Lib Dems demand action on Priory Road park after years of Labour failure

I've been all over Pennsylvania today: proactively listening to local residents with the team and getting my teeth stuck into issues. 

Priory Road Park is a cherished green space in the heart of our city. However, it's truly shocking that the Labour-run City Council have failed to hold the developer (Persimmon) to account - local residents are suffering as a result.

The park was supposed to be adopted by Exeter City Council in the 20 years since Persimmon's Greyfriars development. However, Persimmon never got the park enough up to scratch.

Now, the play park is completely fenced off, maintenance is declining, and all the lights that line the path through the middle of the park have been switched off. What have Labour been doing for the past 20 years?

The City Council needs an action plan with a view to taking ownership of the park. Thanks to the Lib Dems, the council now has a full-time planning enforcement officer. Let's take planning enforcement action against Persimmon, get them to get the park up to scratch or face a more expensive fine. If they do the work, the City Council then adopts it. If they don't get it up to scratch, fine them, use that money to take council ownership of the park, and invest in it in consultation with local residents.

There's such an opportunity here to make it a space all residents can enjoy, I'm keen to make it happen.