Gamlingay Green
A Gift of Green Space to Gamlingay
The land could be considered for:
9 acres of new green space
2,500 tree’s, an arboretum
Orchard
Community owned ‘Walled Garden’
New walking routes
Cycle path’s
Wood view areas
Sport, Health & Wellbeing:
The gift of land could be considered for a multitude of amenities in Gamlingay:
Indoor and outdoor all year round gym
Sports pitch x1
Clubhouse/Hut
Tennis/Netball Court
Cycle hub
Village green for clubs, societies, fetes, concerts, events and shows, local food produce, pop-up market events, and local shop collections.
Owners
The Richardsons own the majority of the land. Family owned by their Grandfather who lived as a tenant in East Lane and worked the land for market gardening. The land has been in the family for around 100 years.
No options, no agreements, no land promotion contracts exist with developers. It is a local resident owned field with two local families owning the remaining, Gilbert, & Wrights.
To see how the land might be transferred into the secure hands of Gamlingay, see our News article HERE on the option of Community Land Trusts.
Location
The 10 acre plot is to the end of Cinques Road and within easy walking and cycling of the village centre.
A new green space and amenities would strengthen the individual identity of Cinques and Gamlingay by providing a new permanent space between the two, legally transferred as open public space. This protects the gap forever from mass housing and ‘anyplace’ development whilst re-purposing the land to be a useable, walkable space for the community.
It supports all residents to the west side of Gamlingay including new Green End development. It will reduce congestion and travel through Mill St. and Church St. by providing accessible green space in west side of the village.
History
The land was always used for market gardening by historical Gamlingay families. George Roberts to the east, Alfie Richardson the northerly part of the plot aloing with Ken Darlow and Ernie Gore.
This gave a patchwork of plots, a flurry of activity & local employment and tractors and lorries along the old track that runs parralel to East Lane.
The new green creates an accesible, walkable space that Gamalonians can use again, sport, opening up access to views for all and a place with activity whilst retaining open space and character and protecting it, forever.
We could retain the name of those traditional Gamalonian market gardeners, characters and farmers who made the Cinques what it is.
Developers
This is a concept derived by the 5 Gamlingay Landowners, at our own cost with a carefully chosen Rural Planner, Architect & Green ‘champion’, John Burell of Burrell Foley Fischer.
No developers or Land Promotion Agents are involved in our proposal.
Approaches from large scale developers continue due to incoming plannung changes, challenges to South Cambs District Council Planning Department’s 5 year land supply and the continuing large scale development in the County, including the lack of self/custom build plots available.
Instead, we propose a new approach to creating a great place by offering community use at the heart.
If left, it will be forever be a field blighted with the uncertainty of mass development and offering nothing of use to residents.
The landowners are enthused by the Velocity approach. Click the image on the left to view their concept.
Protecting
The transfer of land, 95% of the area, will protect this area as usable green space forever by transferring it into the custodianship of Gamlingay. Development will never, ever happen and the “gap” between the Cinques and Gamlingay remains for all time.
Development
The scheme is the complete opposite of “anyplace” planning and development, i.e. placing large-scale standard houses in inappropriate locations not befitting Gamlingay. Based on exemplary guidance: Hana Loftus, “Growing Villages - How should village growth be shaped in rural areas?”
Vision
It is based on a vision that is current and historically informed. It is “on the ground” knowledge by people and families who live, work, and were raised in the area; Gamlingay residents and historical Gamlingay families. Not individuals, a top down committee, or a large scale developer.
Community
The concept and need should be decided by local people and then reputable national organisations, ensuring an inbuilt structure for the long-term management of the space. The most important people are residents, thereafter clubs and groups who strive to make Gamlingay better and greener.
Nature
The green will have numerous natural facets; birdwatching, recreation, gardening, swales for aquatic life. It will restore nature and wildlife to the area, creating a great accessible place for all at a time of a declared climate emergency by both Gamlingay Parish and South Cambs District Councils.
Residents
It balances viability, practicality and longer term wider community benefits for local people. Green spaces for wellbeing and enjoyment and immediate benefits to East Lane residents via new discreet visitor/resident parking and promoting safer speed limit in Cinques .