More than 3,000 people have now signed our petition.

We have written to the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, the Rt Hon Lisa Nandy MP, asking her to take note of the petition and the strength of opposition to losing part of the city’s oldest park.    

Can you write to her too? 

The more people that write to her the more she will understand how important parks and green spaces are to the people of Newcastle.

The contents of our letter is included below.

Please feel free to edit and send to lisa.nandy.mp@parliament.uk and enquiries@dcms.gov.uk

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Save Newcastle Wildlife is concerned with protecting wildlife and green space in Newcastle upon Tyne and we are contacting you in your capacity as Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport in relation to the recent threat to Newcastle’s oldest public park.

Having studied at Newcastle University, you will no doubt be aware of the importance of green spaces, in particular the Town Moor, for the people of Newcastle.

We understand you have expressed impatience to get the economy growing in the context of expanding football stadiums across the country, however, we would urge that this impatience should not be at the expense of local communities, their green spaces and the wildlife they support.

You will be aware of plans to pave over part of Newcastle’s oldest public park to make way for a new super stadium for Newcastle United Football Club.

Leazes Park was created for the working people of Newcastle in 1873, after 3,000 people in the city petitioned Newcastle City Council for a space in the city for the distinct purpose of health and recreation.

More than 3,100 people have now signed an online petition calling for a referendum on the plans that pose a threat to this cherished Grade II listed park and garden.

The petition was set up in response to learning that the local planning authority - Newcastle City Council - had not been involved in any discussions about the plans, which were reported in the media as having been decided on already and merely awaiting approval from the Secretary of State.

Parks and green spaces across Newcastle are already under threat, with the recent collapse of Urban Green Newcastle - the charitable trust that has been managing the city's parks and green spaces - signaling very worrying times. If these plans are approved, it would set a very dangerous precedent for parks and green spaces across the city. 

We therefore urge you to involve local communities in the decision-making process and very much hope that any decision on the expansion of St James’ Park will be in the interests of all Newcastle residents and the city’s green spaces. 

We would particularly welcome a decision that would minimise adverse impacts on Leazes Park and maximise the social and environmental benefits for all communities, not just the football community, as well as securing the future management of all the city’s parks, nature reserves, allotments and other green spaces for perpetuity.

We look forward to hearing how you will factor in the views of residents calling for a referendum on the plans.