The petition of residents of the constituency of Newcastle-under-Lyme,

Declares that Baldies Field–a green space adjacent to Hoon Avenue and Milehouse Lane–has been used by local people for generations, and is valued by residents as an accessible open space used for walking, recreation and wellbeing; further declares that proposals affecting the site have generated significant concern across the community and that residents have raised issues relating to traffic congestion in the surrounding area and have questioned how additional development could be accommodated safely within an already pressured road network; further declares that there are concerns about flooding and drainage in the area, including existing problems following heavy rainfall; further declares that questions remain about how further development would affect the local drainage system and whether the implications have been fully addressed; and further declares that the potential loss of Baldies Field itself is a major concern as, for many people nearby, it represents one of the few remaining accessible green spaces, relied upon by individuals and families for everyday recreation and for the mental and physical wellbeing that open spaces support.

The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urge the Government to work with Staffordshire County Council to ensure that the concerns that have been raised are listened to carefully, to ensure full transparency about the future of the site, and to take all possible steps to protect Baldies Field for the benefit of the community.

And the petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Adam Jogee, Official Report, 15 April 2026; Vol. 783, c. 948.]

[P003185]

Observations from the Minister for Housing and Planning (Matthew Pennycook):

Due to the role of Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government Ministers in the planning system, I am unable to comment on individual cases. By law, planning applications are determined in accordance with the local development plan, unless material considerations indicate otherwise. Each application is judged on its own individual merit and the weight given to these considerations is a matter for the decision taker.