Matlock: Community group wins car park sale ruling

The community trust has organised protests to highlight the dispute over the land

Residents must be given the opportunity to buy a council car park and playing fields up for sale in a Derbyshire town, a ruling has found.

The county council wants to sell off a car park and playing fields in Cavendish Road, Matlock, for housing.

The Matlock Community Land Trust had the site designated an asset of community value, a decision now upheld by Derbyshire Dales District Council.

The county council now has 28 days to consider an appeal.

Many residents have, with permission, used the land for parking for decades

Closure of the site was linked to the county council moving staff out of its Chatsworth Hall offices, which take up a significant site on the corner of Chesterfield Road.

The community group is made up of residents who have used the car park, with permission, as residential parking for 30 or more years. 

In April the county council barricaded the entrance to the car park, along with installing fencing over the back garden gates of two homes which back on to the site.

This has led to a legal dispute over historic access rights.

The district council said in its original decision notice, seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, "there is a realistic chance that the site could continue to be used for social wellbeing or social interests of the local community".

The trust put forward rival plans for the site, including housing and allotments

This was challenged by the county council but now a district council review has found the process was "correct in recognising and acknowledging that both the social wellbeing and interests of the local community are furthered by the continued usage of the land as a car park".

But it also pointed out the designation does not give anyone the right of first refusal to any community groups and does not restrict whom the owner can sell their land to or at what price.

A Matlock Community Land Trust spokesman said: "This is a great victory for common sense and for the local community in Matlock. 

"At a time when local authority spending is stretched it was disappointing that DCC spent officers' time in challenging the decision of another local authority and putting DDDC to the time and expense of defending their decision."

A county council spokesperson said: "We are aware that the car park at Cavendish Road, Matlock, is listed as an asset of community value. 

"This means that should we wish to dispose of the land we would need to notify Derbyshire Dales District Council as the listing authority of our intention to do so. 

"This would enable a community interest group to have the opportunity to raise money to bid for the land."