I am delighted to report that the Council's Licensing Committee has today agreed that the Westhill Playing Fields should be granted Village Green status, which will help protect them from development. This success is largely due to the hard work and commitment of local residents who formed the Friends of Westhill Playing Fields and have been campaigning for Village Green status.
Today's decision by the Licensing Committee followed a public inquiry last year by a Planning Inspector that recommended the granting of Village Green status. If you are interested in the full background, you might like to download and read the report considered by the Licensing Committee (including the Planning Inspector's report) (pdf, 2.62MB).
Village Green status gives legal protection from development that is unrelated to its use as a village green. A green is any land on which a significant number of inhabitants of any area have indulged in lawful sports and pastimes as of right for at least 20 years.
For those who aren't familiar with the site, it is located off Westhill Close behind houses on Lodge Hill Road, Gibbins Road and Weoley Park Road next to St Marys Church. The land was threatened with development and a planning application (Number 2008/02599/PA, later withdrawn) was submitted in 2008 to build about 70 houses on the site.
Links:
City's first village green secured in Selly Oak - Birmingham News - News - Birmingham Mail
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