Woodlands are pulled from public auction
THIRTY-FIVE acres of publicly-owned woodlands were dramatically removed at the 11th hour from an auction, after a community bid to stop them going under the hammer.
Several sites across the Valley had been due to be sold by Lancashire County Council on December 3 at a combined guide price of £150,000, but they have been given a stay of execution after a bid was launched to declare the woods as assets of community value.
Last week Crawshawbooth Community Association held a meeting with residents about the controversial plans in a bid to explore the community ownership option.
A spokesperson for Lancashire County Council told the Free Press: “These lots have been withdrawn from the auction, due to community interest which was not forthcoming when we advertised the sale in September, but has come to light since we put them forward for sale.
“No decision about their future will be made until this community interest has been explored.”
Confirming the decision, The Village Centre, in Crawshawbooth, posted details of the Community Right to Bid legislation on its Facebook page on Monday.
It said: “All the woods withdrawn from tomorrow’s auction following our bid to register them as community assets.
“Now for some more hard work! The form, in the name of Crawshawbooth Community Association, was completed over the weekend and included the very helpful evidence of use from residents.
“It was submitted to Rossendale Council who turned it round extremely quickly and informed the County Council, as landowners, that it had been accepted for consideration for Registration.
“LCC then equally responded quickly and told RBC all the lots had been withdrawn from the auction. Officers of both authorities responded speedily on this.
“We need to work with both bodies to find a satisfactory permanent solution.”
The sites that were at risk were Greenfold Tree Planting Site, Sunny Bank Woodland and Bottomley Tree Planting Site in Crawshawbooth, Horncliffe Quarry Woodlands in Rawtenstall, Scar End Hey Tree Planting Site in Weir and Crow Wood in Edenfield.
A follow-up meeting about the woods will be held at The Village Centre, on Adelaide Street, Crawshawbooth, at 7pm on Tuesday, December 10.