Community green space in Falmouth save it from developers

People living in Vernon Place were shocked to discover that a grassy area, which had been used by the community for decades, was being put up for auction by Cornwall Council on April 29.

Residents put out an SOS (Save Our Space) at their protest on the green space on Sunday. (Image: Supplied)

Following an appeal to the council to take the strip of land off the market so they could raise the money to buy it, the council moved the auction to July, but said it would not take it off the market.

On Sunday more than 30 residents gathered at the site to raise awareness of the situation and appeal to the council to change their mind.

They say they have raised some money so they can pay a fair price on the basis of an independent valuation and are happy to sign a covenant to agree that it should stay as community space.

One of the organisers of the protest David Williams said that the residents were totally uninformed about the sale until the sign went up a week ago.

He said the original auction date left the group on the back foot to get organised.

These youngsters made their feelings known (Image: Supplied)

“This land has been community greenspace for as long as anyone can remember, even some residents now in their nineties who have been here for decades,” he said.

“The community wants that to continue. We weren’t advised that it was to be sold and we think the community voice shouldn’t be ignored and should carry more weight than speculative developers.

“We know the council needs funds so we are willing to agree a fair value but if we fail, the money from this will be gone in weeks, rich developers that don’t live here will make even more money but the community greenspace will be gone forever. We can’t let that happen.”

He said many of the group, including him, have pledged funds to buy the land via a community interest company and are open to finding a way to give fair value for it.

“But we can never compete with speculative developers who will probably put a new block of student/holiday flats here, something none of the permanent residents want,” he said.

The campaign is backed by Cornwall councillor, and Labour’s prospective parliamentary candidate for Falmouth and Truro, Jayne Kirkham.

The green space has spectacular views across Carrick Roads (Image: Supplied)

She told the Packet: “In the light of recent announcements about Cornwall Council potentially selling off our publicly owned precious green spaces, beaches, carparks and chapels, it would be good to see this space being transferred to the community to look after, at a fair price to the taxpayer.

“Particularly in light of the comments made by cabinet members about how each site should go to the organisation best placed to care for it in the long term.”

Cornwall Council has been asked for a response.