I was pleased to attend a handing over ceremony this week in Penyfai where I am also a borough and community councillor.
After years of campaigning, Newcastle Higher Community Council has been given a 35 year lease on the Pheasant Playing Field which adjoins the pub.
This land, originally owned by the Court Colman Estate, was handed over to the village many years ago and ended up in the ownership of BCBC. There was an attempt to designate the field for new houses under the LDP but this aroused a huge opposition campaign from villagers which I fully supported and the proposals were withdrawn.
This field is an important open space for villagers – it’s where people take their children to have informal play and also where they walk their dogs. The Community Council, which I was privileged to chair last year, now intends to install more bins, upgrade the path and improve the lighting.
This is a victory for villagers and for the community council. We are grateful to BCBC for deciding to sign it over to the community and make land safe for the next 35 years.
The ceremony was attended by Couns Huw David and Stuart Baldwin, on behalf of BCBC and myself, Coun Meryl Wilkins, current chair of the community council; and Couns Heidi Bennett, vice chairman, and Marged Griffiths. Also present was community council clerk Adam Davies.