Residents fight to save one of town’s last green spaces
RESIDENTS living near one of Clevedon’s “last remaining green spaces” have launched a fight to prevent it from being built on.
North Somerset Council has included the land at Churchill Avenue, known as Penny Fields, in its site allocation plan.
The authority wants to build homes, which it says will be affordable, on the land. It is now running a consultation on development plans for sites across the district it owns.
Local people have launched a petition to try to halt any development, which so far has attracted more than 200 signatures.
Resident Lorraine Robinson, who has lived at nearby Kingsley Road since she was a child, launched the petition after learning about the plans.
Lorraine, a 67-year-old grandmother of two, said: “The council seems intent on taking every piece of green space in Clevedon for development. It has already taken Brookfield Walk and now Penny Fields.
“There are hardly any open spaces left in Clevedon and this is well used, especially by local children. As a child I used to play there and during the war I believe that local people used to grow vegetables there.
“I am urging everyone who cares about protecting Penny Fields to sign the petition.”
Resident Jodie Willett also had concern about the plans and said: “I live in one of the flats and we go out on the field all the time, do barbecues and play games with the kids and people use it for dog walking. We will have nowhere to go soon. It’s not fair.”
Town councillors have also raised their concerns about the future of the open space.
Cllr Graham Hill, chairman of Clevedon Town Council planning committee, said: “This is one of the last remaining green spaces in Clevedon.
“People need to fight this all the way. I am however concerned that North Somerset will take no notice of objections and go ahead anyway, like they have with the seafront plans.”
Residents have also raised questions about whether North Somerset actually owns the site – and say it was purchased by the people of Clevedon.
It is understood that Penny Fields got its name after the Urban District Council of Clevedon bought the land for £275 in 1930 – a purchase which was helped by public donations including from children who gave pennies to ensure it was kept as recreational ground.
North Somerset Council says it does own the site and it is registered to the authority.
A spokesman for the council said: “This land is legally owned by North Somerset Council and our ownership is registered with the Land Registry.
“There are no covenants on the land requiring it to be kept as open space. The site was allocated for residential development through the Site Allocations Plan process, which included public consultation and an independent enquiry in public led by the planning inspectorate.
“Residents can currently have their say on the future of this land at Churchill Avenue in Clevedon by taking part in North Somerset Council’s consultation on a development programme for land it owns.
“The site is proposed to be developed as 100 per cent affordable housing, also including improved river walks.”
People need to fight this all the way. I am concerned that North Somerset will take no notice of objections and go ahead anyway, like they have with the seafront plans
CLLR GRAHAM HILL