Following the Parish Council’s unsuccessful attempt to have Gollop's Ground designated a Village Green, the Chair and Vice Chair and two other residents met with the landowners on Friday 3rd September in Gollop's Ground.
The landowners rejected the Parish Council's proposal to lease or purchase the field for the continued use of the community.
The Parish Councillors argued vigorously for the reinstatement of the amenities that have been enjoyed by the village for many generations but the landowners were equally adamant that Gollop's Ground was now to be used for their personal use going forward and that it made no sense to them to split up their demesne.
The landowners are fully aware of the depth of feeling in the village as it loses its accustomed access to the river but asserted unequivocally that access to the water itself was out of the question both as the usual access location at the bend in the river would spoil their enjoyment of the field, and might open them to liability for accidents that unrestricted access could incur.
A working group consisting of a number of parishioners under the auspices of the Parish Council will gather the reactions of the wider community to a compromise river access plan promised to be put forward by the landowners.
If you have any contributions you wish to make to the working group, then please use the Parish Council website to contact the Parish Clerk.
Please also see these news articles and documents: