2nd February 2012

WEYMOUTH: Fight over Town Green status goes back to Appeal Court

NEXT Monday (February 6th) sees a major fight over the future of a large open area in Weymouth taken to the Appeal Court.

Markham and Little Francis was awarded Town Green status in 2000 but ten weeks ago developer Betterment Properties, which now owns the land, successfully argued at the High Court that that status should be removed.

The Society for the Protection of Markham and Little Francis won the right to contest this decision without facing punitive damages.

That challenge is due to start at the Appeal Court on February 6th and five days of court time has been booked for the hearing.

Society chairman Gill Taylor said: “We are being heard with another Town Green - Clayton Fields in Huddersfield - who lost their High Court case last year and are appealing on very similar grounds to us.

“One of the important aspects that will affect us is whether it is right to deregister a Town Green when it has been registered for so long.

“People make decisions based on there being a registered Town Green in the vicinity, this is particularly true for people who have purchased houses since the registration in 2001.

“The Open Spaces Society are continuing to back us as this is becoming such a wide issue for, if we lose, it will threaten all of the Town and Village Greens registered under the 1965 Act, encouraging owners or purchasers of greens to seek deregistration for financial gain.

“‘I would like to thank all of the local residents and organisations who have supported us to enable the society to take the case to the Appeal Court.

“ I find it very inspiring that the community has come together to defend and maintain their rights against the odds.

“Their support gives us a clear indication that the Town Green is very much valued and that the local people want it to stay as an area for people to enjoy in natural surroundings. We continue to raise funds and very much welcome any donations, large or small.”

WEYMOUTH: Fight over Town Green status goes back to Appeal Court

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