Town Green application

We are on Stage 3

13/06/24: Stonehouse Town Council (STC) received the objections received during the six week public consulation period. STC had until 15/07/24 to respond. This was extended until September.

June 2024 (date tbc): STC sent rebuttal notice to GCC.

July 2024: STC’s Timeline of events associated with Town Green Application

Full details of Stage 3

If objections are received during the six week period then the regulations also require the CRA to forward the objections to the applicant for comment. There is a process of exchange of correspondence between the applicant and any objectors to ensure that the salient issues pertinent to the application are dealt with accordingly. This ensures that all parties have the opportunity at an early stage in the process to exam each other's evidence and comment on it, this aims to tease out the main differences between the arguments for and against the application.

We are waiting for our application to be discussed at a future meeting of Commons & Rights of Way. Next one is 17th March 2025. Agenda to be announced.

Next Stage 4

Where there is a conflict of evidence or dispute in respect of the legal requirements set out in Section 15 of the Commons Act 2006 the CRA is required to consider whether the application should be referred to an independent inspector (normally a barrister) in order for a non statutory local inquiry/hearing to be held.

The inspector may consider a pre meeting necessary, in order to set a timetable ('directions') to deal with any outstanding issues prior to holding the inquiry. The pre meeting will not deal with the evidence relating to the application but will deal with process and procedure of the inquiry.

Stage 5

After the conclusion of the inspectors directions an inquiry date will be set.

The parties will give evidence in accordance with the directions and have the opportunity to cross examine witnesses. At the conclusion of the inquiry the inspector is likely to make a site visit (accompanied by representatives from each side) and then will prepare a report with recommendations to the CRA as to whether to accept or reject the application.

Stage 6

A report is prepared by the Assistant Director of Legal Services to the county councillors' who sit on the council's Commons and Rights of Way Committee ("CROW") enclosing the inspectors report and recommendations, inviting CROW Committee to decide whether to register the land as a town or village green, taking into account the evidence provided by the parties and the inspectors recommendations.

Members of the public may attend any meeting of the CROW Committee; however, there are no speaking rights to address the Committee other than via the public question procedure as set out in the Council's Constitution.

The parties will be notified of the Committee's decision following the Committee. If CROW Committee resolves to accept the application the Commons Register and accompanying map are updated. There is no right of appeal within the commons legislation against the decision of the CRA.

General information about registering a Town Green from Open Spaces Society

Information on Town Green Application Stages 1-6 from Gloucestershire County Council

Support our campaign

Friends of Verney Fields is campaigning to reinstate the free and unimpeded access to open space and traditional paths in and around Verney Fields which have been enjoyed for generations. This includes supporting Stonehouse Town Council in their application for Town Green status.

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