Good news on Playing Field

Last night's Audlem Parish Council meeting heard a letter read out from Cheshire East about the Playing Field Complex, the issue which had produced such a heated discussion at September's meeting.

Cheshire East said:

"Clearly we wish to support the project and understand your exciting vision and we also have a similar aim to protect the continued use of the area by the community and hope that an arrangement with the same common goal can be achieved.

"The Council has considered your request and proposes the following:

• To enter into a long lease (99 years) with Audlem Parish Council for the playing field only subject to a back to back agreement with the FIT (Fields in Trust charity).
• To enter into a lease for a term of 30 years with Audlem Parish Council for the remainder of the site apart from the Tennis Courts as these are already leased to a 3rd party and therefore the Council has devolved its interest in this site."

Parish councillors had previously expressed concerns about taking on the playing field under a 30-year lease and the latest letter from Cheshire East may well have eased those concerns considerably.

One councillor said on hearing the letter that this was the best news on the playing field since 2011 (when negotiations started about their take-over by the local community). Nobody voiced a contrary opinion.

Audlem Parish Council now plan to meet with Cheshire East as soon as possible to discuss the offer in greater detail.

A review has been conducted by two parish councillors into how the whole playing field saga has been handled, as requested at September's meeting, and a report will be circulated to councillors this morning at 8.00am. Hopefully, in the interests of transparency, it will be made available to the public in the near future.

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