LBBD / BeFirst want to build 300 homes in blocks along the A12, some up to 8 storeys high, on the public green space at Padnall Lake.
BUT National and Local planning Policy:
"The specific policy for the Green Belt and Public Open Spaces (CM3) sets out
the protection of a number of local public open spaces designated as District
Parks, Local Parks and Open Spaces and Small Open Spaces. "
"The protection of all of the borough’s existing parks and open spaces from development will be a principal aim of this strategy."
Let's look at what the LBBD Local Plan 2019 - 2034 Nature and Open Space, Biodiversity Survey of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
has to say.
LBBD commissioned Denis J Vickers consultant Ecologist to perform a habitat survey. "The evidence provided by the survey will form part of the Evidence Base for the Council's emerging Local Plan (2018-2033)".
Padnall Lake and surrounding open space is described as a balancing pond and part of a very popular open space for local residents:
4.4.9 Woodland
(a) Thousands of years of land management have dramatically reduced London’s woodland cover. As the timber market declined, so too did positive woodland management. Just less than five percent of London’s habitat cover is still by woodland, but its quantity and health is under threat.
b) The chief areas of woodland in Barking and Dagenham are not extensive and secondary in nature. These occur at the Ripple Nature Reserve birch copse, Eastbrookend Country Park (Eastbrook Grove), Dagenham Chase (Willow Woodland and Black Poplar Woods).
A tiny area of ancient woodland associated with the 13th century Marks Hedge occurs within Cranfield Golf Centre site. A small area of relict orchard occurs at Padnall Lake.
e) Local Nature Reserve - definition A Local Nature Reserve (LNR) is a protected area of land designated by a local authority because of its local special natural interest and, where possible, educational and community value (Natural England, 2010).
f) Legislative requirements Schedule 11 (12) of the
Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act 2006, which replaced Section 15
of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949, describes a
‘nature reserve’ as: land managed solely for a conservation purpose, or land managed not only for a
conservation purpose but also for a recreational purpose, if the
management of the land for the recreational purpose does not compromise its
management for the conservation purpose (Ibid).
g) In
the light of the guidance from Natural England (above) the author of this
report sees the following sites in Barking and Dagenham as potential
candidates for declaration as Local Nature Reserves:
i) Proposed SINCs
· Buzzards Mouth Creek and
Thames View Ditch
· Padnall Lake
· Chadwell Heath Cemetery
· Greatfields Park
4.8.34 Padnall Lake
·
A scheme needs to be initiated to educate the public regarding feeding
waterfowl with bread e.g. attracting rats, removing oxygen from water and that
it is a bad diet for birds. Perhaps alternative less harmful foods could be
suggested (and where to get them from)? Lakeside signage is required.
· There is at least one
red-eared terrapin in the lake which needs to be removed.
· The Urban Orchard Project
has funds to renovate the old orchard. Fruit trees should be heritage varieties
of local origin if at all possible. These should be protected by metal tree guards.
Next we look at the LBBD Green Grid
The Site The site, covering c. 5.22 hectares, is located at the southern edge of Marks Gate, a residential area situated in the north of Barking & Dagenham. The site comprises poor quality, under-utilised open space which suffers from poor air quality and acoustic conditions given its location running parallel to the northern side of the A12 (Eastern Avenue). [Planning Statement]
2.3. To the north, the site is surrounded by three-storey apartment blocks, which form
part of the wider Marks Gate estate. The site boundary includes existing areas of
under utilised open space within the existing Marks Gate Estate, including land up to
Padnall Road and land between Padnall Road and Sheepscote Road.
NOTHING apart from the wish to build there and possibly poor maintenance of the green space and lake owned by LBBD.
What happened to :