Wimborne’s cricket ground could become Town Green

Philip Atlay, Chairman of Keep Wimborne Town Green has been advised by the head of the County Council Legal Department that the Town Green application, submitted by KWTG is 'duly made' and has been registered. 

Mr Atlay said, “I insisted that Waitrose also be informed by the quickest means.  I have been negotiating this with the county council since June and the final application was made on 23 September.  The wait since then has been agonising.”

Mr Atlay has advised Viewpoint that the application will now be referred to the 'Countryside Access Team' who, after their review of the application and almost certainly a visit to the ground, will take one of three courses of action:
• immediately approve
• immediately reject, based upon the evidence presented and, presumably, sought from those who have an interest in the case. 
• refer the application to a committee of three county councillors who will hear evidence from Waitrose, KWTG, and anybody else who wishes to speak.  The committee will then make a recommendation. 

“I have said that it would not be appropriate for the county councillors, who were part of the EDDC Planning Committee to be part of this process - nor county councillor Robin Cook,” said Mr Atlay.  “The DCC representative was able to assure me that none of these people would be part of the process.

“What puzzles me is that he did not confirm that Waitrose must now stop work, which I believe to be the case.

“However, John Pullen has advised me that the major removal of soil, which was about to take place will not now happen. I shall consult the 'Open Spaces Society' for advice.”

For more information on this development, readers should log onto www.kwtg.co.uk