Gloucester could become England’s greenest small city if it continues with projects such as the planned eco park for Hempsted, according to environment minister Rebecca Pow.
The Under Secretary of State at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs visited three projects in the city today (April 30) including the former landfill site.
Plans for the 360-acre site include a solar panel park, biomass generator and composting area. It is owned by Enovert and is part of Gloucester City Council’s plan to make the area carbon neutral by 2050.
Ms Pow also visited the Oval in Moreland to see the replanting work and the creation of a new community garden on part of the former Norville factory behind Melbourne Street East in Tredworth.
She said the new environmentally sustainable future holds great opportunities for everyone.
“The projects I’ve seen truly demonstrate that there’s great strength in these things,” she said.
“The eco site is taking a worked-out landfill site which will have to be managed for the future for a long time. To try and harness the potential of a site like this is to be praised.
“It will generate energy, money, jobs and skills and it will also have green corridors running through it.
“Nature will be put back and people can enjoy the place itself. The health and wellbeing impact is enormous there.”
She also praised the projects for the Oval and community garden.
“This project we have just seen is an example of something that could happen all around Gloucester.
“Indeed, it could be the greenest small city in the country.”
Gloucester MP Richard Graham said the green energy park in Hempsted could be a model for the rest of the country.
He said: “Today at the Hempsted recycling centre, she’s seen and planted apple trees. The first of what will be 100,000 trees in a new eco park.
“She’s also seen Enovert, the owner, describe how we are going to generate renewable energy, biomass, wind, solar and hydrogen.
“This could be a great model for around the country so I hope the minister will go back to London and think we’ve got 2,000 of these sites, what more can we do in the others?
“We’ve had the chance to show her the great work in re-landscaping the Oval in Linden and also see the potential for a new community garden in Tredworth in Melbourne Street East.
“These are things that are going to happen, all with partnerships.
“I hope she’s going away thinking, hang on, Gloucester just might be on the road to becoming England’s greenest small city.”
City council Labour group leader Kevin Stephens said they too fully support the proposed eco park.
They believe it will make a major difference in tackling climate change locally.
“It was the Labour Group that set the ball in motion for the city council to declare a climate emergency and adopt the UN sustainability goals so we are very keen to ensure that this remains at the top of the political agenda.
“Labour councillors in Moreland have been instrumental in working with council officers to secure improvements at the Oval, where recent tree planting and clearance work are a good start but much more needs to be done and we are working with the local community to develop further plans.
“It was the Labour group budget amendment that set aside £100,000 for improvement works to our local parks and green spaces and we look forward to this being utilised.
“It is clear that local government working alongside residents have a major role to play in tackling climate change, which is a big challenge.
“Community gardens such as at the former Norville factory site alongside community parks, orchards, allotments and other initiatives to green our city, have a major part to play and we want to see these types of initiative rolled out across the city.”
The Liberal Democrats have also been approached for comment but were unable to provide one at the time of going to press.
