Campaign to protect 'precious park' in Leighton Buzzard threatened with development
A campaign to preserve “a precious green space” in Leighton Buzzard is being reignited, as the plot of land has been included in the call for sites within Central Bedfordshire Council’s Local Plan.
Roman Gate Park is threatened with development again, after it was put forward as a potential area for employment use, according to the town’s Liberal Democrat councillors.
The submitted sites also include “another valuable green space on the neighbouring Sandhills estate” either side of Dunnock Drive, off Billington Road, they warned in a statement.
Residents fought the last proposal by Arnold White Group, which would have seen warehouses built on the Roman Gate Park and lorries driving down a narrow residential road.
Liberal Democrat Leighton Linslade South councillors Shaun Roberts, Emma Holland-Lindsay and Chris Leaman have been working with local residents and community groups “to oppose the potential loss of these important open spaces”, and labelled “the threat to Roman Gate Park particularly worrying”.
Residents are being encouraged to make their views known before the consultation closes on Monday, August 17.
“The inclusion of a site at this stage doesn’t mean it will ultimately be allocated for development,” explained the Lib Dems. “But it’s vital local people participate in the consultation process to show the strength of community support for protecting these areas.
“Councillors have been supporting the Roman Gate Action Group in trying to get the park properly protected for several years. A planning application to build commercial units on the site was refused in 2023.
Councillor Holland-Lindsay explained: “Both Roman Gate Park and the green corridors around Dunnock Drive are much-valued community spaces for the residents of the nearby estates.
“They provide opportunities for walking, exercise, recreation and connecting with nature in areas where there isn’t easy access to countryside.
“We know many residents will be deeply concerned by the prospect of these areas being lost to development, and we want to ensure their voices are heard.”
CBC Lib Dem group leader councillor Roberts warned: “These green spaces are an important part of the character of our newer neighbourhoods in the town.
“Residents have repeatedly told us how much they value having access to these open areas close to home. It’s vital that the community comes together to show how important these places are.”
Councillor Leaman added: “We’ve supported the Roman Gate Action Group, which has worked for years to protect this park from the risk of development.
“Residents will be deeply concerned to learn that their local park is threatened again now. It’s vital that as many residents as possible respond to this consultation, so that we can preserve this land for the future.”
Roman Gate Park consists of two triangular areas of land beneath the pylons at Aurora Rise and Apollo Croft.
“Popular with residents of the Roman Gate estate, it’s viewed as a crucial area of open space,” said the councillors. “It includes a playground and mature hedgerow, important for nature.
“Similarly, the green space alongside Dunnock Drive, between Hawfinch Grove and Whinchat Gardens, and between Peregrine Mead and Goshawk Green, provides an important green corridor.
“This links residents to walking routes around the nearby lake and offers a valued recreational resource for the Sandhills community.”
Resident Tom Conroy described it as “a cautionary tale for anyone buying new builds elsewhere in the town”, saying: “There are more than 800 homes in our neighbourhood.
“When you buy a house, the developer sells you on the dedicated green space. What they don’t tell you is a few years after the houses are sold, extra profit will be squeezed out by building industrial units on that land.
“We need to ask that this be designated as ‘local green space’, instead of employment use. Let’s protect the park for decades to come.”
Comments can be made via: https://centralbedfordshire.oc2.uk/document/99