Beauty spot sale set to be refused after public outcry

Controversial proposals to sell part of a Worcestershire beauty spot to a football club have been all-but abandoned after a public outcry.

Wyre Forest District Council has changed its mind over the principle of selling a fifth of Burlish Country Park to Kidderminster Harriers Football Club.

The U-turn comes after it received 650 objections to the plan during a statutory notice period.

Councillor Marcus Hart, their leader, said: "This was not a referendum, but the objections, representations and issues raised through the statutory process have been taken seriously." The BBC has contacted Kidderminster Harriers for comment.

In July the authority agreed to consider the principle of selling 8.5 hectares (21 acres) of the 40-hectare (99-acre) site, which is near Stourport-on-Severn.

A consultation was then carried out, which led to 656 comments being submitted, almost all of them against it.

A recommendation to keep the land, known locally as Burlish Meadows, in council ownership will now be considered by the Conservative cabinet on 21 October.

Hart added: "We recognise that people hold strongly differing views on this issue and that any decision will disappoint some residents.

"Given the significance of the proposal, it's important that it is considered carefully, openly and transparently."

Councillor David Ross, the deputy leader, added: "It was right that we considered the proposal and gathered all the relevant information before reaching a view.

"Our decision in July allowed the (legal) process to take place and gave people the opportunity to make their views known - it was not a decision to sell the land."

The Harriers' proposals included building new training pitches as well as flood lights and some artificial pitches for community use.

But the idea ran into objections from Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, which said it was "horrified" at the idea.

In August, local campaigners managed to get the site listed as an Asset of Community Value, which meant the council would have had to give the community an opportunity to bid for the land before any future sale could proceed.

Jason Kernohan, chairman of the Friends of Burlish Meadows, said they have collected 4,000 names on a petition which showed "the overwhelming opposition" to a sale.

"I really welcome this, it's great news - we haven't got anything against the football club at all, it was just the wrong site," he said, about news of the U-turn.

Philip Trow, from Stourport Civic Society, said: "People have believed in this campaign passionately because they care so much about the land.

"It's actually green belt - it provides a green buffer between Kidderminster and Stourport."

Councillors on the overview and scrutiny committee will meet on 15 October to examine the new recommendation, before it goes to cabinet for a final decision.

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