Moray Open Space Strategy: Invitation to participate in stakeholder consultation

Background
The Moray Council is required, along with other local planning authorities, to prepare an Open Space Strategy under Scottish Planning Policy 11: Open Space and Physical Activity (Nov 2007) (SPP11).

Aside from the statutory requirement, there are some very compelling reasons for the Council to undertake the audit and prepare the strategy and for the individuals, businesses and other organisations, with an interest in Moray's sustainable development, to get involved in the process.

So, what exactly is 'open space' and how is it relevant to you as a stakeholder? Open space has been defined in planning guidance (PAN65) as broadly including the following categories of landuse: public parks and gardens; private gardens or grounds, amenity greenspace (associated with residential, business, transport landuses); playspace for children and teenagers; sports areas; green corridors; natural/semi-natural greenspace (e.g. woodland, open semi-natural areas, waterbodies); other functional greenspace (e.g. caravan parks, cemeteries, churchyards, allotments). As can be seen from this very inclusive definition, open spaces are the 'green lungs' of our towns and cities. They contribute to improving people's physical and mental health by providing places for informal recreation - e.g. walking, cycling, socialising, and children's play - and 'breathing spaces' to take time out from the stresses of modern life. They bring the countryside into our towns, making it accessible from our back doors. Well-maintained open space helps to make neighborhoods attractive places, where people want to live and work.

Access to high quality, open space is therefore vital to the quality of life in Moray, something that everyone has an interest in maintaining and improving. Broadly, through the development of an Open Space Strategy we hope to:

Please take the time to complete the questionnaire and help us to identify the key issues important to the provision and management of open space in Moray.

After the responses to the attached questionnaire have been collated, an Open Space Issues Paper will be prepared, circulated to consultees and made available on the Council website, it is anticipated, in July 2008. A Steering Group of key interested stakeholders will then be formed to direct the audit process and strategy development, using the Issues Paper as a key basis for decision-making.

It is further anticipated that the audit of open space in Moray (priorities to be defined through consideration of questionnaire responses, steering group process and resource availability) will take place in the Autumn 2008. The results of the audit should then be available by Winter 2008/09, to inform the drafting of an Open Space Strategy in the Spring 2009 and consultation on the draft in Summer 2009. These dates are indicative only and dependent on resourcing available and the scope of the audit/priorities identified.

Please note that this is an initial consultation to help focus resources in the audit and strategy on those issues of most importance to the wider community. You will have at least two further opportunities to provide comment. During the audit process we will be consulting further, and in more detail, with the wider public on issues related to specific open space areas e.g. issues with a particular local park. Once the draft Open Space Strategy has been produced this will again be made available for public review and comment.

It would be appreciated if you could forward your completed questionnaires (or numbered responses) to the address/email indicated on the questionnaire (and below), by 5pm Friday, 20th June 2008. Thank you, in anticipation of your participation in the Open Space Strategy development process.

Amanda Howard
Planning Officer

e - amanda.howard@moray.gov.uk
t - 01343 563265
f - 01343 563483
w - www.moray.gov.uk
Planning and Development
The Moray Council
Council Office
High St,
Elgin IV30 1BX