IN A bid to save Fox’s Field from possible development local resident Lindsay Birch has applied to have the eight acres of land next to Tonedale Mill legally registered as a ‘village or town green’ under the Commons Act 2006.

“Having seen a popular field which I use regularly for walking come up for sale, with the phrase ‘long term hope value’ being used in its description –  I, like many others, was alarmed at what might happen in the future,” said Lindsay, a graphic designer who lives near Fox’s field.

“I wanted to find a way to try and save this much-loved field from being built on, so I have applied to Somerset County Council, the statutory authority, to have the field given ‘Town Green’ status, which will protect it from any future development.”

Land can become a village green if it has been used for 20 years without force, secrecy or request  and village green legislation is often used to try to frustrate development. Recent UK court cases make it clear that registration as a green would make any development which prevented continuing public use of the green a criminal offence.