A big riser this time to number 8

Parks and Green spaces.
In Newton we only have one green space of mention that is Gorse Farm Wood. We do however have two major green spaces that touch our borders: Sandwell Valley and Red House Park. Both are to some degree at risk. I want to see our candidates campaigning hard to support the friends of Gorse Farm and Red House Park. Each of these green spaces has different issues that threaten their existence. The most urgent I think is Red House Park. The friends need help. We have to accept I think that the battle for the house is lost but it will be a brave politician to come out and say this. We should now be drawing the line in the sand with Sandwell Council and organising to protect every inch of our park. First the friends need to get heritage status for the park and I would like to see our candidates coming out strongly in favour of supporting all aspects of the work of the friends. Leadership on this issue will be vital over the next couple of years. Our park really is at risk. We cannot believe anything that we have been told about its future. Its future really is in our hands. If the council think we don’t care I firmly believe we will loose it to the developers. Sandwell Valley is at risk from vandals in the summer, from developers who are chipping away at our ward one block at a time and from the council who have now suggested it might be a prime site for a wind farm. The residents of Newton will be damned if they complain about this and we will be damned if we don’t because we will have to put up with the extra noise and nuisance. So let’s start here “HANDS OFF SANDWELL VALLEY AND RED HOUSE PARK”