HELP MAKE ‘TOWN GREEN' AT ABBS CROSS

Residents may be aware that Havering Council's administration was proposing to sell off this land for housing development. As a result of the campaigning done by the Residents' Association the Council decided not to sell the land at this time but promised to incorporate it into Harrow lodge Park (which most people thought and most maps show as Harrow lodge Park). Enquiries have shown that this will not safeguard this piece of our green area, and that the council can at any time apply to the Land Tribunal for permission to sell the land for development.

As a result we have applied to the Council for this land to be registered as a Town Green. This will safeguard the land for ever under present law. Unfortunately they refuse to accept a 3,000+ signature petition as sufficient evidence that the land has been used unfettered for 20 years or more, and need individual letters to confirm that status of the land. They place less weight on the same letter signed by different people. If you know a JP, who will witness your signature free, as more credence is given to letters sworn before a JP, all the better.

We therefore are asking you, if you have lived in the borough for 20 or more years to send your letter to Councillor Barbara Matthews (see address below) so that it can be collated and put with other evidence.

The points you will need to cover:-

•  How long you have lived in the Borough (20 years or more)

•  That you (also family) have had unfettered access to the green area identified

•  That no fences were erected to stop access

• That there were no notices prohibiting access or allowing access under ‘licence'      (This means that a landowner has allowed access but only with their permission notified to the public by placing notices on the boundary)

•  What you have used the land for. Normally walking, playing games, picnics, dog walking or any leisure pursuits, even just sitting on the grass reading

•   That you have been doing this for 20 years or more and still use the land today for leisure pursuit, with unfettered access. 

To ensure that this memorial area is kept for the use of residents today and future generations, please write a letter in your own words and either contact us on 01708-442751 for collection or post to the address shown below. If you know somebody who can help, please let them know what to do.

 Councillor Barbara Matthews

Hornchurch Residents Association

C/0 35, Clement Way

Upminster

RM14 2NX

1.8.08