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Villagers appalled by church fencing off field

Harry November 16, 2024

Teri Trickett is looking at the camera, wearing glasses and a brown jacket with a puffy collar. Her blonde hair was tied back. Behind him are the spiked metal fences at the top, and beyond that the bushes and trees of the Glebe field. — Teri Trickett’s family has used Glebe for more than 60 years (BBC)

Residents in Bayston Hill, outside Shrewsbury, say they are “horrified” by the church’s decision to fence off a local green space.

The Glebe, a large area often used for village events, is next to Christ Church and belongs to the Diocese of Lichfield.

Campaign group Friends of the Glebe described the move as “shocking” and is calling on the diocese to rethink its decision.

A spokesman for the diocese told the BBC they understood the sadness but that the church had fenced off the land to “protect its interests”.

The land had been an important part of Bayston Hill since 1949, when the diocese first leased Glebe to villagers.

It has since hosted fairs, events, Boy Scouts, and is a popular place to walk the dog; but last week metal fences were put up preventing people from accessing the land.

The fence is about two meters high and has spikes at the top.

“It’s been used by my family for 60 years, so it’s going to be absolutely devastating,” said Teri Trickett, who is part of the campaign group.

“We were so surprised that the diocese, the church, which is the center of our village and has been here since 1843, decided to do something to the village. It’s like they don’t care about us.”

Aerial view of a residential area in Bayston Hill — The Diocese of Lichfield said any development must also consider access to public open space (BBC).

Chris Hitchcock moved to the village from central London 24 years ago and said moving to the countryside was “very exciting”.

“You can go out (to the Glebe) at night and look at a lot of stars,” he said.

“My grandchildren have been here ever since; I take them on little trips around the Glebe. It has brought great joy to my soul.”

He said losing Glebe would mean “everything” to him and that he would move if the land were sold because he would be heartbroken.

A metal fence with spikes at the top runs diagonally across the image. A banner reading 'Please Support the Glebe Friends of Bayston Hill' has been placed on the fence and also includes the email address Friendsoftheglebe49@gmail.com. The text is green and black on a white background. You can see part of the area behind the fence; Since it is early in the morning, the light is pink and slightly sunny. — The area has recently been used for village events such as the Eco-Fair (BBC).

The site had previously been sold to developers but that deal fell through and residents fear one of the last green spaces in the village could still be built on.

The application to designate the Glebe as an official village green and grant it conservation status was made 18 months ago, but Shropshire Council is yet to make a decision.

The local authority said it would determine this application shortly.

Mark Underwood, a church councilor who chairs the Friends of the Glebe group, called on the church to “show some compassion” before a decision is made.

A spokesman for the Lichfield Diocese Board of Finance said they understood “loss of access is distressing to local people”, but that the diocese had “limited options to comply with its legal obligations” and had “fenced the land to protect its interests”. “.

They added that hedges would be replaced to be “more appropriate to the environment” and that “when the land is developed there will need to be provision to provide public open space in line with normal planning policies.”

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