LAWS CALLS FOR ACTION ON HENHAYES RECREATION AND SPORTS FIELD IN CREWKERNE

David Laws, MP for Yeovil Constituency, has called for action to prevent the changing of Crewkerne’s Henhayes recreation and sports field to “Town Green” statue.

David is supporting for Crewkerne Town Council in its objection to Henhayes becoming a Town Green. Town Green status would have the effect of both preventing the building of new and much needed sports and community facilities (which have recently received full planning approval) and jeopardising the Town Council’s ability to support the activities permitted on Henhayes. It could also put at risk the playing of league fixtures at the facility.

 

David Laws MP said:

 

“The Town Council has successfully owned and managed Henhayes for the last 60 years, and it is entirely understandable that it wishes to protect this ownership and the existing activities, along with the plans for improved facilities for sports, young people and pre- and after-school clubs.

“The Town Council has quite understandably now been forced to take legal advice on the protection of this valuable community asset and has had to make provision for the cost of this advice – which is of course only necessary due to the submission of the Town Green application. I understand that the sum raised for the legal advice will be ring-fenced and credited against costs in future years if the Town Green application is withdrawn.

 

“I have written to the Secretary of State seeking an urgent review of the legislation governing Town Green applications. The impact upon the public purse is considerable. Whereas applicants can seek town green status at little or no cost to themselves, evidence across the country shows that local authorities need to incur significant expenditure as a result. Not only is there a charge on the local town precept if, as invariably happens, a town council objects but also there is a huge cost to the councils which act as the registration authorities. Often a public inquiry is part of the process – and the expenditure these involve is a real burden which, of course, ultimately is paid for by us all as taxpayers.

 

“Henhayes as we now know it has, I understand, been developed as a sports field through the hard work and diligent efforts of a large number of Crewkernians over many decades. It is better for the good of the whole community to leave things as they are. It would save so much money – which will otherwise be spent for absolutely no gain. I hope that those pursuing the Town Green application will think again.”