The Glebe Field is opposite the Village Hall bordered by Main Road and Cinders Lane. It is owned by the Church, we think because it was the sports field used from the early 1900’s when Austrey School was in the Village Hall building. When the school moved to its present site in St Nicholas Close the field became the village Playing Field run by the Austrey Playing Field Association (APFA). It was used as such until 1985 when Hazel’s Meadow was purchased by the APFA.
The field had a football pitch plus swings and a slide which were moved up to the new Playing Field. Part of the reason was that the teenagers used to hang-out on the play equipment and create a nuisance. The other reason was that the football team were not allowed to play in the Tamworth League because of the size and slope of the pitch.
In 1999 there was a Planning Application to build executive homes and a new village hall on the field. This was subject to strong objections from the village and the application did not go ahead. Since then the field has been left untended although recently the Church Commissioners erected ‘Keep Out’ notices as they are not prepared to accept the legal liability of letting villagers have access to the field.
Following several requests from the village, the Parish Council have been in contact with the Church Commissioners with a view to the village having access and use of the field again. They have indicated that they would be open to offers to lease or buy the field if they could be sure the proposal has overall support of the village. If purchase were to be contemplated they would require a clause that, should any Planning Permission ever be granted, then they would be the main beneficiaries.
The Parish Council have taken the view that any decision must be open to all villagers and only follow a broad discussion of the options and all potential ramifications. However there is general view that it is preferable for the village to control the use of the Glebe and for villagers to have a legal right of access to it.
To aid this discussion, set out below are a number of alternative ideas relating to the Glebe to act as a starting point for discussion. These are by no means exhaustive and any other suggestions would be welcomed. Villagers and others are invited to put their views forward (by commenting using the facility below) and they will be published in full on the web (once checked for legality) and as space allows on the village notice board. Any written responses can be put in the Parish Council letter box at the shop.
The opportunity to include the area of open land at the Glebe as part of Austrey’s facilities creates many opportunities.
At present villagers have no legal access to the land (although many use it illegally), and the owners have no money to do anything with it. This situation is clearly of no benefit to the village which has only limited access to ‘green communal space’. If nothing is done, the Glebe will become a more and more unkempt and unusable wasteland. In addition, changes to the Planning Law will in the future bring pressure to bear for more houses to be built in Austrey. It is worth noting that legally anyone can apply for planning permission on areas not owned by them. The Parish Council consider that applications to build on the Glebe will be much more likely if it is waste land than if it is actively used by the village.
For these reasons the Parish Council are minded to consider some action over the Glebe. However there has to be some roughly agreed plan on what could be done before the village is asked to decide whether Austrey should either:
Below are some suggestions of how the land could be used, if the village decides that it should either lease or buy the land. The options are by no means exhaustive (any and all additional suggestions are welcome), nor are they exclusive (a combination of uses are possible). Neither are they in any particular order – but have been numbered so that it is easy to distinguish specific areas of possible interest. The objective here is to open up discussion from the whole village.
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Glebe Field
I live very close to Glebe Field and have to say that it was one of the reasons I chose to buy the house that I have lived in for the last 7 years. Open spaces are a rare thing these days, even in a village, and I would love it to stay just as it is.
I am concerned that if we initiate interest with the Diocesse (who are under increasing pressure to raise funds) then Glebe Field will be raised higher up their flagpole of potential land to be sold. If this was the case they would have to advertise the land for sale (raising interest from developers, people with a bit of spare cash who fancy owning a little piece of England and even gypsies) and legally have to accept the highest bid for the land - I am sure this would not come from the Parish Council and their limited budget. Who then would we end up with owning the integral piece of land in Austrey.
I think we are all better to let this bit of Austrey continue quietly as it is; an open space where there is an abundance of wildlife who I am sure would be the biggest casuaties of any change of use of this land. We have already heard of the owls that hunt here, there are also woodpeckers, tree creepers, bats plus loads of small mammals. There are fewer and fewer natural habitats remining, lets not remove one more.
Sarah Bullivant
The Warren
The Glebe Field
As a village we have already had considerable discussion about housing development on Glebe Field and overwhelmingly dismissed such proposals, but here we are with new proposals which would result in quite intensive use of this green field and which would attract not inconsiderable vehicle movement and associated parking.
Because of previous connections with the village (I have only lived here twenty years) I am aware what problems of noise and vandalism there had been when the area was a playing field. I believe that both the then Chairman of the Parish Council and the Vicar, were well aware of the tremendous nuisance caused by 'incomer youths' who gravitated towards the field, especially on summer evenings. The problem was of course solved by the provision of a new playing field and a children's play area not adjacent domestic housing. These new suggested uses will bring back the previous problems. Have we learned nothing from the vandalism which takes place at the new playing field and distress caused to the neighbours, who overlook the small grass area at the end of Orchard Close?
The village has already provided two designated children's play areas, why is a third required? Glebe Field is already used by local younger children as an informal play area and this causes no problem because it does not attract older youths.
Regarding further allotments, has there been any investigation of uncultivated gardens in the village where perhaps elderly or infirm owners would be pleased to share their soil in return for some vegetables? The suggestion of an orchard initially sounds attractive, however as I walk round the village I see pounds and pounds of apples left to rot on the ground by householders who obviously have no use for them.
Whilst we already have occasional overspill parking on the grass verge opposite the village hall when something big is on, this is a far cry from purpose made plastic decked parking, which I am told could be installed to facilitate regular use.
