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Future of Barn Meadow to be decided
LAND in Amersham Old Town which is used by youth and sports groups and was a potential site for a new community centre faces an uncertain future ahead of a decision on whether it will be officially registered as a 'village green'.
Amersham Town Council annouced it will fight against a bid to protect Barn Meadow from development by not voluntarily submitting it to become a 'green'.
A decision on the future of the land will be made by Buckinghamshire County Council next month and if the application succeeds, it could spell the end for the controversial Barn Meadow Project for good.
Amersham Town Council was forced to delay its plans for a multi-million pound centre in November 2008 due to the credit crunch. It had planned to incorporate a youth club, the town council offices, and changing facilities for sports teams at the site. At the time it remained hopeful that the project could go ahead in the future.
Mayor Martin Phillips told the Examiner: "If it were to happen (registration of a 'green') the whole place could be destroyed as a leisure environment and would just be used for dog walking. I don't think we could maintain it to its current standard on that basis." He added that he did not believe the residents would be successful.
He added that the Barn Meadow Project is regularly reviewed, but it will not go ahead within the next two years, despite the official end of the recession. He said: "It will not happen until the economy shows sustained growth. We have not been able to put anything in our savings budget for two years which means we have no plans to do anything until we are in a better finanical position."
The town council turned down the invitation over fears there could be a resitriction on activities allowed on the land and said the argument to volunteer the ground was 'flawed' after it had sought legal advice.
Town clerk Des Knowles said: "The legal advice on voluntary registration highlighted two significant facts. Firstly that the Pavilion could not be used for any activity not directly associated with the use of the 'green'. Whilst there is little relevant case law it is understood that the use of the Pavilion for private parties, pre-school groups, residents meetings or any other independent purpose could be prohibited."
He said councillors had been advised that it would become illegal to charge people who hired the sports pitches and the Pavilion. He added: "The current arrangements whereby organised sport such as football and cricket is played at Barn Meadow could therefore be jeopardised."
The county council's Rights of Way committee will make a final decision on whether the land becomes a 'town or village green' at its meeting on March 18.
What do you think should happen to Barn Meadow in the future? Leave a comment below.
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It is truly absurd that the council are opposing this motion. Have they not listened to the people of the town? They seem to only want this to proceed so that they can make money from it. Good luck to Thelma Le Maistre.
Michael Lord
Barn Meadow was sold to the local Council in 1932 as public recreation grounds, and as my hundred plus witness statements confirm, it has been used as such for as long as they can remember. Well over 20 years.
It is absurd to suggest "that it would just be used for dog walking".
A "Green" or Recreation area could include all the present activities.
We have bee unable to discover any legal precedent which would prohibit charging for the organized football or cricket, nor would it prohibit hire of the pavilion with use of the land.
The recreational space in Old Amersham is limited and it is our wish to preserve Barn Meadow, with its present activities, both organized and indulged in "as of right" for the pleasure of all for generations to come.
Barn Meadow was sold to the local Council in 1932 as public recreation grounds, and as my hundred plus witness statements confirm, it has been used as such for as long as they can remember. Well over 20 years.
It is absurd to suggest "that it would just be used for dog walking".
A "Green" or Recreation area could include all the present activities.
We have been unable to discover any legal precedent which would prohibit charging for the organized football or cricket, nor would it prohibit hire of the pavilion with use of the land.
The recreational space in Old Amersham is limited and it is our wish to preserve Barn Meadow, with its present activities, both organized and indulged in "as of right" for the pleasure of all for generations to come.