Stafford Borough Council has promised to consult with Stone residents before the end of the year on the controversial ‘mixed-use development’ plan for Westbridge Park.
The council said today that millions of pounds could be pumped in to Westbridge Park for improved leisure facilities and play areas – which have been backed by local residents in previous consultations – with the Cabinet citing the hugely popular playground in Victoria Park and successful leisure centre in neighbouring Stafford as examples. The Cabinet also said they wanted the festivals in Stone to continue and wanted to retain existing users of the park such as the Guides and Scouts.
Councillor Mike Smith, deputy leader and Cabinet member for leisure, said: “I’m disappointed that people who should know better have made misleading suggestions and are scaremongering without giving residents all the facts. We were never including housing in Westbridge Park, the draft local plan clearly shows where new homes are proposed. And we have always promised a full consultation with the people and businesses of Stone before any proposals went ahead.
“We have already had consultations which have told us residents want improved leisure and park facilities in Stone. We have a very successful leisure centre and an amazing new park in Stafford where people come from miles around to use – and that is the standard we want to bring to Stone.”
The Cabinet were told at their meeting on Thursday 4th October that a consultation in Stone would get under way before the end of the year.
Stone town councillor Rob Kenney, who started the Keep Westbridge Park Green petition, said the council had not ruled out retail development for the park, despite its focus on leisure facilities and play areas in its statement today.
Rob said: “There is nothing in the council’s statement to say there will be no retail development. It’s been a week since the ePetition was started and along with the paper petition we now have well over 1,000 signatures. Some borough councillors are still trying to discredit the petition by saying that it’s “misleading”. They choose not to grasp the meaning of the petition, which clearly states “Keep Westbridge Park Green” and asks them to withdraw their proposal of mixed-use development on Westbridge Park from the Borough Plan.
“I find it condescending and hard to comprehend that they think that those who have signed the petition do not understand what they are signing. The petition signatories continue to grow in number. It shows how strong the feeling to “Keep Westbridge Park Green” is amongst the people of Stone.”
4 comments
Mr S T Rout
Cllr Mike Smith is very condescending in his statement that, in effect, the people of Stone have been duped in to signing a petition which they did not understand. He just does nor get it! We are objecting to any kind on development on Westbridge Park, “mixed” or otherwise. If he is proposing a leisure facilltiy like Victoria Park then that is a different matter, but the people of Stone will not accept any development for finacial gain no matter how many consultation he proposes.
Richard Stevens
I can’t believe what I’ve just read above! Cllr. Mike Smith accuses those us who are opposing the proposal to allow ‘mixed use’ development of Westbridge Park of “not giving the residents all the facts”! What hyprocity! He knows the facts not us.
So let him explain why Stafford Borough Council even feel it necessary to change the use of Westbridge Park in the first place. It can’t surely have anything to do with the fact that they’ve already got a supermarket lined up willing to pay them several million pounds which would put the books in order before the next elections, can it?
How dare he attack the motives of those of us who are determined to ‘Keep Westbridge Park Green’? If anyone should be giving the residents of Stone ‘all the facts’, it is Cllr Smith and his Tory colleagues.
Jack Taylor
What a way to put it Richard. it is so true why lash back out at people who want their green space. Watch what comes out of your mouth Cllr Mike Smith.!!
David
I’ve heard lots (more than I can count) of people say that they love Stone for it’s green spaces, culture and village feel. I’ve not heard anyone say they think the leisure activities are lacking, or that our green spaces need to be turned into parks.