Plan for new recreation ground in village is backed by panel

The application will see 7.2 acres of land off Holme Road changed into a recreation ground with a parking area, vehicular access and a pedestrian footbridge.

Ramsey St Mary’s Village Trust has been trying to find an appropriate site for a recreation ground since 2011.

After lengthy discussions, the owners of the application site, D.G and Partners, agreed to sell the land to the village trust on the proviso that it was used as a recreational ground.

The application was backed by the development management panel at Huntingdonshire District Council on October 15.

The applicant told the council: “The site is ideally positioned in the centre of the village where it will be easily and safely accessed by pedestrians over the new footbridge. The site benefits from vehicle access points however these will only be used for cutting the grass or for vehicle access for a community activity on the site. “The site is located close to Ashbeach Primary School and we hope they will use it for school activities. It is easily large enough to host a range of community events.”

The village trust is hoping that, with the plans approved, it may be able to discuss with Ramsey Town Council and Huntingdonshire District Council if funds are available to deliver additional facilities onto the field, such as fencing, play equipment and trees.

The town council backed the application, saying it would “give the village a must needed play area”.

The village trust said in its submission to the district council: “It is important that the land is open for the use of the whole community, both young and old, and once planning permission is established we will be engaging with the local community to establish what they would like to see on the site and how they would like to use it.

“We are already aware through our previous consultations in 2001 and 2012 that there is a need for informal space for children to play football and other outdoor games.”