Who owns Audlem playing field?

Parish Council hopes of taking control of Audlem's playing field have hit a hitch.

Cheshire East Council say they are happy for Audlem to have the land, it's just that they are not sure who it belongs to.

Councillor Mike Hill told an Audlem Parish Council meeting: "Cheshire East say Audlem can have it if we want it. It's just they don't know who owns it."

Extensive Land Registry searches have failed to find who actually has the title deeds to the playing fields or to the council car park.

It is understood the land may have been left to the village by a former local family for its use as a community facility.

But there is no record of an owner in the Land Registry and no title deeds can be found that show any details of a gift to the village of Audlem.

Cheshire East Council has confirmed it owns the land directly behind Audlem Public Hall but apparently owns no title deeds to the rest of the site.

Plans for Audlem to take over responsibility for upkeep of the village playing fields from Cheshire East have been in the pipeline since February.

Talks on a possible village takeover were given the go-ahead in May after a Parish Council working group came up with projected costs for its upkeep.

Running costs were also estimated for running the children's playground, the tennis courts and even the public car park.

Audlem councillors say a playing field takeover will protect the site against any future sell-off but there are concerns at the implications for the parish finances.

Councillors agreed to wait until further investigations had been made into the land ownership mystery.

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