Greenbelt protected from development after 10-year fight
Campaigners have won village green status for a beauty spot which protects in from being built on.
A stretch of greenbelt land is now protected from development following a decade-long legal campaign. The Coney Banks, Daisy Banks, Barnfield and an area of ancient woodland linking the Luton and Wayfield areas of Chatham have been officially granted village green status.
It means the land – used by many football teams, majorettes and featuring play areas – cannot be built on or developed under powers granted by Medway Council. The fight was launched in 2010 by Viv Parker, who says she hopes the land will continue to be used for valued recreation activities and for outdoor education by many of the area’s schools particularly Luton Infants and Juniors which is located at the most northern edge of the site.
Viv, a campaigner for the Medway Liberal Democrats, said: “I’m pleased because I feel it’s social justice. Luton and Wayfield is one of the poorest wards in Medway so for them to have this wonderful open space on their doorstep in perpetuity, I think that’s just great.
“People in less well off areas need open space to relate to nature.
“I’m hoping the school will make good use of the site. It has scope for outdoor classrooms and scope for recreation.
“People have picnics there and when I was doing the homework for the application, I found the majorettes use it and a local football school.
“To me that’s really valuable to an area like Luton and Wayfield.”
Parts of the Coney Banks were under threat from development about 10 years ago when health bosses intended to build a new health centre off Lawn Close by the Luton Millennium Green.
But issues relating to the proposals were raised and a backlash from residents meant the building never went ahead. So to prevent the possibility of any other plans being brought forward for the area – which also includes the Bishop’s Hoath Wood – Viv and fellow residents started working on the village green application.
Downland meadows feature prominently across the more than 30 hectare site and are full of wild flowers including orchids.
The new village green, registered on May 25, is also home to 29 different butterfly species, glow worms, crickets and less common birds such as linnets, whitethroats, tawny owls and sparrowhawks.
Kent Wildlife Trust and residents are now set to maintain the area including introducing livestock grazing across the land to maintain the level of scrubland. A network of footpaths are also set to be installed.
Viv added: “I started work on it and an awful lot of people in Luton helped – you have to show 10% is actively using the site. Once you put the application in it acts as a preservation order and nothing can happen until it’s disposed of.
“It was well valued by the local people and the school. My concern was they would suffer if it was lost.
“We will protect it for wildlife and keep public access to the site. It’s very exciting. “A village green is all about public access.”
Jan Guyler, head of legal services, licensing, local land charges and information governance at Medway Council, said: “A village green is usually land used by the local community for sports and pastimes for at least 20 years.
“There is no general right of public access over village greens as this is reserved for the use of local residents.”