Petition: Glen Road Collective. Protecting Biodiversity and Community Health

​To: All Saints College 

​We, the residents of Caffrey estate and the wider neighbourhood, are writing to formally oppose the proposed development on our local green space. While we value education, this specific proposal threatens one of the few remaining natural sanctuaries in our urban environment. We urge the school to reconsider the total loss of this land and instead seek a compromise that protects our environment and our community’s well-being.

​Key Grounds for Opposition

​1. Critical Biodiversity and Habitat Loss

This site is a vital corridor for pollinators, butterflies, and native bird species. In an increasingly paved urban landscape, these trees and plants provide essential nesting and feeding grounds. Furthermore, introducing artificial lighting for new pitches will cause significant light pollution, disrupting the circadian rhythms of local wildlife and further driving away the species that currently thrive here.

​2. Environmental Impact and Climate Targets

The removal of this green space directly contradicts local and national environmental goals. We are currently facing a climate emergency where hitting "30x30" targets (protecting 30% of land by 2030) is essential. Replacing carbon-sequestering soil and trees with synthetic surfaces will increase carbon emissions and worsen the "urban heat island" effect in our neighborhood.

​3. Green Equity in a Deprived Urban Area

Our community is a densely populated urban area with little to no access to alternative green spaces. Research shows that residents in deprived areas suffer most when nature is removed. While the school proposes new sports facilities, these will be restricted to students, providing no benefit to the wider public. Furthermore, the area is already saturated with sports pitches; what we lack is natural, unmanicured "wild" space.

​4. Traffic and Public Safety

The road serving the school is already inundated with heavy traffic due to the high density of schools in the immediate vicinity. Adding more facilities will inevitably increase vehicle movements, worsening air quality and creating further safety risks for pedestrians and residents.

 

 

​Our Proposed Compromise: A "Nature-First" Design

​We believe a solution exists that serves both the school and the planet. We propose that the school amends its plans to:

​Create a Woodland Walkway: Instead of total clearance, preserve a significant portion of the trees to create a public-access woodland path.

 

​Prioritize Outdoor Learning: Retain natural areas to be used as Outdoor Learning Environments. These spaces are proven to be transformative for neurodivergent children and adults, providing a sensory-friendly, calming space that traditional sports pitches cannot offer.

 

​Partial Preservation: Reduce the number of planned pitches to ensure a percentage of the land remains an untouched "green lung" for the community.

 

​Conclusion

​We ask All Saints College to act as stewards of the environment for the next generation. Do not pave over the future of our local ecosystem. We request a public meeting to discuss a revised plan that incorporates a Woodland Walkway and protects our precious natural heritage.

Our local community has many ongoing issues ,there are very few facilities for youth of all ages. There is also limited access to play areas/parks and green spaces 

We face a plethora of social issues ,such as mental health issues,addiction and lack of access to  services to help the wider community. Access to more green space will benefit the entire community.  

Thank you for reading