9:00am Sunday 21st March 2010
By Diana Henderson
PLANNING Sanity has accused Poole council of misleading residents over town green applications.
The Campaign for Planning Sanity, which is representing residents over the Branksome Rec and the Baiter applications, has hit out after the head of leisure services explained why he was opposing the rec application on council-owned land.
A formal letter of complaint has been submitted to Borough of Poole by the national organisation’s director Chris Maile, citing “errors of law and fact”.
“There is clearly considerable misunderstanding of the effects and impacts of land being registered as a village green by officers of the borough,” said Mr Maile.
Clive Smith, head of leisure, told the Daily Echo he was opposing the application by Branksome residents for the 17-acre open space after taking legal advice.
He said a town green designation would restrict activities and improvements and curtail events such as organised football and the circus that regularly visits.
However Mr Maile said land registered as a town green does not have its previous usage curtailed. “While a landowner cannot develop the land for commercial purposes, small scale developments that are for the benefit of those using the land are permitted, such as new play or sports equipment,” he said.
“Similarly the use of recreation grounds by formal clubs for things such as football or cricket would continue as they always have,” he added.
But the circus would probably not be allowed he said, and disputed the possible £50,000 cost saying the average cost of a local inquiry to the council was closer to £15,000.
Borough of Poole strategic director Andrew Flockhart said: “We have received Mr Maile’s letter and will respond to the points raised in due course.”
*A total of four objections have been received to the application and these have been passed to the applicant, Branksome Rec Action Group.
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