The man bidding to become the first ever Member of Parliament for the brand-new Frome and East Somerset Constituency is calling for all parks and open spaces to be given greater protected in law.

Cllr Gavin Heathcote, who will stand as an Independent Candidate at the next General Election, wants to see our much-loved play parks, recreation grounds and other popular open spaces given the same legal protection as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs).

"We all came to appreciate the great outdoors a lot more during the coronavirus pandemic," said Gavin, "the parks and open spaces in our towns and villages became 'go to' havens where we could sit, relax and breath in some much-needed fresh air."

With known cases around the UK of housing developers bulldozing over children's play parks and green spaces, Cllr Heathcote wants them to be given the same protection in law as Area's of Outstanding Natural Beauty which have the highest status of protection in relation to landscape and scenic beauty.

In these areas the conservation of natural beauty of the landscape and countryside is given great weight in planning policies and development control decisions.

Gavin added: "At present, the Open Spaces Act of 1906 does given some level of protection to the parks and open spaces in our towns and open spaces, but it certainly isn't enough."

The UK's 46 designated AONBs are given the highest protection in law under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. They can only be built on under the most extreme circumstances, and any development modifications and severely limited.

Cllr Heathcote is keen to hear from residents living in Midsomer Norton, Radstock, Frome and the surrounding villages who are concerned about building developments in their area. Particularly those that may have an impact on parks and open spaces.

He can be contacted by emailing [email protected]

Readers can also keep up-to-date with Gavin Heathcote's run for parliament, follow him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GavinForFES as he travels around the constituency.