Agenda item

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A question was asked by Councillor A Bowling, Vice-Chairman of Londonthorpe and Harrowby Without Parish Council on behalf of the Parish Council in respect of the former Blessed Hugh More playing field site in Grantham and the Asset of Community Value that appears on South Kesteven District Council Asset of Community Value Register.

“Good afternoon, I would like to ask a question on behalf of the Parish Council and their parishioners around an Asset of Community Value that appears on SKDCs ACV Register. This is the former Blessed Hugh More playing field site. In the public notes in the January meeting there is a reference to building homes on this site and we understand a meeting has been held with ward councillors in February who had no idea until that point that some detailed work had been instigated.

Could the committee please explain why after years of work and financial investment by the Parish Council plus many hours of work by community volunteers there appears to be a plan to presumably remove the ACV status in 2025, remove the covenant, and take this valuable recreational area away from all the community? Could we see what is being planned and the details behind the plan?  

Thank You. “

The Cabinet Member for Housing thanked Mr Bowling for attending the meeting and responded to the question.  She gave a brief history of the land in question.  She said that the Ward Member had requested that another look at the site be undertaken and some plans drawn up.  When the basic plans were shown it was not what had been envisaged and due to the demographics of the area it was suggested that only 20 bungalows be built which mirrored the street next to the land and the rest be landscaped and a play park built.  The Cabinet Member for Housing was adamant that the site was not in the pipeline for development.  No feasibility work had been carried out or any costs looked at especially with the Asset of Community Value and the covenants on the site.  The meeting that had been held was with the Portfolio Holder at the time, the Director of Housing and the Ward Councillors.  The request had been made by the Ward Councillors but it was agreed that nothing would be pursued any further.

Mr Bowling expressed concern with the potential design and location of the scheme especially with the amount of work that had been put into the site by volunteers and that it appeared that work was being done that the Parish was unaware of.

The Cabinet Member for Housing reiterated that nothing was set in stone, no feasibility work had been done on the site, no proper plans had been drawn up and no proper consultation had been carried out.  Currently there were no plans to develop the site and until such time as any feasibility work was carried out to see if any kind of development was economically viable and proper consultation and plans drawn up nothing would be happening with the site.  Any development would have to have majority agreement between all the parties concerned and it was not in the pipeline to be developed.

The Chairman encouraged Mr Bowling to keep in contact with the Cabinet Member for Housing via email if he had any future concerns and he thanked Mr Bowling for attending the meeting.