Railway trust objecting to green plan

The Cambrian Railways Trust has objected to a bid to make former railway land in Oswestry a village green.

The trust objected yesterday, at a public inquiry being held over a five-acre site off Gobowen Road, owned by Advantage West Midlands.

It had been earmarked for a health village but campaigners June McCarthy and Sue Davies lodged a bid to designate it a town green.

But Mrs McCarthy said they wanted the land to have the railway and a green.

Henry Thomas, for the trust, said: “It should include significant clearance for the railway to operate. There would have to be a fence between the railway and the green. That is a legal requirement.”

The inquiry, which finished on day one, is looking at whether the land has been used for recreation for 20 years, in order to be designated a village green.

But inspector, Mr Vivian Chapman QC, said he would not look at possible future plans for the site.

In a written submission, the applicants said evidence presented at the first inquiry made it plain “the railway land, five-acre site, was enjoyed by locals as a green for over 20 years”.

They said the site had been used since 1984 for people to go for walks and for looking at wildlife with the children, and it had a social value.

Mr Patrick Walker, for Advantage West Midlands, said the land was used “extensively” as a shortcut from the residential area to town. He said: “People use it as a shortcut not sports and pastimes. The application should fail.”

Mr Chapman will make recommendations to the county council.