Future of our Parks Consultation
The Council is currently carrying out public consultation on the future management of our Parks and other open spaces. It will close on 28 October at midnight. The Council says it has to change the way it manages and maintains our open spaces as council budgets are reduced, and that our feedback will help it understand what’s important to us.
Our parks and open spaces
Brighton & Hove has approximately 147 parks including heritage parks, playing fields and green spaces. We also have more than 3,000 allotments, 50 playgrounds and a section of the South Downs National Park
We have around 3,200 acres of open space across the city. Most of these public spaces are managed by our Cityparks team and supported by volunteers and friends of parks groups
Parks and open spaces are important and promote physical and mental wellbeing.
They:
• are used by schools, colleges, universities and community organisations
• support tourism and our economy
• form a key part of our historic and current cultural identity
• provide spaces for community events and large festivals
• form part of the wider Brighton and Lewes Downs UNESCO World Biosphere Region.
The management of these spaces is being reconsidered as central government continues to reduce the Council’s funding and savings are required.
The City park’s budget was £4 million last year (2015 to 2016) and is due to be cut by £600,000 by 2020. The Council hopes its survey will let us share our views on what’s important to us and ideas that other Councils are using to manage and maintain their open spaces.
Ways to respond
Online, via beta.brighton-hove.gov.uk/consultations/future-of-our-parks-consultation
or contact the Parks Project team at parksprojects@brighton-hove.gov.uk
or ring 01273 292929 to request a copy of the paper form.
Return completed forms to: Parks Projects team, Cityclean Depot, Upper Hollingdean Road, Brighton BN1 7GA by midnight 30 October 2016
Parks and Open Spaces in Brighton & Hove
Brighton and Hove have approximately 147 parks including heritage parks, playing fields and green spaces, along with more than three thousand allotments, fifty playgrounds, green verges and a section of the South Downs National Park.
They are our largest asset covering 1,300 hectares (3,212 acres). Most of the City’s green public spaces are managed by the Council and supported by volunteers and Friends groups.
Parks and open spaces are important to the quality of life for residents in the City, promoting physical and mental wellbeing.
They are widely used by communities across Brighton and Hove.
They support tourism and contribute to the City’s unique environment.
Rethinking how parks and open spaces are managed
Public services are changing. Central government is continuing to reduce our funding.
Between 2010 and 2015 we have reduced our costs by about £77 million.
By 2019/20 the Council has to make further estimated savings of £68 million. It costs more than £2 million every day to provide the hundreds of services the City needs, so we need to provide services in a different way.
IMAGE CREDIT: Selma Montford
Elm Tree, Preston Park
