Shropshire villagers fighting for 'last remaining open space' hit out at 'cynical' diocese and launch petition
Residents embroiled in a row over their village green have hit out at the “cynical” church district which owns the land - and have launched a petition to save it from development.
Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
The Glebelands in Bayston Hill, Shrewsbury, is subject of a planning tug-of-war, with landowners the Diocese of Lichfield keen to sell it for redevelopment, despite villagers' desperation for it to remain as green open space for the community.
The diocese recently fenced off the land, to the “horror” of residents, and a spokesman for its board of finance told the Shropshire Star it was “forced” to do so to protect its interests after two unspecified “events”.
The church district also suggested it was done due to Bayston Hill Parish Council not being prepared to renew the lease on the land, a claim which the authority refutes.
“Any suggestion that Bayston Hill Parish Council is responsible for the Glebelands being fenced off by the diocese because they were not prepared to renew the lease is incorrect,” a spokeswoman for the authority said.
The land was subject of a planning application last year, which was withdrawn within a couple of months after a groundswell of opposition from villagers.
The area being fenced off earlier this month sparked fears among the community that a fresh planning application may be on the horizon.
Resident Teri Trickett said: “The responses from the diocese are just a cynical attempt to deflect attention away from themselves.
