Campaign and petition launched to protect Stamford's east meadows from development from Cecil Estate Family Trust and others

A new petition has been launched to protect a green area of Stamford that is already “inaccessible” and “blighted by power lines”.

It was started by campaigner Richard Cleaver, who is calling on land owners on the stretch of meadows between Cherryholt Road and Hudds Mill to hold fire on any future housing plans.

The area to the south of the river is already earmarked for a joint development by South Kesteven District Council (SKDC) and Burghley Land Limited.

They plan to create a mixed use housing and business site called St Martin’s Park on the former Cummins land and the adjacent field.

On the north side of the river, owned by the Cecil Estate Family Trust, plans are afoot to build 33 new affordable homes near Cherryholt Road - to the frustration of nearby residents.

Mr Cleaver, who has produced a video outlining his concerns about the loss of the meadows, has already amassed more than 600 signatures for his online petition, which was started at the beginning of April.

He said: “The water meadows to the east of Stamford which run alongside the banks of the river Welland are being surrounded by more and more development on both sides.

“As more development takes place, the more urgent it becomes to protect and enhance the adjacent green spaces.

“The meadows themselves are threatened by development, are blighted by power-lines and are not accessible to the public.”

He is calling for the area to be protected from any further development, restored as natural meadows, and made into a “fully accessible public amenity”.

Mr Cleaver said his concerns were based on four issues.

Firstly, the St Martin’s Park plan would bring “hundreds of new residents” to the town, making the need to protect and restore green spaces even more pressing.

Secondly, the neighbourhood plan is meant to protect green areas of Stamford, including the green meadows, but has unfortunately not yet come into force.

Thirdly, the Cecil Estate Family Trust’s housing application for a green area behind Bowman Mews is still on the table, despite consideration of the application being delayed by the Covid-19 crisis.

Mr Cleaver said the plot in question was likely part of land confiscated from the church by Henry VIII during the dissolution of the monasteries. It would have come into the possession of the king’s courtiers, and in this case Sir Richard Cecil.

“This land has not been earmarked for housing development in the local plan and the application is being vigorously opposed by local residents,” Mr Cleaver said.

“The development would further reduce the amount of green meadows remaining and is unnecessary given the amount of land already earmarked for development elsewhere in Stamford.”

Lastly, a footpath leading through the meadows which was closed off by Network Rail 10 years ago needs to be made fully accessible once again.

Mr Cleaver continued: “All of these strands have come together to provoke us into starting our campaign to stop any development being possible on the meadows in future, to restore the beauty of the meadows and make them fully accessible as a public open space amenity.”

It is hoped the nearby Grade I listed St Leonard’s Priory building would also be brought back into use, after years remaining empty and unused.

No one at SKDC or estate agents Strutt and Parker, which represents Cecil Estate Family Trust, have been available for comment. A spokesman for Burghley Land Limited said the area of meadows in question is not owned by them.

View the petition here.

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