Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Definitive Map Team Manager.

The Committee considered a report from the Definitive Map Team Manager for an application to amend the Register of Town and Village Greens by the addition of an area of land known as Stony Down Plantation, a drawing of which was attached at Appendix 1 of the report.

Members were given details of the background of the application and were shown a number of slides from various points of the application site.  An application had been made in November 2015 for a Definitive Map Modification Order to add sixteen bridleways across Stony Down
Plantation. The Modification Order application was under separate consideration, under Officer Delegation, but relevant to the Village Green application as it would affect the same area of land and both applications were supported by evidence of public use.

The Definitive Map Team Manager explained that there was insufficient qualifying evidence of use to satisfy the legal test that needed to be met in order to recommend the application for approval and it was therefore recommended for refusal.

Oral representation was received from Ms Carol Evans on behalf of the landowner in support of the recommendation to refuse the application.

In response to member questions the Definitive Map Team Manager advised that there was no specific number to qualify significant use of the land and each application should be determined on it’s own merits.  Representations received from those using the land claimed they used the whole area and not just the bridle paths. 

The Committee members were in agreement with the Officer’s recommendation that there was not enough evidence to meet the legal tests
required for the successful registration of a town or village green.

Proposed by Cllr Belinda Ridout, seconded by Cllr Shane Bartlett.

Decision:

That the application VG1/2016 to register land at Stony Down Plantation as Town or Village Green at Corfe Mullen was rejected

and
The Register of Town and Village Greens should not be updated