Plea to register land as new village green

County councillors are being recommended to give priority to a decision on the creation of a new village green.

People in Penkridge want to register the land adjacent to the former Silverdene Residential Home as a village green.

The aim is to stop land being sold to South Staffordshire Housing Association for development. The matter goes to Staffordshire County Council's countryside and rights of way panel on Monday. South Staffordshire District Council says there is clear evidence land has not been used "as of right" and there is no need for a public inquiry.

It wants the application to be given priority.

Normally no more than two such applications are dealt with in a financial year and as a result there is a backlog of cases.

The district council's director of legal and licensing David Pattison said the land was bought for open space use, but it is needed for new extra care accommodation for the village.

The maximum possible amount of the land is to be retained as open space.

The district council, county council and South Staffordshire Housing Association are partners in the extra care project.

County council director of social care and health Eric Robinson said the council was objecting to the creation of a village green.

He said there was a critical need for extra care facilities in the area and it was important a decision on the application be reached as soon as possible.

More than 700 villagers have signed a petition opposing the extra care housing scheme.

Solicitor Susan Comrie, of Chestnut Grove, lodged the application with Staffordshire County Council for the land to be registered.

To meet the terms of the Commons Act 2006 she has to prove the land has been used by local people for sports and pastimes for more than 20 years.