Residents of a north Cumbrian town are celebrating after a developer agreed to pause the proposed sale of an area of well-used land.
The land, next to Town Foot Park in Brampton, was put on the market for £60,000.
It was first put up for sale last year and people raised concerns as the land was the subject of a legal agreement to be set aside for a playing area for children’s ball games, was first put up for sale last year.
They got Carlisle MP Julie Minns involved and Persimmon Homes Lancashire agreed to pause the sale.
However, retired solicitor Simon Henderson, of Town Foot Park, noticed last month that it was back on the market.
He said the legal agreement dated back to 1990 and he had been told that it was never enacted.
He said: “Now it appears that what happened was, probably because the original developer went into liquidation, that doing a section 106 agreement to adopt the land by the council at the time, Carlisle City Council, wasn’t followed through and it was never adopted.”
It is understood that the land has been maintained over the years and Mr Henderson said: “We’ve asked the parish council to do an application under the 2011 localism act to have the land registered with Cumberland Council, so we’re notified with any proceeding sales.”
Mr Henderson said that, after they noticed it was back on the market, they once again contacted their MP who asked why they had gone against the agreement to pause the sale and he added: “And we’re awaiting a reply to that and there the matter stands at the moment.”
He said that the original legal agreement should be enacted and the land should be transferred to the ownership on Cumberland Council for a peppercorn rent.
Mr Henderson added: “It’d be a simple task to do. The council know all about the land so they wouldn’t need to do any searches. All they need to do is see the title information document proving ownership and draw up a transfer deed and register it. No, you could do that in a week if you have the willpower to do it.
His neighbour David Ambridge, a retired project manager, said that the land was described as ‘a valuable infill plot’ when it was put up for sale and he added: “That’s just absolutely not so. You know, it’s current use is public space and that’s what it’s down on plans and nobody’s ever said it’s anything other than the public space and the children’s playing area.”
He said it was not suitable for development because Brampton Beck was nearby and he added: “It’s also criss-crossed by public footpaths or public rights of way.”
And fellow neighbour Colin Lurhs, a former apprenticeship manager, said the area was well used and he added: “It’s used mainly for access to the public footpath.
“So, we have dog walkers and people going into Brampton walk across it. At weekends, we often have children playing on the field and it’s been like that. We’ve been here 30 years and it’s been like that all that time.”
He said it should be left as it is so that the public could access it and it should not be on the market. He added: “It should be transferred over to the council or the parish council or some local authority so you can guarantee that that’s how it will remain.”
A Persimmon Homes Lancashire spokesman said: “We appreciate that this land is important to local residents and understand the concerns that have been raised regarding its future.
“We have therefore taken the decision to pause the current marketing process while we undertake a further review of the site and consider a way forward.
“Our aim is always to work constructively with the local community and local stakeholders as we look to ensure we leave a positive legacy across Cumbria.”
