Open space 'will not be lost' if houses and business are built

THE city council has reassured residents that no open space will be lost during redevelopment of the Robin Hood Chase precinct in St Ann's.

It comes after circulation of a petition against the demolition of the site.

Some people were worried that the plans to regenerate the precinct would eat into an area outside the shops.

But the council has told residents that no open space will be built on and say the overwhelming reaction to the plans has been positive.

A council spokesman said: "We have developed a fantastic new community facility, the Valley Centre, on this site which has brought a range of services, including the library, housing office and health centre, under one roof.

"Now that those buildings are empty, and sadly the Co-op has closed its store on the site, the area is looking rundown.

"It was always the plan to develop this part of the site next and we have been speaking to the local community about our ideas."

The exact number of houses and business units to be built are not known, but two blocks of homes will be built with space for shops underneath.

The council spokesman said: "These involve initially developing a new supermarket, with housing above, at the front of the site, hopefully from next year, and in a couple of years redeveloping the back of the site with a combination of housing and small shops.

"Everyone at our recent meeting was reassured that the proposals would not involve building on public space and there was very strong support for new housing, especially social housing.

"The plans, which also include a new public space, were overwhelmingly welcomed by local people and will clearly be an improvement on what is there now."

Gisella Sobarasua, 50, of Valley Road, organised the petition and said she had collected 300 signatures.

"All this open space is being used, we're going to lose it all," she said. "The kids come here, it's an open area that is used to sit and rest in the summer and they want to take this away."

Neeley Simmons, a mother-of-four from Beverley Square, said she was annoyed by the plans.

The 30-year-old added: "There's no open space. Our kids play in there all through the year – we've got no shops left and we'll be left with nothing.

"It's a community space, it's a place to meet and gossip. You don't have to worry about kids because there's no traffic.

"They are taking our community away from us.

"We use it every day. I don't want any houses here, I'd just like them to revamp the shops and make it a community space."

Sarah Rolley, of Warton Avenue, signed the petition. The 33-year-old said: "I don't believe we should have houses built here.

"St Ann's has a good sense of community."

What do you think of the plans? Contact Peter Blackburn on 0115 905 1955 or email peter.blackburn@nottinghampostgroup.co.uk