Whitby Neighbourhood Plan: the need to protect and enhance town's green space and natural environment
In the first of a series of articles on the Whitby Neighbourhood Plan, we take a look at some of the issues surrounding green space around Whitby.
Access to nature is critical to our health and well-being and contributes to climate change adaptation / mitigation.
The Problem
Designated green space within the Whitby urban area has been eroded over many years, typically by housing, but also parking – with Helredale Playing Field, Highfield Road and some of East side lost.
The problem continues with proposals to build on Rievaulx Road green space and use Larpool Playing Field as a cemetery!
There are minimum amounts set by councils for provision but accessibility of space is often not considered, with many spaces not open for general use.
Considering all types of green space - natural (eg Calla Beck), urban parks (eg Pannett Park), sports (eg school playing fields), as well as local amenity space (Rievaulx Road) – in area.
Whitby parish lacks space equivalent to around three Pannett Parks.
If we take into account accessibility of these spaces, this rises to around six Pannett Parks!
We have around double the national average of over 60s, many of whom cannot make use of spaces that are not easily accessible - a prime example is “West Cliff” (the section of grass at a 40 degree incline sloping down to the sea wall) of little value to many.
The parish has a number of environmentally protected sites, areas of priority habitat and a significant network of ecological corridors, with many fantastic viewpoints, however it has only around half the national average of tree cover.
Meanwhile we have many parts of the parish with significant deprivation, and a parish with life expectancies among the lowest in the county.
The proposals
We are proposing the following Neighbourhood Plan policies
WBY10 : Protect the little green space remaining by designating all Whitby green space as “Local Green Space” giving it planning protection.
WBY11 : Encourage new greenspace as a way of gradually improving the situation, with suggested improvements that would be supported.
WBY12 : Protect and enhance the nature corridors, to improve biodiversity and retain a connection to nature.
WBY13: Incorporation of wildlife friendly measures.
WBY14: Landscape and key views to protect.
The Consultation
You can find the consultation on the Plan at
Your comments are welcomed.