Stoke-on-Trent has joined Stafford Borough Council in marking a piece of heathland which spans the two local authorities as an asset of community value.

Residents living around Grindley Park in Meir mobilised quickly to try and protect the beauty spot when it was listed on an auction site.

Residents attempted to raised £200,000 to buy the land and Fulford Parish Council considered spending the same amount of money to keep developers off the land. Unfortunately for residents the land was taken off the market and sold before residents and the council had the opportunity to make an offer.

A group called 'Save The Green Meir South' submitted the application to Stoke-on-Trent City Council to register the land as an asset of community value on 30 August 2023. The group is made up of 23 individuals who live in the city.

Due to the geographical quirk of the land an application also needed to be made to Stafford Borough Council to protect the area in their administrative district. This was submitted on 11 September and was accepted on 19 September.

Residents living around the park quickly worked to protect the land when it was listed on an auction site (Google).

Planning officers at the city council have stated that the land is designated as 'public open land' and 'Green Belt'. The land has been deemed as undeliverable for development due to being green belt. 

In the application to the council the group states: "The land has been used for many decades as it helps social wellbeing and social interests of the local community.This includes recreational, sporting, wildlife, social interaction and engagement. The land is a sense of involvement with other people and their communities. The land has great social value."

The group additionally states that they will maintain the land using funds from community fundraising. They continue: " We as a community will collectively maintain the land. We will make sure the grass, trees and everything in the land will be kept in a brilliant condition. We as a group will be raising the funds through our community group and fundraising events."

As a result of the land now being an asset of community value the local community will be informed if the last is listed for sale within the five year period. Additionally the community can be given six months to see if they can raise the funds to purchase the land.

READ MORE: Three residential roads in Stoke-on-Trent to become one-way streets 

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