Page 8 - RNT-C08

The HISTORY of REDDITCH New Town

The visitors centre from across Arrow Valley Lake.

situated for access by public transport and fairly closely related to the town centre and,
therefore, to any possible development of sports and recreational buildings, car parking,
etc.

The middle occupied a wide area of flat land with a predominantly parkland character
suitable for playing pitches and other active play facilities and playgrounds.
The third section was much narrower and would contain playing fields and other open
space that would be readily accessible to the adjoining residential and industrial areas.
There were three other major public open space areas in the plan. Two were existing
woodlands; Rough Hill Wood to the south of the town and Pitcher Oak Wood to the north
east. Both were of educational and scientific interest, particularly the former, and provided
sites well suited for nature study as well as for other activities. Pitcher Oak Wood adjoined
the existing golf course, it was a very beautiful area which would make a very attractive
town park. The third public open space area was to the west of the ridge around Downsell
Wood, and, apart from the new golf course, provided playing fields for the adjacent
residential area.

Wherever possible advantage should be taken of the numerous other smaller areas which
would occur within the new residential areas or in parts of the existing town. Not only
of existing landscape features, copses, hedgerows, streams, ponds, marl pits etc. but
also of places where the shape of the ground had strong characteristics.

The main playing field areas totalling some 214 acres were located at Abbey Stadium,
North and South of Papermill Farm, North of Ipsley Hill, between Ipsley Hill and Washford

Page: 208