Residents’ bid to buy meadow to save it from development

Campaigners fighting to save a medieval meadow from being built on have issued a plea to the developer to sell them the land.

Residents of Castle View Terrace in Ludlow have set the ball rolling to form a Community Interest Company (CIC) in the hope of bidding to purchase The Little Meadow, which lies off their street, from Shropshire Homes.

The developer has submitted plans to Shropshire Council to build seven homes on the grassland, leading to a flood of objection letters and the lunch of the ‘Save The Meadow’ campaign.

The group says the strength of public feeling has proven the meadow is worth fighting for.

Spokesman Peter Roberts said: “Over 160 well-informed and heartfelt objections have been lodged with the planning office at Shropshire Council, from local people as well as from public bodies like the Council for the Protection of Rural England and the Ludlow Civic Society.

“We’re aware that objections from the public are only one factor in the decision-making process, and on paper, this might seem like a relatively small concern – seven houses covering just under an acre.

“But we feel that there’s a strong technical case against the build, while the loss to the local community will be grievously felt, and permanent.

“We hope the planning committee will appreciate the wider benefits to Ludlow of preserving the meadow.”

To prevent the meadow being built on, even if the plans are approved, the group hopes to raise enough money to convince Shropshire Homes to abandon the project and sell the meadow to the CIC.

The CIC would own and manage the land on behalf of the people of Ludlow, maintaining it as a meadow in perpetuity, encouraging biodiversity and permitting public access along the ancient footpath which runs through the site.

Tish Dockerty, who is at the heart of this effort, said: “We’ve had a very encouraging amount of money already pledged by people that live nearby, however the purchase price quoted by Shropshire Homes is very high and we are still well short of what would be needed to make a realistic offer.

“But we hope that, given the special nature of this green space, the depth of public feeling, and their own green credentials, they will look favourably on our efforts.

“We invite anyone interested in this project to look at our website for extra information about how to pledge.

“Hopefully there are other people out there who may wish to contribute to our fund and save this rare green space for future generations.”

Ludlow Town Council will discuss the application at a meeting on Wednesday evening before making its own representation to Shropshire Council planners.

Andy Sheldon, land director at Shropshire Homes, said: “We would have to consider the merits of any proposal that was made to us at the appropriate time but for the moment we are continuing to pursue our application.”

For more information on the campaign or to make a pledge, go to savethemeadow.co.uk