Village green plan for school site refused

CAMPAIGNERS HAVE lost their long-running bid to register land next to an expanding primary school as a village green and save it for community use.

A public inquiry has ruled against members of the Friends of Gledhow Field group who have been fighting since 2015 to keep the land in north Leeds open to the public after Gledhow Primary School fenced it off in preparation for its expansion.

In a report, Planning Inspector Alun Alesbury found that while residents showed their neighbourhood had used the land for recreation over the last 10 years, he was not satisfied this had taken place over 20 years – the statutory time limit for village green status.

The applicant, resident Paul Sellars, was one of 16 residents who spoke at the five-day inquiry.

He said: “I’m sad obviously, for the community who won’t be able to use the field. That’s the main thing. It seems such a shame. People are naturally disappointed – it’s a very important part of the community.”

Planning chiefs at Leeds City Council made the decision to go to a public inquiry after admitting it had a “conflict of interests” as landowner, local education authority and Commons Registration Authority, which registers village greens.

Gledhow Primary School had said the land was needed to provide a playground after its 2016 expansion to a three-form entry. Both Leeds City Council and the school’s governing body were objectors at the planning inquiry.

A Leeds City Council spokesperson said the case was referred to the independent planning inspector for a “transparent and impartial” decision.

It added they will now “reflect upon the decision and look at working with the school and the local community moving forward”.

Minju Kang is pictured in a forthcoming production of The Three Musketeers which is part of the Leedsbased Northern Ballet’s autumn programme. Other productions include The Nutcracker and a new children’s ballet, Puss in Boots.

Said it was a victory for the hard-working staff at the NHS trust.