Neighbours are furious
Fencing has been erected off Canberra Crescent, in Meir Park
Land at the centre of a council row has been fenced off. Workers started erecting the fencing around the land off Canberra Crescent, in Meir Park, late last week.
Blue barrels have also appeared on the 1.13-acre site. It comes 17 months after Staffordshire Police were called in when trees were suddenly felled on the site.
An application to try to register the land as a village green remains subject to an ongoing public consultation. The deadline for submissions is Monday 16 February.
Meir Park Residents’ Association member Alison Dhatt said: “We have had a bunch of workmen turn up to start erecting fences. The land has remained open to residents since the tree felling. Residents are concerned that we are now being prevented from accessing the land. Blue barrels were brought onto the land which we were told contained water but have had a fenced cage around them which seems strange.”
Ward councillor and village green applicant Abi Brown is seeking answers from Stoke-on-Trent City Council following the latest developments. It appears that no planning application can be lodged until the outcome of the village green application is known.
Residents say the land has been used by a significant number of the local community for sports and recreation for more than 20 years and continues to be so.
Mrs Brown said: “I know how upsetting it will have been to see the fencing go up, especially knowing we are just a couple of weeks from knowing what next with our village green application. The landowner is well aware of the application.”
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