Councillor Simone Taylor parks and countryside, waste and street scene, writes on the importance of shaping the district's 'green' future.

As executive councillor for parks and countryside, waste and street scene, one of my key areas of responsibility is biodiversity.

Through initiatives such as the Biodiversity For All project, which forms a central part of Huntingdonshire District Council’s Climate Strategy, Action Plan, and Corporate Plans, we are committed to delivering the Plan for Nature.

While we’ve made great strides in protecting and enhancing biodiversity in our parks and open spaces, the new Local Plan presents a significant opportunity to look beyond HDC-managed land and consider what other parts of our district should be preserved.

A crucial aspect of this process is maintaining and enhancing access to green and blue infrastructure—our parks, woodlands, waterways, and natural spaces. These spaces not only support biodiversity but are vital for people’s physical and mental wellbeing.

Priory Park in St Neots is one of the district's open spaces.Priory Park in St Neots is one of the district's open spaces. (Image: Matthew Power Photography.)

Our current engagement on the Local Plan focuses on how best to balance future development with protection of our nature conservation areas and promotion of biodiversity net gain to ensure that growth is sustainable.

We’re also looking at aligning our future design policies with the National Design Code and promoting high quality active places.

This will ensure that new developments across the district are not only functional but also visually appealing, support healthy lifestyles and are well-integrated into their natural surroundings.

I encourage you to get involved in the consultation, particularly on Chapter 9 of the Further Issues and Options document, which outlines key choices for protecting and enhancing our green and blue spaces.

Your views are crucial in helping us create well-designed, beautiful places that enhance biodiversity and improve the quality of life for everyone in Huntingdonshire. To view the documents and respond, go to: Local Plan/ Let's Talk Huntingdonshire: letstalkhuntingdonshire.net.