All green spaces in and around Nailsea should be surveyed to ensure that they receive the right protection and are enhanced if possible. The public must be encouraged to use and protect the environment around them.

Make sure that footpaths are kept open as they should be and properly maintained. Green spaces should not be built on. Look after coastlines and keep them maintained to avoid erosion and risk of over topping.

By preserving and prioritising green spaces, recognising their value to local communities as well as the bio-diversity on which we depend. These community assets must be preserved and enhanced. Footpaths and cycle paths need to be valued nut just as a recreational amenity but also as services linking the village to other places and to transport hubs (e.g. the Park and Ride) with budgets allocated so that active transport is an attractive and affordable option.

BAL supports the protection and enhancement of green and blue spaces as part of the shift to more sustainable lifestyles (such as encouraging cycling and walking) and complementary to development requirements. BAL is proud of the work it has undertaken in recent years on the aerodrome and in surrounding areas to protect and enhance habitats, and is actively investigating how other assets can help to secure net environmental gain and, potentially, carbon off-setting.

We should continue to maintain and develop a network of footpaths, including dual usage paths; We should optimise usage of Local Authority assets,including the opportunity of using 'purchase to protect' schemes to protect 'community assets. Existing paths should be maintained and adequately signposted; A suggestion was made that NSC should consider giving or selling its land within Parish boundaries to parishes, putting local people back in charge of how it is used.

Support for green spaces in new developments.

Local footpaths and green spaces have always been important to people, witness the number of parks created in Victorian times. It is vital that existing footpaths, other rights of way and green spaces are protected and maintained, and that new development incorporates green space. A good example is the common ground at the centre of the High Winford housing development.

Our client often provides different types of green spaces as part of development proposals for new and existing communities. It will be important that clarity is provided on the exact requirements for green space (e.g. type, when, where and how secured).

As stated in the consultation document, people value the open countryside which has been protected by the Green Belt. Additionally, the consultation document expresses how the Covid-19 pandemic has increased our value of green spaces, including footpaths and the countryside.

The Plan considers the need to review the Green Belt Boundary. In response, it is considered likely that in light of the significant housing requirement, some amendment to the Green Belt boundary will be inevitable. Further, Green Belt parcels have varied functionality and contribution to the Green Belt purposes. As such, the release of Green Belt land which has been determined to make a poor contribution to these purposes can play a role in meeting development needs.