COUNCILLORS in the Grays Riverside ward have welcomed the opening of a consultation into 'green space designation' of the park in Parker Road and have urged residents to take part, and put the much-loved site 'on the map'.

The consultation was announced last month and will be accessible via the council's website.

In a joint statement, Cllrs Martin Kerin, Jane Pothecary and Tony Fish said: "We are pleased that we are at the point where the consultation is now open. We campaigned long and hard for this to happen, so we heartily welcome it. This is our chance to put the park on the map."

The three councillors had spoken of their concerns about the area in a Nub News story, last October when they were worried the council might submit a planning application for the site contrary to residents' wishes.

"We feel it is our duty to protect the limited amount of green space available for our residents to enjoy. Having green space to enjoy has always been important. However, the experience of Covid has brought this into sharp focus. Having protected green space in densely urban areas such as ours is crucial for the physical and mental well-being of local people.

"Having 'Green Space Designation' will give this much-loved park a status akin to the Green Belt, with all the protections this affords. In the past, we worked with the community to fight and stop an access road being built across this park. This new status would provide the protection which this park needs."