Good News 

Help for Residents to Protect Green Spaces 

Dear residents,

Over the past few months, we have regularly seen community green spaces for sale. Luckily, we were able to save these green spaces, which was not always easy.

Our joker card has been to feature the ‘adopted highway’ restrictions into auction house selling packs, hoping it will put off any potential buyers. So far, we have been fortunate, but I cannot guarantee that will always be the case.

The stress caused and work created when these plots go up for sale is off the scale. I therefore have been liaising with Surrey & Spelthorne to find a solution for residents to help protect the community used green space.

Thankfully we have made some progress. Spelthorne have found a route to offer initial protection for residents which would be to make an application for the space to be registered as an ‘Asset of Community Value’. Neighbourhood forums, community interest groups or unincorporated groups with at least 21 locally connected members can make a nomination. The benefit to a community of having an asset listed on the ACV register is that if the asset is put up for sale, a procedure needs to follow to ensure that community groups have a fair chance to submit bids to the owner. The nomination for an ACV will need to include supporting evidence that the current use of the space furthers the social wellbeing of the local community and it is realistic to think that this use will continue.

Whilst I know this does not offer the long-term protection residents are looking for it’s the start we were looking for. If the residents’ ACV nomination is successful a restriction will be placed on the owner’s title and the green space may be listed on the Council’s ACV register for up to 5 years. During this period of 5 years, if the owner decides to sell, they must inform the Council of its intention to do so. The community then has up to 6 weeks to express an interest in becoming potential bidders to buy the space. Once an expression of interest has been received, a further 4 and a half months pause in the sale is triggered. This gives potential bidders a total of 6 months to raise the funds required to purchase the space. At the end of the period, the owner may sell it to whoever they choose.

After what took place on Bingley Road, we never want to be in that situation again. The residents there were put through a month of intimidation because of nothing being in place.

The ACV is a potential route to ensure residents are informed of a future sale and it may put buyers off when they see it listed on the Council’s ACV register.

I attach a copy of the Council’s procedures and the application form.
 

Regards,

Harry Boparai
(Surrey County and Spelthorne Borough Councillor)

Link to the online form which can be accessed via the Spelthorne Borough Council Self Service Portal (login required).