Promising feedback from the council resulting from the petition has come in. Councillor Lisa Trickett (Cabinet Member for Sustainability) has written that she will ask the Planning Team to consider proposals for this area of the city (Smithfield and Southern Gateway) to have much more integrated green space. She has written "for all the reasons you have already presented there would appear to be sufficient justification to re-examine the current Smithfield vision along these lines". Deputy leader Ian Ward has also written that "as a city we are seeking to maintain and expand our network of green space" and that a masterplan for Smithfield will be published for public consultation at the end of year. My understanding from these comments is that the scheme put forward in the draft planning document will NOT be the final plan. This is good news BUT we have to keep the pressure up on the council so that the new masterplan has plans for green space that the city centre so desperately needs. We can do this by continuing to get others to sign the petition and by contacting local councillors directly. Please follow the latest Twitter updates on @CityPark4Brum