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Residents of Amber Valley Borough in Derbyshire face a race against time to protect their threatened open spaces.
The Growth and Infrastructure Bill, currently in the House of Lords, will outlaw applications to register land as a village green once it has been identified for development. If land has been used by local people for 20 years, for informal recreation, without interruption or permission, it may be registered as a green. Registration protects it from development.
We advise communities to apply to register eligible land now, before it’s too late.
The Amber Valley SOS group, a member of the Open Spaces Society, has submitted greens applications for Codnor Common near Ripley and Outseats near Alfreton to Derbyshire County Council, both threatened with development, but there are countless other open spaces similarly at risk.
Explains Nicola Hodgson, our case officer: ‘The clock is ticking fast for those who live in this lovely area. Their pockets of green space which they have used and enjoyed for decades could be snatched from them.
‘It is vital that local people submit their applications for greens before the Growth and Infrastructure Bill becomes law, which is likely to be next month.’