Village opportunity to Acquire Land

Land for Sale off Green Lane

Many residents will know that the field of 11.55 acres, on the left adjacent to Green Lane in the direction of Market Drayton, has recently been put up for sale by the owner, at a guide price of £100,000 to £130,000 by Informal tender, due in on the 16th May.

This represents a rare opportunity for the village to bid for land at agricultural accommodation prices which could become a unique village amenity. Obviously for this land to become usable as a village amenity it may require planning permission for change of use at some point.

AudlemOnline has received a large number of posts with suggestions as to how the village could take advantage of this opportunity.

Funding the purchase

Local Government ( i.e. Parish Councils) can obtain funding at reasonable interest rates from HM treasury for the benefit of local residents. Obviously, this may well involve the local precept being increased to cover the repayments.

Alternatively, a local trust could be set up with residents purchasing shares or a wider crowd funding initiative. The population of Audlem at the last census was 1991. so, if say, 1000 residents purchased a share of £150 the purchase could hopefully be achieved. This approach can work preserving green space whilst providing a community amenity.

Possible uses of the land

The land is already used, by kind permission of the owners, for parking and camping / caravans during the key, very successful events held in Audlem – Music/ Arts Festival, Party on the Park, Transport Festival, but without guarantee for the future.

For many years now parking has become increasingly difficult in the village for customers of the village traders and tourists all of which benefit the residents. Many options have been suggested to resolve this, but one of the best suggestions is to create a car park on part of the Green Lane Land.

Many other suggestions have been made including moving and expanding the Medical Centre to accommodate the new residents from the Little Heath and Heathfield road developments.

Village meeting

Two village meetings are being set up by the Parish Council to review this opportunity

Thursday 19th April at 7.30pm in the Public Hall
Saturday 21st April at 10.30am in the Methodist Church Hall.

Do come along and make your views known.!

Full details of the sale can be viewed by clicking on the icon below the image

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