Developers sell Swindon field after community starts fight to keep it

The community has enjoyed the land just off White Edge Moor for years but fears arose when it was sold at auction for £94,000 in July last year and shortly afterwards 'no trespassing' signs were put up. 

In response, residents started a petition to prevent the land from being built on, applications were made for preservation orders for trees on the land, and an application to have the area designated as a Town or Village Green was made, all of which are currently in process of being decided. 

Plans for a field in White Edge Moor show it was destined to be houses (Image: Town and Country Property Auctions)

This has appeared to scare the field's owners developer ZNS Developments LTD off, as the land was relisted for auction just over a month ago, and sold to a new unknown owner for less than they initially paid, at £90,000. 

The auction listing also seemed to confirm the worst fears for Liden residents, as it included designs and plans for houses to be built in the area, something that residents had indicated they would fight to prevent. 

Councillor Mike Davies has been a big part of the campaign to save the space from being built on. 

He said: "Open green spaces are really important for mental and physical well-being, and the playing field on White Edge Moor opposite Matley is the major area for ball games for all the young people on the outside of Liden Drive around the Moors, meaning they can get to it without having to cross Liden Drive. 

"The residents of the Moors have used this green space for generations, and the strength of feeling was evident from the petition set up to support the Town Green application."

There will be another sigh of relief for residents, as the previous owners had not maintained the area prior to selling it, causing it to become overgrown and unusable. 

Liden residents are set to put up a fight to retain a playing field near them (Image: Mike Davies) (Image: Mike Davies) Nythe, Eldene and Liden Parish Council issued a statement.

It said: "The Parish Council have spoken to the landowners and the grass will not be cut by them and they are not granting permission to the Parish to cut the land, due to an ongoing objection to an outstanding application made by an individual person to turn the land into a Village Green."

Eventually, residents took matters into their own hands and cut the grass themselves.