Cash-strapped council considers plans to sell Berryhill Fields for development.
Labour-led Stoke-on-Trent City Council is considering selling-off Berryhill Fields, long considered the green-lungs of the city in a bid to raise funds to plug budget gaps.
Cabinet Members are currently considering a sell-off of sites across the city to boost council coffers in a bid to raise money to repay a government loan of £42m, provided to plug shortfalls in their 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 budgets.
Conservative Councillor Heather Blurton had long backed campaigns to retain Berryhill Fields as greenspace for the city and has reacted to the renewed plans to sell-off land with concern:
"The latest plans from Stoke Labour to sell-off Berryhill Fields are shortsighted and completely ignore the wishes of the local community. Berryhill Fields are an essential greenspace, used regularly by the local community and should be viewed as a community asset to be retained rather than a pawn in Labour's plan to avoid taking difficult decisions, such as reform of staff terms and conditions.
I back the local community plan to retain Berryhill Fields. They not only provide a vital greenspace, they assist the city in meeting our drive towards a greener, healthier city and help us as we work towards net-zero. Berryhill Fields should be retained, untouched."
Plans to sell Berryhill Fields will be considered by Labour Cabinet Members at a meeting to tske place soon.
Photo Credit - SOT Live / The Sentinel.
