I notice that around here also there is a call for information.
In this case they want the general public to look for underused land even
if they do not own it that could be used for development. In theory this
could for example be our long gardens of course, and I think its the thin
end of the wedge acting like this.If they have now got new powers to get
land sold no mater who has it or what is on it I can see trouble ahead big
time.
Brian

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This newsgroup posting comes to you directly from...
The Sofa of Brian Gaff...

Blind user, so no pictures please!
"Bill" wrote in message
...
Today I joined a protest about the sale of some public land by the local
council. I was wondering if anyone here can point me to a simple to
understand precis of the current planning or legal situation.

In this particular case, my understanding of the current position is that
the land was covenanted to the local community by someone with the
condition that it should remain open space. Any covenant documents appear
to have been lost.
This was raised in the past when the council first proposed the sale, and
the council took legal advice and backed down.

They have now re-advertised the land for auction. A councillor attended
the protest and said that the situation was now different because the
council has advice that it is a different body from "the community" and so
can just decide to sell any public land. He also said that recent changes
in planning law appear to have resulted in a situation whereby a council
can take any piece of public land and sell it.

There are other areas close by which have similar covenants, so this is
almost certainly the soft target for the thin end of the wedge.

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Bill