Campaign to stop sale of Bewdley green space for housing
People in a town are trying to raise enough money to buy a piece of land, enjoyed by generations of children to play on, to stop houses being built on it.The acres of green space in Bewdley, Worcestershire, known locally as The Maypole Piece, have been put up for sale and are being marketed as a possible housing site.People in the area say they want to keep it as an open space as most residents who grew up in the area in the 1960s, 70 and 80s have happy memories of playing there as children."We've got to do something to save this wonderful area, it's got so much history," Elaine Passey, one of the campaigners, said.
Ms Passey said "hordes" of children would play up there."It was great - back in the day you'd spend all day up there, so many people loved it," she added. "These days, nature is so important for mental health as well - we've got to try and give it back to today's generation of young people."
The land used to be owned by the late Major Webb, a former solicitor and wealthy landowner who locals say gave his blessing for it to be used by the public for recreation.But the area, set between two housing estates, is now in private ownership and is up for sale on estate agents Savills website, with a guide price of £418,000. Denise Eaton, who runs the Old Waggon and Horses pub near the site in Wribbenhall, said: "I used to play there as a child - my siblings did as well. "My mum used to often talk about going up there, they had a big bonfire up there after the war - it means so much to everyone. "Major Webb used to let us play on this ground; we've got to save it and give it back to the people of Wribbenhall and Bewdley."
John Frost, who is also involved in the campaign, added: "Everybody around here knows it as The Maypole - the history of this land is remarkable, it was treated as common land and enjoyed by the people. "We want to take it back, if you like, to making it an even better community space." The campaigners have set up a Friends of the Maypole website and a Facebook page where supporters can pledge donations. A spokesperson for Savills said they have had "exceptional levels of interest in the land" since it was put up for sale, with people being invited to make bids by 10 June. The current landowner refused to comment on the sale or the campaign.
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