Concerns over land sale in Alveston (From Gazette Series)

Concerns over land sale in Alveston

11:24am Wednesday 1st September 2010 in

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MORE than 30 people turned out for a meeting on plans to sell land in Alveston.

It was announced earlier this summer that South Gloucestershire Council intends to sell part of the Lodge Farm Estate.

Lodge Farm, which straddles the M5 off Church Road, has been owned by South Gloucestershire Council for many years.

The authority has in the past rented the land to farmers, but according to the council the 95 acres is no longer financially viable to be used as a farm.

South Gloucestershire Council is now considering a number of options for the land, which could help raise the funds needed to improve local services.

The authority is hoping to get at least £190,000 from the sale of Lodge Farm to pay for the refurbishment of changing rooms at Thornbury Leisure Centre.

The four options include, selling all of the land for agricultural use investing the proceeds into local services, selling just some of the land and keeping the rest for community use such as allotments, or alternatively using the remaining land for a wind farm, the council is also considering a combination of all of the proposals.

However, at the public meeting held in Thornbury last Wednesday, August 25 local people said they were concerned about the suggestion of a wind farm.

Speaking after the meeting Dave Watson, a local resident, said: "We are totally against wind farms. We’ve already got a wind farm going up in Earthcott Green, there’s plans for one at Gaunt’s Earthcott. The whole vale of Earthcott is being turned into a massive wind farm."

Residents at the meeting also said they were concerned about the lack of clarity in the council’s suggestion the site could be used as a site for renewable energy.

"They talk about wind farms but in the options it just mentions renewable, and that could mean anything," said Mr Watson.

A South Gloucestershire Council spokesperson said: “The council is committed to seeking the views of residents on the proposed options, and the ongoing consultation is evidence of this. The council has been clear that the renewable energy option is a wind one, for example in consultation documents, on the website, in the media briefing and in the press release. But this is just one of several options being consulted on, and the closing date for comments is September 27.”

For more information on the Lodge Farm consultation visit, www.southglos.gov.uk