Hopes that judge's ruling will scupper Newport store bid
Campaigners are hoping that a judge's ruling will save a field for nature instead of developers.
Part of an area of open land off Station Road in Newport is earmarked for a large Sainsbury's supermarket.
But that is now in doubt because an attempt by Telford & Wrekin Council to block a rival scheme at nearby Audley Avenue was last week thrown out by the Court of Appeal – leaving the council facing a big legal bill.
The authority's own evidence says that only one large supermarket is needed in Newport.
Although the council, which owns the land, and developers St Modwen are deciding on their next course of action, opponents of the Sainsbury's scheme hope the legal decision will see the site saved for recreation instead.
Charles Worth, the chairman of green group Newport 21, said: "We are very concerned that Newport doesn't have as large a percentage of green space as other places.
"We really need to conserve what we do have. We are in the process of walking the green spaces over the next few weeks so we can see for ourselves how these spaces are used, what kind of wildlife there is and what potential there is.
Meanwhile, Linda Fletcher, a member of Newport History Society, said the field is "reeking with history". She said: "This field is one of the very few local fields that we can identify from medieval times.
A deed recording a sale of land, dating to 1300 to 1320, relates to this little field, and it is called 'le blak buttes'."
Mrs Fletcher said the field shows evidence of an ancient boundary ditch and medieval ridge and furrow agriculture. David Parker, the chairman of the Save Newport Campaign Group, said it was an important area.
He said: "The council's stats have shown that we are short of public open space. When you consider the history of that site, it's really important.
"It has also been used as an informal open space. Serious consideration ought to be given about its future."
Other green areas off Station Road will have up to 350 houses built on them as planning permission has already been granted.
The Save Newport group launched an unsuccessful attempt to designate the land as a village green in 2012. They claimed it is used by dog walkers, photographers and kite-flyers, amongst others.
