Gurnard Village Green was first registered by Mrs J Simpson on 25/6/68. The registration was undisputed and became final on 1/10/70. A large central area of the Green was at the time being managed by the Isle of Wight Council as a Putting Green and was fenced off and only accessed after an entrance fee was paid. This excluded this area from inclusion in the 1968 registration as the “right of use” over 20 years didn’t exist for this part of the Green.
In the summer of 1998 the Putting Green was closed by the IWC and all signs of this Putting Green, including the fence, were removed. The area was made freely accessible and it became impossible to distinguish this part of Gurnard Green from the registered part of Gurnard Green.
Over 20 Years have passed since this commercial use ceased and although clearly defined on our old maps, it’s impossible to distinguish the old Putting Green location. The whole area has been used by the Public “as a right of use” with total unrestricted free access and is no different in use than the registered Green that has surrounded it for 21 years.
Gurnard Parish Council wish to achieve official Village Green Status for this Putting Green area of land and so gaining the same protection that the rest of Gurnard Green achieved 50 years ago and are seeking evidence from users in support of this application.
A town or village green depends on the rights exercisable over the land rather than its location, and any land used by people from the locality for informal recreation can become a town or village green.
We need to prove that the land satisfies all four parts of the criterion for registration as a village green namely that the land has been used by:
- a significant number of the inhabitants of any locality or neighbourhood;
- for lawful sports and pastimes;
- as of right;
- for not less than twenty years.
If you live locally and have used this area of the Green for all or part of the last 20 years and feel you can support our application, we would be very grateful. Please contact the clerk for further information and an evidence questionnaire for completion.
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