‘A ONCE in a lifetime opportunity’ to create a green corridor in Alcester is to go back to Stratford’s cabinet ‘to think again’ after members dashed the hopes and aspirations of local people.
The project called for Alcester Nature Reserve, currently in the ownership of Stratford district, to be transferred to Alcester town council (ATC), which would also take on the care and maintenance of the land – estimated to cost about £7,000 a year.
The land, covering just over 10 acres, lies in the flood plain of the River Arrow and is worthless for development but despite ATC was prepared to pay the legal fees for the transfer of the ownership of the freehold.
The move was recommended for approval but for some reason when the authority’s all-powerful cabinet met last month to consider the project they only offered Alcester the leasehold of the land – with Stratford retaining ownership.
The town council already owns the neighbouring field, Priory Meadow, the site of Alcester Abbey, and Jubilee Fields on the other bank of the Arrow – and the land in question actually belonged to the old Alcester rural district council before the creation of Stratford district council.
District councillor Mike Gittus (Con, Kinwarton) who had championed the scheme and declared it ‘a once in a lifetime opportunity’ demanded the decision be reviewed saying the cabinet had been made ‘on the fly’ and ‘the entire scheme was dismissed casually and without debate’.
“It’s an area of outstanding natural beauty and we have developed a 20 year management plan for the whole River Arrow green corridor,” said Coun Gittus.
“We thought we had an agreement in principle to get the land in perpetuity and take the burden of maintenance off the district council’s hands.”
The former leader of Stratford district council and Alcester resident Susan Juned, who was there when the nature reserve was first set up said: “It’s quite extraordinary that after such long and careful negotiating the cabinet could make a decision so casually and without any legal advice.”
However at a meeting of the district’s overview and scrutiny committee on Wednesday it was decided ‘due consultation with ATC was not in evidence’ and the matter will now go back to cabinet for reconsideration.
