Land at Argyll Rise, Belmont, won’t be registered as a town green

Herefordshire Council's regulatory committee has decided not to register land at Argyll Rise, Belmont, Hereford, as a town green.

The council is the registration authority for determining applications to register land as village or town greens and decision was taken at the meeting on committee's meeting on Tuesday, August 12.

When land is registered as a town or village green, the local community has a right to use it for all lawful sports and pastimes.

The landowner, Herefordshire Housing Limited, remains the legal owner but registration prevents any development of land that would interfere with recreational use.

A first application to register the land was received on February 6, 2006, and the only objection received was from Herefordshire Housing Limited.

In line with procedure followed by other registration authorities, the council held a non-statutory public inquiry conducted by a barrister to hear evidence from the applicants and Herefordshire Housing Limited.

The inspector recommended that the land should not be registered as a town green. Agreeing with the inspector's recommendation, the committee said that the application failed to pass the strict legal tests required to achieve town green status.

A second application to register the land as a town green was made by the same applicants on October 16, 2007 under the Commons Registration Act 2006 which will be progressed for a decision.