Finally, but very importantly, the existing hedge/ trees and bank are home to many song birds and small mammals and is regularly hunted by a pair of local owls. This habitat would be destroyed if the hedge were laid or worst still machine cut. It was mainly the residents of Glebe Rise who cut back the undergrowth and small trees from the verge to facilitate occasional parking for the regenerated village hall and improve the sight lines to allow traffic to travel more safely round the bend. Vehicles consistently parked on this bend will interfere with the sight line. We did not do this work to provide a linear car and possible van park. This habitat should be kept as 'natural' as possible.
Malcolm Pennycuick
Steps House, Glebe Rise
The Parish Council role
The Parish Council are reacting to a raft of requests from within the
village and looking to satisfy the requirements of an overwhelming majority
of the residents as reflected in the Village Plan..
Some of these requests were triggered by problems about the only, very
small, green play area we have in the village (between Orchard Close and
Newborough Close), but there have been many similar requests over the last
ten years.
There was a specific question in the Village Plan Questionnaire : "Do you
think there should be special open spaces in Austrey for local people to
picnic and for local children to play?" The response was an overwhelming
Yes 237 to No 58 (No opinion 76). The results of the Village Plan were
circulated to all houses and a copy is on the web-site.
If the Glebe were to be leased for a year at a time then if it didn't work
out then we could just stop the lease. That avoids any problems that could
be generated by the immediate purchase of the field.
The development of use of the field would be slow and dependent on the
desires of the village. So if no-one wanted the allotments then the orchard
would not be created and so on. However by having a lease the people who
want to wander on it can at least do so legally.
The idea of a formal play area has, so far, been discounted by everyone.
However to have a number of green areas around the village would allow
younger children to play near their homes with parental supervision to hand.
Pete Yates
The Glebe Field
As a young person who is lucky enough to be born and bred in Austrey I feel passionate about the advantages of living in a village within the countryside.
When I answered the questions in the Village Questionnaire I stated that I did not feel the need for any extra play areas etc. I feel very privileged to live in an area where I am able to walk or cycle to my friends homes or to the Playing Fields.
The development of the Glebe Field Area as any structured environment would be to take away the beauty of our village as somewhere that still feels as if it is surrounded by nature and green spaces.
I would also worry about extra traffic (which already drives too fast and parks in unsafe ways to make my walking and cycling difficult and dangerous at times) and extra people from outside our village that any structured facility would attract.
Please leave the Glebe Field as it is - a natural space for animals and people young and old to enjoy.
The Glebe Field
It is interesting to read of the plans for the development of this piece of unspoilt and peaceful land - interesting in terms of where, how and why these ideas arose?
I have not heard of any feedback from the Village Plan Questionnaire (which I am assuming cost both time and money) that suggested villagers were in need of any extra Recreational Space (in fact I do not think I have heard of any feedback full stop) People live in Austrey because it is a village which can still boast 'open' spaces...unspoilt countryside NOT because it is a hive of industry with the sort of structured play areas and/or ammenities that built-up areas/suburbs have to provide.
A 'natural' environment attracts 'nature' - developing the Glebe Field would not attract the sort of wildlife that villagers would like to see but, unfortunately, an aspect of 'wild' life that would not enhance Austrey as a village! This would result in all sorts of associated issues - our own young people and more mature residents feeling unsafe and the problems of 'policing' the area for a start.
These concerns are not unfounded and not without substance as, as we know, this is exactly what happened when the area was attempted to be used as a recreational facility in the past.
I cannot see any advantage in the leasing or buying of the Glebe Field - I can see an advantage in the tidying of areas but surely this is what a good 'community' does? I can see great advantages in living in a village that provides appropriate facilities (we already have allotments and two play areas) and remains committed to natural green spaces.
The Glebe Field
In an ideal world, the Glebe Field could be used to the advantage of the residents of Austrey in a multitude of ways providing the money is available but we need to look at the practicalities and potential consequences of any decision regarding the use of this land. A playground be it informal or formal, opening the area up with seating and/or a car park could attract undesirable people or groups. The village has had periods in the past with problematic groups but we currently live in a peaceful environment with very little disturbance; surely this is the envy of many a visitor, residents of nearby City suburbs or even surrounding towns. Potentially an allotment or an orchard may be beneficial and even income generating but at what cost?
The issue of Glebe Field came to the forefront some 10 years ago when the then Parish Council were eventually voted out over their handling of the development of the land, namely, building a new village hall on Glebe Field and the building of houses on the site of the current village hall. Glebe Field has existed in its current condition for many a decade, it has not got any better but neither has it got any worse.
The Field is owned by the Diocese, who, I’m sure it is correct to say, do not have the money to do anything with the land but they are also an organisation who are looking at disposing of some of their assets. Sadly, by approaching the Diocese, the Parish Council have inadvertently raised the profile of a slumbering field to a potential valuable asset. It is not common knowledge and has not been mentioned on this web site or in the Austrey news but the Diocese cannot sell the land to whoever they like. They have to sell by auction to the highest bidder and this would not be the Parish Council, we all know that this would be to a developer. Therefore, I do not understand why the Parish Council believe they can buy or even lease the land. How do they believe they can raise the many thousands of pounds ? I do not think the lottery would fund a bench to view the wind farm or even a third playing field for the village. I believe we should let sleeping dogs lie and focus our efforts onto the wind farm and the HS3. Let’s leave well alone a field that has not been disturbed for decades.
Nigel Dix