Residents' campaign to save green fails

South Gloucestershire Council’s Public Rights of Way Committee has turned down a claim that land on Cambrian Drive, Yate, should be given official village green status.

The decision, announced on Thursday, August 14, came as a crashing defeat for a group of residents who had campaigned for the application.

Barry Banwell, a Cambrian Drive resident and member of the Cambrian Drive Action Committee, said: "We are disappointed. There is no way forward, we have to be gracious in our defeat and accept the decision."

The residents called for the public inquiry to investigate whether the land could become an official village green after a housing association won permission to build 70 homes and a day centre for elderly people on it.

To win their case the Cambrian Drive Action Group had to prove the land had been used by residents for more than 20 years.

"We demonstrated, and the council conceeded, that the community had lawfully used the land for past times for more than 20 years but that wasn’t enough, there were other technical reasons we needed to comply with.

"We apparently needed to comply with six test items but we failed on one and therefore the application failed at the last hurdle," said Mr Banwell.

A spokesman for South Gloucestershire Council said: "The land at Cambrian Drive was owned by the council when it was handed over to the authority by Heron Homes for the express purpose of development for older people and a Cabinet decision to sell the site was agreed in 2006.

"Extra care housing is a corporate priority, which has the support of all three parties on South Gloucestershire Council.

"Development of the site will allow older people the independence of owning their own property, whilst living in a secure and supported environment. It is designed to provide easy access and high quality apartments in the heart of the community. The care services and facilities available on site will also be available to people living in the surrounding area."