Michael Fabricant

Conservative Party | Lichfield

Michael Fabricant at Darwin Park, Lichfield

Michael with Reverend Jeff Fry (Leader of the Darwin Park Initiative) and other residents at the head of Cathedral Walk with Lichfield Cathedral visible beyond and at one of the lakes on the development

Michael Fabricant met residents of Darwin Park  on Saturday 9th June to discuss the needs of “this small town of 1100 homes based within the City of Lichfield” as Michael puts it.  He was taken around Darwin Park by Jeff Fry and other members of the Darwin Park Initiative.  Later, he met with residents over lunch in a private dining room all provided by the management of Waitrose.

“The Government talks a lot about ‘Sustainable Communities’, but like so much else, words have to be translated into action”, says Michael Fabricant.  “Darwin Park is an extremely attractive development incorporating attractive brick homes reflecting the architectural style of Lichfield  -  unlike the wholly inappropriate and dated concrete monstrosity currently under construction opposite Lichfield Cathedral on Minster Pool.  Darwin Park also incorporates green spaces and a series of stunning lakes teeming with fish and wild fowl.  But there is no open space for teens to play ball except on grassy areas adjacent to homes which are a nuisance to residents.  Bins, while planned for, have yet to be provided by the many trails so litter is beginning to accumulate in the lakes and grass verges.  Ideally, there needs to be land allocated for a youth centre separate from the planned community hall.

“Darwin Park is actually a town of 1100 homes within a City and needs its own facilities.  Construction has been underway for 6 years now and it is time now for the District Council to take charge from the developers.  In that respect, I am delighted that a number of councillors were recently elected from residents of Darwin Park.

“I will now be writing to Lichfield District Council to ascertain precisely what plans they have for Darwin Park and am already aware that they have conducted surveys seeking residents’ views.  I will also be writing to the Minister at the Department of Communities and Local Government in Whitehall together with his Conservative Shadow Minister to ascertain what plans they have to ensure that definitions of green space also include a totally separate area from housing set aside to allow ball games and other activities that will not be a nuisance to neighbours nor a danger to younger children and toddlers.

“I shall also be making my views known very clearly that it is totally unacceptable for the much heralded Cathedral Walk to be marred by plans for a large house or flats to be built at the end of the Walk destroying the vista leading outwards  towards the spires of Lichfield Cathedral.  If the view of Lichfield Cathedral is blocked, it will defeat the whole design plan of the Walk.  This just not on.

“Finally, I am encouraging the Darwin Park Initiative to form themselves into a formal association to represent the needs of residents of the Park and I believe that it is important that the Initiative has no formal party political or religious ties.  Darwin Park is large enough to have its own voice within our community;  it has its own special needs as a new development and, in my view,  should not be a part of a larger Leomansley grouping which incorporates much more established parts of the City.”