lincolnshire Council
Civic Offices,
Knoll Street,
Cleethorpes
DN35 8LN
Tel 01472 324279
NORTH EAST LINCOLNSHIRE COUNCIL
Environmental Services Directorate
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