Fight to keep recreation ground (From Daily Echo)
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Villagers in Sway face battle to save historic playing field
4:00pm Tuesday 31st January 2012 in New Forest
Sway Junior Football Club and local councillors want to keep the Pitmore Lane pitches.
IT was given to the young men of the village in honour of the sacrifices made during the First World War.
Generations of footballers and cricketers have used the memorial field in Pitmore Lane, Sway, since the land was first handed over to the community.
But the popular recreation ground is in danger of being snatched away from the sportsmen and used as back-up grazing land.
Now campaigners are pressing the Forestry Commission and the Verderers to let them stay on the site after the current lease expires in 2014 – the 100th anniversary of the war breaking out.
The land is used by Sway Junior Football Club, which could fold if villagers lose their battle to save the pitches.
Club chairman Alex Vaughan said: “After the First World War the land was given to the young people of Sway for sport and recreation and has been used by cricketers and footballers ever since.
“The loss of the memorial field could cripple the club. Looking for somewhere else would be difficult and expensive.”
Fellow villager Warren Breach added: “It’s a much-used site where discipline, team-work and the importance of exercise are emphasised to the young on a weekly basis. It also drains better than Jubilee Field.
“Councillors will need to emphasise the importance of this facility and ask the Verderers to recognise the reasons why it was created.”
The parish council leases the field from the Forestry Commission, which is happy for the agreement to continue. But the Verderers have opposed the renewal of the lease, saying the land should be used for grazing. The commission has vowed to take the Verderers’ views into account before making a decision.
Kathy Gulliver, vice-chairman of the parish council, said: “We’re in danger of losing an important part of our history.”
The Verderers said they had received a letter from the parish council and would discuss the issue next month.
Comments(2)
Brock_and_Roll
says...
1:58pm Thu 2 Feb 12
I sincerely hope that in the year of our Queen's Jubillee, the Forestry Commission who represent her interests, will remember why the land was granted to the poeple in the first place and remind the Verderers who is boss!
Paramjitt - where are you? This story has it all for you!
Goldenwight says...
5:02pm Tue 31 Jan 12
These would be the same people who just a few weeks ago tried to stop people cycling in the New Forest? And now they are wanting to restrict another sporting activity. Maybe someone should put them in touch with that Professor at Soton Uni who is trying to cut obesity...