6 Other Open Space within North Devon - Definitions

6.1 This Chapter considers two further categories of open space, classified in this way following a detailed examination of the situation in North Devon:

a. Amenity open space within settlements

b. Amenity open space outside settlements and countryside open space resources

Amenity open space within settlements

6.2 The definition of ‘amenity open space’ for this study is different to that to which the term is often applied. It encompasses the following:

a. allotments

b. cemeteries

c. woodlands/orchards

d. nature reserves

e. vacant/otherwise unclassified land with potential for open space use where these are settlement based, or closely related to existing settlements. These types of open space are felt to perform valuable recreational and amenity functions, although their specialised nature excludes them from the other categories so far used.

Allotments

6.3 The National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners considers that the target for provision should be 20 allotment plots per 1000 households based on a national allotment survey undertaken in 1997. This allows for some growth in demand as forecast in the House of Commons Select Committee report ‘The Future of Allotments’ (1998). The target figure equates to a recommended spatial standard of 0.25 has per 1000 population. Figures for North Devon suggest that provision is less than this but it is recognised that the database currently omits several sites.

Cemeteries

6.4 No standards are needed, and land should be proposed as it is required.

Woodlands/orchards, nature reserves

6.5 These are included where settlement based. For further information on nature reserves, reference should be made to the recent report on local nature conservation sites and biodiversity networks in North Devon undertaken by the Devon Biodiversity Records Centre in conjunction with the Devon Wildlife Trust.

Vacant/otherwise unclassified land with potential for open space use

6.6 There are many such areas and can be obtained from the database. All are worthy of a closer look to investigate their potential and possibilities.

6.7 Small areas planted as shrub bed and flower beds only (e.g. within car parks) whilst included on the database are not included in the computation of any standards. Nevertheless they have an important amenity role in enhancing social tarmac areas.

6.7 Work has been undertaken to assess levels of provision, in general terms, of amenity open space within settlements. Across the district as a whole, a figure of around 72 hectares or 0.08 has/000 emerges. However, it is believed that many such sites are omitted, especially allotments and cemeteries in the rural areas, and it may be more appropriate to limit the calculation of such a standard to the main urban areas. Nevertheless such open space has great intrinsic amenity and recreational value in the context of an open space strategy for North Devon

Amenity open space outside settlements and countryside open space resources

6.8 There are many areas of open space in a rural district like North Devon which help to define its overall character and are not related to public access e.g.

a. nature reserves

b. beaches

c. community woodlands (South West Forest etc)

d. Braunton Burrows

e. major woodland/forest areas

f. major linear parks/walks (‘greenways’) (e.g. Tarka Trail and Braunton/Barnstaple Railway Line)

6.9 Such areas are not included in the computation of any standards in this report. However, the importance of such areas should not be underestimated in an open space strategy.

6.10 The countryside is widely acknowledged (and highlighted within the Community Needs Survey) as being fundamental to the character and people’s perception of North Devon. However, accessibility to this from existing open space networks within settlements and its management for recreation and amenity purposes (especially following the foot and mouth epidemic) is very topical and dealt with in other corporate documents.

See Appendix 9 and 10 also.

Recommendations for new provision

6.11 In settlements near to beaches, the coastline, forests and other woodlands and commons it is recommended that there should be good linkages and accessibility to enhance their function as recreational open space.

6.12 It is also recommended that additional commons, parks and woods are promoted close to the main settlements in association with South West Forestry Initiatives as a means of increasing the provision of informal open space for all sections of the community. In particular,: in the Barnstaple area at Frankmarsh, Waytown/Maidenford and Larkbeare and in South Molton (south of Pathfields), Swimbridge, North Molton, Bratton Fleming and Fremington (Chill Park).