New Town Green For Melksham

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May 24, 2012, 06:24:47 PM

Recommended service - hourly, according to the GWRUS. Let's work towards that service and towards ensuring all services are used.

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Residents living near a playing field in Melksham are claiming a victory for people power after their 18-month battle to have it declared a town green has finally been won (link below.)
http://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/latestheadlines/display.var.2167300.0.people_power_wins_open_space_fight.php

The park, in Dorset Crescent off Queensway, had been under the threat of development since a plan to build eight houses on it was submitted by West Wiltshire District Council back in 2006.

Neighbours rallied together to invoke a little-used tactic of getting it declared a town green, which protects the land from future development.

Members of the public can get open spaces registered as town or village greens regardless of who owns them as long as they can prove that the land has been used for recreation for the past 20 years.

Cllr Louise Smith, who lives in Dorset Crescent, spearheaded the campaign and ended up running for election for the town council last year as a direct consequence.

Melksham and Trowbridge look set to get town greens after decisions made by Wiltshire County Council on Wednesday (link below.)
http://www.wiltshiretimes.co.uk/news/latestheadlines/display.var.2219039.0.mixed_news_for_town_green_bids.php

At a meeting of the council's regulatory committee, land at the green in Blenheim Park, Bowerhill, near Melksham, was given official village green status.

Local people may now use the green for leisure and sporting pastimes without the threat of it being developed or sold on.

West Wiltshire District Council owned the parcel of land until 2001 and it is now part owned by housing developer Persimmon, who objected to the proposal without success.

A similar proposal for town green status to be bestowed on land in Beech Grove on the College estate in Trowbridge was also considered.

West Wiltshire District Council owns the land and objects to the proposal. It has employed a law firm from Bristol to oppose the case for the green, put together by local residents.

Locals maintain the area has been used as a site to play, stroll and pick blackberries, among other pursuits, since the 1960s.

Because of the legal tussle councillors voted to refer the application to an local independent inquiry in the coming months.

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