AN ACTION group from Nympsfield has been successful in registering an area as its village green – saving it from future housing development.

The Nympsfield Village Green Action Group has succeeded in having The Leaze – six miles south west of Stroud – marked as their official village green.

The area will now be reserved as an area of recreation for local people – as well as remaining protected from future planning applications due to its status.

Ian Crossland, of the group, submitted the application to Gloucestershire County Council, the greens registration authority, in 2009.

It was around that time that the landowner, the Gloucester Diocese Board of Finance, had made a submission to Stroud District Council that it be allocated for housing development.

The action group was able to demonstrate that the historic field had been used for recreation for at least 20 years.

Mr Crossland said: “We are delighted that The Leaze has been formally recognised as a village green.

“With great support from the community we were able to show that The Leaze had been used for informal recreation and sport, without permission or challenge, by villagers for the required 20 years—although, in fact, such activities have taken place there for as long as anyone can remember.

“The advice and documentation produced by the Open Spaces Society were crucial to this achievement.”

The group worked alongside the Open Spaces Society in its endeavour to secure the land as a village green.

The society, established in 1865, works to preserve commons for the enjoyment of the public.

Nicola Hodgson, the society’s case officer, said: ‘We congratulate Ian Crossman and the action group on their success.

“Now local people have the right of recreation on this historic land for ever more, and it is protected from development.”

The Leaze is a four-acre field close to the ancient parish church in the heart of Nympsfield.

Eighteenth and nineteenth century maps show that The Leaze was previously called ‘The Greens’, indicating that this new village green was, in fact, the village’s original village green.