Open spaces under threat

Some five years ago, there was a kerfuffle around what to call bits of green space in the Sid Valley: if there is 'too much' public park land designated in an area - well, it can be got rid of:
Futures Forum: Knowle: the Byes and when a 'meadow' is a 'park'...

Ultimately, it's all about 'assets' - who they belong to and whether they can be stripped to bring in a little desperately needed cash:
Futures Forum: Community Assets
Futures Forum: Knowle relocation project: an application to list Knowle park as an Asset of Community Value: rejected by District Council

As proposed at a recent District Council meeting:


GREEN SPACES – USE THEM OR POSSIBLY SEE THEM FLOGGED OFF

14 JAN 2018

Owl says: health benefits of public open spaces? Pah! Flog ‘em, flog ‘em!

“ Corporate Green Space policy 1 –

Survey, plot and categorise all council managed green/open space across the district (including housing land, and allotment sites)

assess sites based on a range of criteria including:

strategic importance,
accessibility,
alternative or additional use,
levels of use, amenity value,
ability to protect our outstanding environment and cost.

Identify which sites are suitable for retention, community transfer or disposal taking into account our corporate policies, our Local Plan and open space study.

http://eastdevon.gov.uk/media/2319199/170118-joint-overview-scrutiny-agenda-combined.pdf

Green spaces – use them or possibly see them flogged off | East Devon Watch

Or they could be rented out of course for a bit:
EDDC: “More open spaces to be closed for private events, say council” | East Devon Watch
Exmouth beaches and parks could be rented out privately | Latest Exmouth News - Exmouth Journal

Of course, the Knowle is currently rented out for events:
Futures Forum: Knowle relocation project: a very nice place to hold a celebration

But, then, open spaces are under threat everywhere, whether abroad:
Sydney's open spaces under threat - Sydney Morning Heraldt
Bay Area Open Space Under Threat by Sprawl, Study Warns | Greenbelt Alliance
Under threat: Hyderabad huffs and puffs as open spaces keep on shrinking | Hyderabad News - Times of India
Public open spaces in Nairobi City, Kenya, under threat - Kenyatta University

Or at home:
56 Green spaces in London under threat from development | London Live
London parks under threat | Open Spaces Society
Clapham Common under threat | Open Spaces Society
Residents have 48 hours to save 70 parks and open spaces | Inside Croydon

And some of the ways into open spaces are quite sinister:
Futures Forum: Pseudo-public space
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