Parish Council Statement – Land at the end of School Lane

For many years the Parish Council has been making approaches about buying the land at the end of School Lane which is behind and below the Village Hall. Over the past nine months we’ve been in direct negotiation with the owners. As you may have read elsewhere the owners are now selling the whole of the land down to the stream. We’ve decided – after meeting Village Hall trustees – that the Village Hall would submit a bid for the approximately two acres behind their building and that East Keswick Parish Council will submit a bid for the remaining 12.8 acres below it. Between us, we hope to protect that eastern flank of the village for the enjoyment of the community and future generations.

If our bid is successful then our intention is to use the land for village sport and recreation. We’d canvass ideas but amongst our thoughts are the possibility of moving cricket back into the heart of the village, of providing an area where young people might play, of creating a new off the road footpath or cycleway to Bardsey and maybe even space for some allotments, fitness zone or community orchard.

We’d be asking several grant bodies for financial support and even individual villagers to consider helping. The rest would come from our existing reserves and loans. Despite our best intentions we might be outbid. Land developers have deep pockets but this particular area of land is unlikely to appeal to them since any use other than agricultural or equestrian use would be vehemently contested. It is the narrowest piece of land between the two villages and Leeds City Council have been strongly opposed to any development which might cause the two villages to merge. We at East Keswick Parish Council are determined to save this area as green belt and our colleagues at Bardsey Parish Council share these sentiments. This is a huge opportunity to protect that side of the village forever and create a community leisure and sports space which will really benefit residents and families. We’ll keep you informed!