Civic leaders in Telford have issued guarantees that Telford’s town centre park will be protected against development for future generations as part of plans to commemorate the 2012 Olympics and Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

Telford Town Park Arena has been designated as the first Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Field In Trust in the West Midlands.

It follows a successful partnership between Telford & Wrekin Council and the Friends of Telford Town Park.

The Fields In Trust programme protects outdoor recreational spaces in communities as a permanent living legacy of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. It means that the Arena is guaranteed against development.

The signing of the deed was attended by a number of civic rulers including Mr Algernon Heber Percy, Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire; Alison Moore-Gwyn, Chief Executive Officer of Fields In Trust; Councillor Malcolm Smith, Mayor of Telford and Wrekin and Councillor Kuldip Sahota, Telford & Wrekin Council leader.

Others present included Mark Pritchard, Wrekin MP, and David Wright, Telford MP.

The deed specifies that no more than nine commercial events can take place in any financial year and that all monies received from the hiring of the arena will be reinvested into the arena.

The deed was signed by Councillor Malcolm Smith, mayor of the borough of Telford and Wrekin, and Alison Moore-Gwyn, chief executive officer of Fields In Trust.

“I am extremely proud that we are the first council in Shropshire to be awarded this unique status. It enables us to protect the Town Park Arena for future generations,” said Telford & Wrekin Council leader Kuldip Sahota.

“Together with our partners, the council is investing more than £3m to improve the conservation and preservation of the cherished green space at Telford Town Park.”

Councillor Arnold England, Telford & Wrekin Council’s cabinet member for leisure and wellbeing, said: “This dedication will be a permanent reminder for the town of Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee.”

Fields In Trust is led by its patron the Duke of Cambridge, will support 2,012 public spaces in the UK.