IMPROVEMENTS TO THE LEONARD STREET
PLAY AREA & GREEN SPACE

NEWS:

24 October 2011 See report on the consultation in the Evening News: http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/news/
share_your_views_on_norwich_play_area_revamp_1_1106444

18 October 2011 Norwich City Council have now published their proposed plan for the play area and green space.

Click here to go to the Council's website and see the plans. You have until 7 November to comment on them. 

19 July 2011 There will be a public consultation on these areas in St Augustine's Hall, Norwich, from 2 to 7 p.m. with an exhibition of Norwich City Council's optional designs and a chance to talk to council officers about your views on what should and should not happen to these area.

If you are unable to attend you will be able to make your views known on the City Council's Parks and Open Spaces pages on www.norwich.gov.uk or by calling Community Engagement officer Jeff Compton on 0344 980 3333.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

These small open spaces off Leonard Street are probably known to most people who live or work in the St Augustine's area. They are owned by Norwich City Council and sadly have been uncared for, undeveloped and pretty much comprehensively neglected for decades.

A year or two back plans were submitted by a housing association to build social housing on the bulk of this area, thus permamenly depriving local residents of these amenities, sub-standard as they are. This at time when plans were going forward to create the £3 million St Augustine's gyratory road scheme, which is now under construction, for completion in November 2010. This traffic scheme will effectively place families living in Stonemasons Court, Leonards Street, Rose Yard, Esdelle Street and parts of Magpie Road inside a giant traffic island.

The combined objections of local residents and this community group helped  to prevent planning permission being granted and these open spaces are now enshrined in the Northern City Centre Area Action Plan to be preserved for the community. Their eventual improvement, however, still depends largely on the Council receiving what is known as Section 106 money from the developers of Anglia Square; money which will not be forthcoming until building starts there, whenever that might be!

We would like to hear your views on these areas. Please email us by clicking the link above opposite.