Residents rally to protect cherished green space

PEOPLE for Packsaddle (PfP), a community action group opposed to the development of fields north of Packsaddle Way, have recently applied for an Asset of Community Value (ACV) status for the area which could see the fields come into community ownership in the future.

Somerset County Council, who have owned the land since 1973, announced in March of last year that they are selling the land off and entering into an agreement with the housing association LiveWest to deliver up to 90 new homes in the area. An application is expected this year.

But the PfP group are opposed to this and have applied for the ACV status so the land retained for community use.

According to the government, the ACV process was introduced to ‘give communities a right to identify a building or other land that they believe to be of importance to their community’s social well-being. The aim is that, if the asset comes up for sale, then they will be given a fair chance to make a bid to buy it on the open market.’

The PfP group recently met to discuss their future plans for the site at a meeting on Friday 13th January and over 100 statements have been submitted by local residents in support of the application.

Speaking to the Frome Times, Toby Culf from the steering group of PfP said, “I think Live West’s upcoming plans for the site have united local people behind our group; the ACV status is to make the community’s voice and our opposition official. We want the council to realise the importance that local people attach to the site – this isn’t a green wasteland waiting to be built upon, it is a cherished area of the community that brings people together in our shared use of the space.

“It is my understanding that ACV status would give us eligibility to compete for the land and it would allow us to be in conversation with what happens to the space. We would first of all need to come up with a bid that would be accepted by the council.

“The issue we may find is that the council may prefer Live West’s upcoming plans as there is a lot of money to be made through housing, but we are trying to argue the point that these fields are actually priceless in terms of what they provide for the local people, climate, conservation, and community.

“It will be interesting to see whether the council listens to local people or whether they instead try and squeeze every last drop of profit out of that site.

“Our PfP focus group is currently looking at the future of the site should we be in a position where we can take it on. We could simply leave the area as it is, but we could also be in a position where we could make the space better with the three words, climate, conservation, and community in mind.

“As part of the application we have spoken to members of the local community to ask why the space is important to them and the responses have been wonderful to read. We’ve now had responses from over 100 people explaining how and why they’ve used the space over time and how it improves their mental and physical health. So many have said it forms a strong part of their children’s education and social awareness, as well as being a social place where people can come together – it forms part of people’s daily routine, and it has so many uses. I just feel that accepting a housing development would be failing the area that has so much potential.”

To stay up to date with PfP, follow the People for Packsaddle Facebook page. You can still submit ideas to future@peopleforpacksaddle.org