Newport field only used by walkers, inquiry told

Telford & Wrekin Council's estates and investments manger Alan Fox said he believed green land which is off Station Road was not used for leisure activities such as picnicking, kite-flying and photography.

He said his team had collected evidence to show the area is only used by people walking on nearby public footpaths.

But barrister Daniel Stedman-Jones described Mr Fox's evidence as 'not relevant' due to the information being gathered after a controversial fence was put up by the authority on the site.

Mr Fox was speaking at a public inquiry to determine whether the area should be classified as a village green.

Resident John Rudd made the application to block plans for a 50,000 sq ft Sainsbury's supermarket.

The land is owned by Telford & Wrekin Council which stands to gain £21 million in land sales if the supermarket goes ahead.

Mr Fox said: "I instructed architectural technician Robert James to monitor the goings on at the site in April 2012. I also visited the site on Easter Sunday. I did not see anything other than walking or dog walking."

But Mr Stedman-Jones said both Mr Fox and Mr James had visited the site after Telford & Wrekin Council fenced off the area of land where recreational activities had taken place.

He said: "This inquiry is focusing on use of the site between 1991 and 2011 – before the fence went up. You have provided no evidence from that period.

"You have also said you put the fence up to protect the land but I don't see why you would need to protect it if nobody was using it."

Mr Fox said: "The land was protected to maximise its value."

Campaigner Dave Gittus said he hoped the village green bid would be successful. He said: "We have 32 witnesses to say how the field has been used in the past 20 years. Telford & Wrekin has provided no evidence on how it was used other than a couple of weeks after the fence went up."

The inquiry is due to resume at noon on Monday at Meeting Point House, in Southwater Square, Telford.