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Our Own Green Wedge – Black Bobbies Field
The Black Bobbies Field area of Thornaby, situated to the rear of Richardson Road and across the Tees from the Bowsfield Industrial estate has become something of a haven for local wildlife. It is aptly described as a ‘green wedge’ allowing a slice on nature into the town. Among the uses to which the area had been previously put to was a football pitch. This is hard to believe now, with the often waterlog field and the pool which leads of from the Tees. Whilst the rampart which forms the boundary of the shallower secondary pond, closer to the houses, and which leads to a wooden walkway, affording wheelchair access to parts of the field, make the idea of teams playing without waders seem impossible to believe.
A variety of wildlife have struggled against the odds to make a place for themselves in Black Bobbies. Foxes, as residents of Richardson Road will tell you, spend the nights calling to each other as the search for whatever food they can find, seldom to be seen by daytime visitors. The many people who walk their dogs in the area often come upon such bird life as the ever present ducks, geese and swans, all of which have mastered the art of persuading everyone, including the anglers who come to the area, to part with bread. Feeding the ducks has become a common reason for many families to spend a Sunday afternoon by the river. There is even talk of Otters having been sighted in the man made pond, something which illustrates the changes, for the better, which have followed the opening of the Tees Barrage. Swallows are always present through summer months swooping down across the pond, Blue Tits, Dunnocks, Magpies, an assortment of sea birds including Cormorants and gulls. Whilst the stately Heron is often to be seen in the waterlogged areas reducing the frog population, taking to the air as people get too close. Its large size often a surprise for the unsuspecting.
Human visitors have increased slightly, due to footpaths closed across the area due to the foot and mouth epidemic. This has been an eye opener for many who were previously unaware of the existence of a Black Bobbies Field.
There is a dark spot to all this and that’s the apparent wanton destruction which some people, sadly often (but not always) younger people bring to the area. The longer warmer days seem to attract yobs to the area alongside those seeking a bit of peace and quiet. The grass along the riverside and across the field is set alight from time to time, devastating for some of the wildlife, whilst someone actually burned down one of the benches often used by older visitors. Similarly, some people find it necessary to pull and cut down trees so they can build bonfires. The only thing they don’t burn is the litter and cans they leave behind! Since locals successfully campaigned to have the gate into the field replaced, the motor cycles have been unable to get in and once muddy scars across the fields have healed. But a new method of causing destruction seems to have arisen. The reports of air rifles being used in the area have increased, ADULTS along with younger teenagers, are culling the local bird populace. Even the ever popular swans which have settled in the area, have not escaped their attentions.The local police have been quick to respond to complaints making it clear they will not tolerate guns in the area. Though it’s a problem everyone in the area seems intent on crushing too. If you see anything like this going on, should you visit, report it straight away.
All in all though, the immediate future looks bright for the Black Bobbies Field area. The warmer weather has put the GREEN back into ’green wedge’, as the trees bushes and shrubs come back to life. The wildlife has started doing what it does every spring and numbers are increasing, despite the efforts of those mentioned above. If you’ve never been down there go and have a look. If nothing else it is a quiet five minutes away from the house and telly.
From ...Peter Brennan
Apr 28 2001
Evening Gazette
Environmental campaigners hope to get 5,000 objections to a massive development plan.
David Jackson and Bryan Moore say the H J Banks scheme would mean building on green wedge land - which would threaten rare wildlife.
The pair say it is misleading to say the land is a brownfield site as it leads the way to Thornaby's Holmes area, picturesque Horseshoe bend and winter wildfowl nesting sites.
An outline application for a development which would include offices, e-commerce, call centres, motor dealerships, hotel, health club, housing amenity areas and a sailing centre has been submitted to Stockton Council.
The plan covers 39.76 hectares of land at Bowesfield Farm, Bowesfield Lane, Stockton.
It takes in derelict land near the bridge - dubbed the bridge to nowhere - which will now link in with the new Ingleby Barwick road.
But the campaigners say the plan would also mean building 150 homes opposite Horseshoe bend.
The scheme is expected to bring up to 1,500 jobs to the town but Mr Jackson says they won't be new jobs - as firms will relocate to the site.
"The building of houses in this area would go against the structure plan. This is farmland and just because the TDC took the soil off the top that doesn't make it a brownfield site.
"There is already plenty of land allocated for industrial use without having to build on an area designated as an area important to nature."
In the past residents have objected to schemes in the area including a cable ski plan for the Tees.
The cable ski was granted planning permission but has never been built.
Mr Jackson added: "We are confident we will get 5,000 objections. There were 300 objections to the cable ski and a petition signed by 3,000 people."
Mr Jackson said such building would threaten endangered bird species such as redlist and skylarks and also chase snipe away.
Stockton council is in the process of consulting neighbours and the closing date for comments is May 10.
No date has been fixed yet for the planning committee to consider the application.
Pictured: Farmer Leslie Wilkinson, centre, with wife Joan and son David.
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The development does not meet the Governments requirements for suitable development i.e. development which does not compromise our future for short term gain in the present. These policies call for Brownfield land to be developed before
Greenfield land. This is why Banks insist on referring to the area as a Brownfield site since, if this statement is not rigorously challenged, it would enable them to circumvent all the other planning restrictions. However, Bowesfield Farm has never met any of the criteria set down in Planning Policy Guidance Note 3(PPG 3) for Brownfield land and as a Greenfield site it should be protected. Their reference to fly tipping is another attempt to convey the image this is degraded land.
Banks, as the owner, are responsible for keeping the site free from rubbish just as you are responsible for your garden.
Banks claim the development will create new jobs, but to attract modern jobs for the future it is necessary for us to overcome our image of an industrial wasteland and convince business leaders that this is a pleasant place to live and work.
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