THE PLUG has been pulled on controversial plans to sell part of Rowley Fields to developers for housing.
Stratford Town Trust recently announced proposals to put 7.8 acres of the land bordering Welcombe Hills on the market.
The group were hoping to get several million pounds for it but many residents fought the move and today (Tuesday) the Town Trust announced it had decided to pull out of applying for planning consent.
Instead, the Trust say it wants to work with townspeople to set up a Friends of Rowley Fields to help with the maintenance of the land and look at ways of further utilising the land for recreational purposes as well as income generation for the future.
The decision, made by the Board of Trustees in light of the opposition faced, also means the Extraordinary General Meeting of the Trust – earmarked for Monday, March 2 – is now cancelled.
Alan Haigh, Chairman of Stratford Town Trust, said: “As we have said all along – we are a charity working for the good of Stratford.
“We do not want to pursue a course of action which our membership and the community we work for does not support. We have taken the decision to stop preparing plans for the 7.8 acre parcel of Rowley Fields at the earliest opportunity.
“We have met representatives of those living next to Rowley Fields and the chairman of the Stratford Society and spent considerable time discussing a way forward.
“Our ambition now is to work together to establish a means of enhancing Rowley Fields as a recreational space and generating income from it.”
