Concerned residents in Highbridge have this week launched a petition calling for the long-term future of two public gardens in the town to be secured.
It comes amid concern that Jubilee Gardens, next to Highbridge’s town clock, and the Town Green could be sold off to developers by cash-strapped Sedgemoor District Council.
Hundreds of people have already signed the petition forms, which are located in newsagents and shops across the town centre.
And organiser Pam Lyes told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “We want to protect our town’s public areas from being sold off. This petition has been started in order to secure Jubilee Gardens and the Town Green as Designated Open Spaces in perpetuity.”
“The Gardens are already classed as an open space, but the Council can still sell it if they so desire after a consultation period with the public. We want their future secured as public areas for the long-term, not just for the short-term.”
This week, Sedgemoor District Council’s Strategic Property Manager, Tim Mander, tried to reassure residents that there are no plans to sell the land.
He told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “I am not aware of any recent approach or plans to sell Jubilee Gardens.”
“We did have a discussion with Derek Mead’s architects about 18 months ago regarding the possibility of including some of the land in his development at the Highbridge Hotel site – but that was on the understanding that a better replacement for Jubilee Gardens would be provided. It was not pursued and the proposal died a death.”
Mr Mander added: “The land at Jubilee Gardens is not protected under the local plan, which was an oversight, but it is still recognised as a public facility. There would need to be a full public consultation period and the Town Council would need to give its backing if any sell-off were to appear on the table.”
The petition forms can be signed at Smarts newsagents, Maisey’s Bakery and Snipper’s hairdressers.
