Delight as Gainford Parish Council buys well used green area

A cherished green space in Gainford will remain a popular village amenity – as it has done for the past 50 years – thanks to the parish council.
Gainford and Langton Parish Council are purchasing the land at Balmer Hill from Durham County Council and will register it as village green once the sale is complete.
The area came under threat in 2015 when Broadacres Housing Association unveiled plans to build six affordable homes on the green space, off North Lane.
Residents branded the proposal “ludicrous” and “crazy” and formed their own Save Our Green campaign due to fears they would lose a well-used open space.
Thankfully residents’ views were taken into consideration and the plans were withdrawn.
In an attempt to save the green space for future generations, parish councillors have since been in discussions with Durham County Council about buying the land.
An agreement has now been reached and during the annual council meeting, members decided to proceed with the purchase and then protect the area by registering it as a village green.
Parish council chairwoman Cllr Lisa Johnstone said: “The parish council are delighted to move forward with the purchase in order to secure the land for the village. Once again the parish council have shown it’s up for a challenge.
“We must thank Durham County Council for agreeing to this and making the negotiations very friendly.
“We know there is still work to do to finalise things but the main hurdle has been jumped.”
Villagers gathered for celebrations and free ice-creams on the land last Friday.
Resident Ian Blain said: “It is a really positive move for the village. We need our open spaces and it would have been a shame if more houses were built here.”
Fiona Divers said: “I think it is fantastic. We were there when they were talking about planning permission. I think houses would have made the space more dangerous for children playing at Balmer Hill. There were talks of the residents of the village coming together to buy the land so the fact that the parish council has done it is fantastic.”
During the planning consultation, Durham County Council confirmed that they acquired the land in 2009 from Teesdale District Council.
However, doubts have been cast on the sale as Balmer Hill resident Mike Stow believes that the land was not Durham County Council’s land to sell.
Mr Stow said: “When Teesdale District Council finished, Durham County Council assumed it was theirs but it isn’t.
“This is the way they have been going on. It is not just Gainford it is other areas too. They are trying to sell what they consider to be their assets.
“I feel aggrieved that we are paying for something that we should not be paying for.
“ On the positive side, the land won’t ever be built on.”
The parish council has assured residents that the land was bought for a “reasonable” price.
Durham County Council’s director of regeneration and local services Ian Thompson said: “We have been in discussions for some time with Gainford and Langton Parish Council and are pleased to have now agreed terms with them for the sale of land at Balmer Hill.
“Once the sale is complete, it will allow the parish council to apply for village green status ensuring that the land can be preserved for the use of local residents.”
The price of the land has not yet been disclosed.