A COMMUNITY group is looking into getting village green status for a patch of land to prevent it being developed.
Richard Loughton, of Kensington Road, Barnsley, said the Willowbank Community Partnership aims to preserve St Paul’s field, also known as Old Town Green, because of a shortage of green space in the area.
The group would have to apply to the council to obtain the status. Richard said: “Having village green status would make it very difficult for anyone to develop the land and it would be maintained as a public green space. There isn’t an awful lot of green space around here, so from the community’s point of view, it’s a valuable spot. It’s very well used and an ideal safe place for children to play.â€
The land was bought by the council from St Paul’s Church. The Willowbank Community Partnership has planted a number of trees on the space and holds an annual carnival there.
