Campaigners prepare for defeat over village green

5:00pm Monday 1st December 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

CAMPAIGNERS hoping to protect an area of open space in Winterbourne are preparing for defeat.

People living near Hoopers Farm, in Watley End, had hoped to stop the land they use for dog walking and sports being fenced off following a two-year battle.

Residents fought tooth and nail to have the 26 acres of land registered as a village green to prevent The Ridings High School from erecting fencing as a barricade to the public.

But their battle looks set to be lost after an independent inspector recommended the application for village green status is turned down.

Council planners are set to agree with inspector Charles Mynors at a meeting of the authority’s public rights of way committee on Thursday.

Protestor and resident Tony Harding said he would be appealing for councillors’ support at the meeting.

He and fellow residents had argued that the green space was well-used by the local community for social events, sports and pastimes for the past 20 years.

Their calls for the land to be turned into a village green came after the school said it was putting up fences to ensure pupils’ safety.

Headteacher Dr Rob Gibson has offered a compromise by giving up two acres of the site for public use but he has been criticised by villagers for not meeting residents to discuss the issue.

Dr Gibson said: "I am pleased that the inspector has come to the right decision.

"I now await the public rights of way and commons registration committee decision on December 4."

See next week's Gazette for a report on the meeting.