Shrewsbury park subject of £550,000 land row is nominated for best in UK
A park which has been subject of a £550,000 land row has been nominated as one of the country's favourite parks.
Greenfields Recreation Ground in Shrewsbury has been shortlisted for the Fields in Trust UK Favourite Park, along with Cae Glas Park in Oswestry and Telford Town Park.
It comes after Shrewsbury Town Council recently apologised "unreservedly" over the controversial sale of a patch of land on the park in 2017. Residents have been campaigning for several years for the land to be returned for community use and, after an independent inquiry, the council has vowed to help make it happen.
Dr Peter Day, who has led the legal challenge, with a Supreme Court date in December this year still on the cards, said: "When you have to fight for something you really care about it. I love the park, walked my daughter to school that way for years, had an allotment and now have a dog who wants to chase stuff in the countryside.
"It's so wonderful I have the park a stones throw away for off-lead running."
Shrewsbury Town Council is currently in discussion with owner CSE Developments, which bought the patch of land to build 15 homes, over how it can be returned to council ownership and, subsequently, community use.
The council will next discuss the issue in an open forum at a meeting on September 5.
To vote for Greenfield Recreation Ground or the other Shropshire parks nominated, visit fieldsintrust.org/favourite-parks/nominations
