Save Public Green Recreational Playing field Higher Downs Longridge

KROW AGM 3pm Sunday 30th September 2018 on the playing field bring a chair.

Portfolio Holder decision making in public 2.30pm Friday October 5th 2018 at Cheshire East Council offices Westfields Sandbach.

CEC have not provided in their papers any evidence that they have attempted to discharge the covenant - stating only that 'external' legal advice was accepted.

CEC owns both the blue and green land so choosing to offer the blue avoids paying any monies to the beneficiaries. This could be a large total sum of money £million and is seemingly a key factor in why the blue land is needed.

KROW have made representation to our local ward Councillors Dean & Gardiner asking for support and outlining reasons why CEC need to consider the risk to their reputation. We have asked the Portfolio holder Cllr Arnold for a face to face meeting to discuss the issues and options papers. We have asked the Leader Cllr Bailey to back us in that meeting request. We have asked the Report writer to clarify what exactly is the decision he is asking the portfolio holder to make as prior disposal is not the best way to minimise the loss or secure adequate replacement as intended in planning policies. We are drafting a detailed response to the matters raised in the papers.

PLease do your thing and send a quick email.

Look here for the decision papers provided for consultation and to the Portfolio Holder Cllr Ainsley Arnold.

Portfolio Holder papers to dispose of the blue AND green land is online
http://moderngov.cheshireeast.gov.uk/ecminutes/mgIssueHistoryHome.aspx?IId=48369&Opt=0

Cheshire East Council clearly don't want to listen.
Please email [email protected] by August 13 (Mon) cc deborah jamison@hotmail com (insert full stops)
Ref Land at North Downs Longridge Knutsford
with a short statement saying that you are still opposed to any disposal of the 'blue land' playing field. The grounds have still not been fully justified and should they do so advice says that land for a road should be negotiated via the planning application process not disposal.

The Council are continuing to understate the loss and overstate the replacement, which is in any case subject to planning.

The Council are using their endeavors to assist a landowner to develop land and are refusing to negotiate with beneficiaries of the covenant to seek a discharge.

http://www.knutsfordguardian.co.uk/news/16073904.knutsford-town-council-calls-for-support-for-asset-of-community-value-bid/?ref=mr&lp=3

Monday 5th March. 7pm. Knutsford Town Council full Council meeting.
Agenda
1 To receive apologies for absence
2 To receive declarations of members’ interests
3 Public Participation
A period not exceeding 10 minutes for members of the public to ask questions or submit comments. (DJamison on behalf of KROW)
10 To receive reports from Cheshire East Councillors
11 To consider matters related to the potential sale of Open Space land at Longridge/Higher Downs by Cheshire East Council

Knutsford Town Council have had a meeting with Cheshire East Council to find out what they thought of our comments objecting to the disposal of the land and what progress they have made examining the covenant. KROW has met with Emery Planning at a Neighbourhood planning working group meeting. Who can come along to Knutsford Town Council on Monday evening to hear the latest news? What have our - paid - Cheshire East Knutsford Councillors been doing?

I know it seems mad sending a reminder out about Sunday afternoon! KROW have organised an event to join in with the Tidy Britain #GBSpringClean campaign. It would be great to pick the litter out of the hedgerows but it is more important that we are seen in numbers using the land so we can save it from being built on. Whatever the weather I will be there to answer questions about what the latest news is from Cheshire East re the notice of selling the land. I might be in the bus shelter!!!

160 letters of objection to the sale/ disposal delivered to Cheshire East Council (CEC) in December. Extended consultation deadline 19th January. We are waiting to hear from CEC re their next move.
Save this date
Our next community event and update will be on Sunday 4th March 3-4pm. A #GBspringclean to gossip and gather litter.

Please write a LETTER to object to the sale of the playing field land. Referred to by Cheshire East as "land edged in blue". This land was not mentioned during consultation on the Local plan and is not needed for access to new housing. More information on the Cheshire East Council website.
http://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/council_and_democracy/council_information/public_notices/open-space-disposal/land-at-longridge-knutsford.aspx

KROW Knutsford Residents in Over Ward
Aiming for transparency in matters that affect Over Ward
Our first campaign is to protect the public green recreational open space with playing field that is still in the green belt despite the Cheshire East Council Local Plan allocating neighbouring private owned land for housing. We also want to see new and improved open space to cope with the extra demand created by the future residents in the new houses. Plus the Council must honour its stated commitments to minimise the impact on the wildlife environment and contribute to other much needed community facilities.

KROW will be playing out on the fields on Sunday afternoon (15th October) from 3pm. Come and join us and get the latest news.

Buy the Knutsford Guardian to find out what happened on Tuesday at Cheshire East Council Cabinet.

Tuesday 10th October we are attending the Cheshire East Cabinet meeting to present this petition. Join us at 1.45pm outside the offices in Sandbach. Check the cabinet agenda papers, the report by Frank Jordan reveals what we suspected all along - CEC want a capital receipt from the sale of land in Knutsford. No wonder it was a secret , now its out in the open will the Leader do the decent thing and postpone any decisions until the history of Engine of the North's involvement is examined. GIve the public a fair chance to communicate.

Looking forward to the Town Council meeting on Monday 18th September to get their full support in our discussions with Cheshire East Council. We will be presenting our paper signatures from our door to door collection. Hot press - the Knutsford Residents in Over Ward group - KROW has been formed. Meeting in the Legh Arms after the Council meeting.