Police bid to block efforts to register land near former station as town green

A BID to register an historic Barnard Castle site as a town green is nearing a decision.

The town council applied to have land at Bede Kirk listed as a village green following impassioned pleas from residents to save the 29 tree copse.

But the site of the former police station has already been earmarked for the development of older people’s social housing.

It is thought Durham Police intend to sell the land for the Darlington-based Railway Housing Association to build there. Both parties have submitted objections to the green registration bid but the town council has challenged them on the grounds the land had been used by dog walkers for more than 20 years.

In its reply to the objections, a town council statement said: “Overall, the town council sees no substance in either letter of objection to refute its application for Bede Kirk to be registered as a village green on behalf of the residents of Barnard Castle.”

Council members were happy with the reply at last month’s Barnard Castle planning meeting but they were concerned the housing association plan was already a “done deal”.

Cllr John Blissett said: “To be honest the one thing that worries me on this is they are doing what they did at Deerbolt – going to the planning officers first so they can get all the boxes ticked.

“If they are going to build more housing we’re going to have more problems with the infrastructure.”

Originally, Bede Kirk was the site of an ancient church, acknowledged as being of Saxon origin.

Its remains were absorbed into the construction of a farmhouse which later became derelict and was acquired by Durham Police for a station to replace its former base in Queen Street. The police station has since moved to Wilson Street.

Although green registration at Bede Kirk would secure protection for some of the land, it would not mean developments could be stopped completely.

Durham County Council will have the final say on its status in the coming weeks.