Parish Council in negotiations to buy fields for village

East Keswick Parish Council has been in negotiations to buy land behind and below the village hall which the vendors have now placed on the open market.

It’s been a long term aspiration of the Parish Council to buy the land which totals 14.68 acres. The Parish Council has indicated an offer based on professional advice but sadly a private sale could not be concluded as the owners wished to ascertain the value by advertising its sale.

It is greenbelt land and would be strongly opposed for development by Leeds City Council, East Keswick Parish Council and Bardsey Parish Council as all three are keen to stop East Keswick and Bardsey from merging at this the narrowest point which separates them.

Therefore the value of the land is simply that for agricultural use.

If the Parish Council bid is successful, our aim is to use the land for sport and recreational use. Consultations would take place but community plans might include a cricket pitch back in the centre of the village, an area for ball sports, a fitness track, allotments and a new footpath/cycle route to Bardsey via its sports club.

The Parish Council would very much like to own this land to protect its eastern flank and to create a space for real community benefit.