Village green refused after 'torturous' dispute

Residents hoped to protect land at Southwick Court Fields

Residents and a councillor have vowed to keep fighting after a piece of land was turned down for village green status.

Wiltshire Council refused to grant Southwick Court Fields, near Trowbridge, the special status following a dispute, which one councillor described as "torturous" for locals.

The land has been a contentious subject in numerous planning meetings after it was marked for 180 homes.

At the latest meeting, Wiltshire Council's western area planning committee resolved to refuse the village green status, which would have prevented the houses being built.

Councillor David Vigar said he and residents could seek their own legal advice for a potential judicial review, and added the dispute had been "torturous" for the community, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

Councillor David Vigar says the decision has 'massive consequences for the residents of Trowbridge Grove'

Speaking at the meeting on December 4, councillor Vigar said: "If I was able to do it [take legal action], within the code of conduct, affordably, then I would be prepared to consider doing that because I think so much injustice has been done to the residents here."

He claimed the application for a housing estate was accepted "when it should have been blocked pending the outcome of the village green enquiry".

The decision to initially reject the village green application was made due to the land's inclusion in a draft housing plan, something which, in planning law, is referred to as a trigger event.

However, a report later revealed that this decision to reject it was flawed.

Although Mr Vigar previously said he did not "blame" anyone for the mistake, he maintained that it had "massive consequences of for the residents of Trowbridge Grove".

David Richardson, representing Waddeton Park, which works to secures planning permission on behalf of landowners, argued that the decision made by the council should stand.

"You must determine the application as it is before you now, taking into account the inspector's recommendation report and the legal advice you've received," he said.

The government say village greens can be used for sports and recreation, for example playing football or walking your dog, and village green status prevents development taking place on the land.