Local Mothers Protest To Protect Green Space For Future Generations

Today, 26th March, three mothers from our group have displayed dozens of childrens shoes at the Gaywood Parkway site to represent how future generations will suffer the loss of green space in the in the area if the proposed Parkway development of 379 houses goes ahead.

One of the mothers, Julia Irving said “We can’t nurture children without nature and this development will take away green space from the children of the most socially deprived areas in Lynn.”

The planning committee will meet on Wednesday 31st March to vote on this unpopular development plan which has been opposed by over 2,500 local people in a petition which received support from local celeb Stephen Fry, as well as being opposed by over 220 objections in the council’s planning portal including from groups such as the King’s Lynn Civic Society and the West Norfolk Nature Volunteer Network.

Countless local people are raising their voices in various ways to protect their green spaces such as Parkway, and today we stand in solidarity with those people. Locals are committed to green spaces and don’t want to lose this, but the council don’t know that because they haven’t done a full public consultation on this major development, especially as many people still don’t have access to the internet.

The Parkway housing development will threaten at least 58 mature trees in excellent condition and a large lush green reed-bed with reeds over 5 feet tall which is home for the almost extinct water vole. It will cause a loss of wildlife, loss of flood protection, loss of carbon sequestration, and put more pressure on Reffley Wood. The Norfolk Wildlife Trust says that the site has the potential to become an Urban Nature Reserve.

The new road route passes the gates of 3 schools bringing more vehicles so more pollution; carbon dioxide and harmful particulates, to over 1200 school age children. The prospect of increased levels of harmful nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter is a cause of great concern in the area, what effects on health will this have?