Green spaces in a growing Somerset village will be managed at a more local level in the future as part of a new devolution deal.
Somerset Council reached out to town and parish councils across the county after declaring a financial emergency in November 2023, asking them to take on the running of services to prevent damaging cuts in the face of a significant budget gap.
Devolution deals have already been signed with numerous town and parish councils, with key services in Bridgwater, Minehead, Wellington, Wells and Yeovil being brought under more local control – including the management of parks and other key green spaces in their respective towns.
Street Parish Council has now finalised a devolution deal with Somerset Council, which will see the former become responsible for numerous green spaces across the village.
The following green spaces and play areas will shortly become solely the parish council's responsibility:
- Bove Moor play area and open space, Bove Moor Road
- Goss Drive play area, Goss Drive
- Gould Close open space, Gould Close
- Mellanby Close open space, Mellanby Close
- Ringolds Way play area and open space, Ringolds Way
- Willow Road open space, Willow Road
- Woods Batch play area, Woods Batch
- Wraxhill Park open space, Wraxhill Park
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Street will be seeing significant housing growth over the coming years, ranging from 280 homes on the B3151 Somerton Road to 33 new council properties on Portland Road, near the village's cemetery.
To prevent speculative development on these green spaces, each location has a restrictive covenant in place, stating that the land "must be kept in the same use for public benefit".
While Somerset Council and Street Parish Council signed a memorandum of understanding regarding these green spaces back in November 2025, the assets will not be formally transferred until later this year.
Jonathan Stevens, Somerset Council's head of operations, stated in his written report: "Our officers have worked collaboratively with Street Parish Council to ensure that devolution of services will be a seamless process, with no detrimental impact to the residents of Street.
"Our officers are satisfied that sufficient due diligence has been carried out by both the disposing authority (Somerset Council) and Street Parish Council as the new service operator.
"Any further devolution of assets and services will be subject to a separate decision-making process."
