Now the lungs of the city are safe we can breathe a sigh of relief

Often described as the Lungs of the City, Berryhill fields have been at the centre of a long running saga as to their future. 

The question of whether that great mass in the middle of city would be subjected to bulldozers and concreted for homes has been rumbling on for too long.  

But, finally, after years of campaigning supported by local residents from Eaton Park and Berryhill, we now have an answer.  

Berryhill fields will become a formally recognised ‘Local Green Space’ meaning no council can decide to put it up for sale and sell it off for homes. With the lungs of the city safe, we can all breathe a sigh of relief.  

It safeguards for future generation one of the last remaining open green spaces in Stoke-on-Trent and brings to an end the constant merry-go-round of ‘will they or won’t they’ use it for homes. It was a testament to true community power.  

All of this is confirmed in the City Council’s proposed local plan. This is the document which sets out how Stoke-on-Trent City Council wants to use land in the city for future home developments and business use. 

This comes shortly on the back of another long running campaign to have the old Twyfords site cleared.  The buildings are not safe and they are an eyesore.  

More than one prominent local business has told me they have struggled to recruit investment because bringing investors up the A500 past those imposing and unloved former factories has soured negotiations. One told me an investor said to them ‘why should I invest in a city that won’t invest in itself’. A fair question.  

But getting to grips with the land we have and what it can be used for is no longer something for another day. It has to be now.  

There was never any need to put Berryhill fields at risk. A cursory glance around the city will show you we have acres of brownfield sites, former factories, old yards and derelict buildings.  

These are prime for development and that might mean some uncomfortable conversations about which ones need to be demolished to make way for the homes we need and the sorts of buildings new businesses want.  

Whether it’s the empty factories on King Street in Fenton, the abandoned metal structure on Club Street in Boothen, the derelict building at the bottom of Goldenhill Road, the empty former pub site in Oakhill, the long-forgotten plots of land around Northwood. These sites need to be reclaimed and put to good use for our community.   

Because the alternative is letting these sites decay and become a blight on our neighbourhoods while greenfield sites get eyed up by developers who spot an opportunity to turn a quick profit – probably subsidised by taxpayers like you and me.  

So while we have saved Berryhill fields – many more green sites are under review – it’s time to take on the landowners who are abusing our city and build the homes and the businesses we need.