Open spaces valued for their wildlife, landscape or recreational contributions have
to be protected,
managed and sometimes improved if their value to current and future generations is not to be
reduced.
To protect Lincoln's special identity, it is important that new developments do not
harm the City's
landscape characteristics and wildlife, but complement them - adding to local distinctiveness rather
than diluting it;
- Natural and man-made features which
local people value should not be swept away,
distorted or degraded simply because their contribution to local distinctiveness - has not
been identified. Particular features may be of even greater value - national or
international - and this also needs to be taken into account when decisions are being
made.
- Although Lincolnshire contains large
areas of open space - mostly farmland - Lincoln
itself is a tightly contained urban district within which the remaining open spaces are
under increasing pressure, having to compete with other land use requirements (such as
the need to satisfy housing and employment demands etc.). The importance of
safeguarding areas of open countryside and productive agricultural land has meant that
much of the land surrounding the City has been unavailable for housing and other
development.
A "sustainable" city requires a wide range of easily accessible open spaces.
- The need for more sustainable forms
of development now requires further restraint of
urban sprawl and dispersal, and redevelopment of previously developed sites, to reduce
dereliction and make maximum use of the land which is available within the confines of
existing urban areas. These considerations, if accepted in isolation from the other needs
and demands of an urban community, would, in time, lead to a city consisting of
virtually uninterrupted built development, which would be totally reliant upon the
surrounding countryside for its open space needs. This would inevitably result in a very
poor urban environment and intolerable pressure on the countryside. It would also have
wider environmental impacts. For example, people would have to travel greater
distances to reach open space for recreation; the likelihood of them using cars would
increase and the associated pollution and consumption of fuel resources would grow.
Some of the urban traffic congestion would probably simply be transferred to the
countryside, rather than being reduced by changes in modes of travel. Taking the need
for a more sustainable approach to development a stage further, the less attractive,
accessible and diverse our urban spaces become, the greater the incentive for people to
travel to sensitive countryside further afield to meet their recreational needs.
Nature gives pleasure, inspiration and an escape from the stresses of city living.
It also makes a
significant contribution to our health and well-being, both physically and mentally.
- Plants can help to contain the effects
of airborne pollution (for instance one urban tree
can trap up to a tonne of dust) and ten minutes walking in the local nature area goes a
long way to help relieve some of the stresses of modern day living. A surprising amount
and diversity of wildlife has survived in the City. However, the fragmented nature of urban
habitats leaves them very vulnerable. If a diversity of wildlife is to be enjoyed in the
future, it is important that steps are taken now to ensure that this resource survives.
Trees, and plants in general, are essential to life. Vegetation absorbs carbon dioxide,
storing
carbon and releasing oxygen. One fully grown beech tree produces enough oxygen each year for
ten people. It will also "clean" the air by consuming over 2 kg of carbon dioxide per hour.
Carbon
dioxide is the dominant "greenhouse" gas. While a level of "greenhouse" effect is
necessary to
sustain life, the build up of these gases due to man's activities now threatens the global
environment. Increasing tree and plant cover is one of the more positive actions which can be taken
to reduce the problem. The proposals in this Plan to plant woodlands and the policies to protect
trees and require planting in connection with development schemes, have been included partly with
those benefits in mind.
Sensitively positioned, trees and other planting also offer a range of local environmental
benefits.
They can:
•
help absorb gas emissions from vehicles;
• reduce
local pollution from airborne particles, such as lead;
• act
as sound barriers;
• contribute
to micro-climatic effects which reduce energy consumption;
• offer
shade from the sun (helping to counter the growing incidence of skin cancer);
• contribute
to traffic calming measures;
•
provide habitats for wildlife, an important reason for using local native species.
Research also indicates that trees and other planting in urban landscapes can have
useful
psychological effects, helping to reduce stress, and anti-social behaviour and promoting an
increased sense of community responsibility and civic pride.
