Ore Community Land Trust celebrates on the Green (photo: Michael Wincott).

Ore Green goes to local Community Trust

Hastings Borough Council have offered Ore Community Land Trust a 25-year lease on Ore Green, next to the Salvation Army Hall, boosting their campaign to protect Speckled Wood, writes Tony Polain, the trust’s vice chair.

This is a tremendous milestone and gives renewed impetus to achieve the trust’s overall aim of preserving land in the Ore Valley as open green space for the enjoyment of the local community. Chair of the trust Ian Sier said:

“This marks the start of our long-term objective of acquiring areas of land in Speckled Wood to ensure it remains as woodland and open space for community use. It is the reason that Ore Community Land Trust was set up in 2009 as a crucial part of the seven-year campaign to save the woodland and we appreciate the positive action being taken by Hastings Borough Council to respond to the strong community support we have gained.”

Ore Community Land Trust will organise the maintenance and care for the green on behalf of the community, in line with the council’s specifications. However, it is intended to improve the condition of the land below the green, but a period of consultation will be undertaken to take account of local opinion.

Ore in Bloom will continue their current role in helping to maintain the green and are closely involved with Ore Community Land Trust in exploring options for enhancing it further.

Having ownership of the green gives the local residents a greater say in the management of this local amenity and will give Ore Community Land Trust a stronger platform to apply for funding to purchase more land in the valley, thereby ensuring that local assets such as Speckled Wood do not fall prey to housing development and are held in trust for future generations.

Ore Community Land Trust has set up a small project group to involve  local organisations that it works with to discuss and draw up plans for how the green and any other land that can be acquired  in that part of Speckled Wood can be improved. Ward councillor Michael Wincott said:

“I’ve witnessed first-hand the brilliant work that Ore Community Land Trust has carried out – they’ve spent years clearing debris from Speckled Wood, they organise the Ore Village Fair and they’ve helped to lead a band of volunteers in cleaning up and improving the area. I’m 100% in favour of them managing the green in Ore, they’ll do a great job.”

Captain Graham Bailey of the Salvation Army in Ore said:

“I am pleased to have been involved with Ore Community Land Trust for a number of years and am happy that they will ensure that this land will remain a positive green space for our community.”

Ore Community Land Trust would like to thank all the individuals and organisations who have worked and campaigned over the years to save Speckled Wood and open up the woodland for public use and for all the support and encouragement that has been given. Anyone who supports the campaign and the aims of the trust is encouraged to become a member.

For more information contact Ore Community Land Trust:

ore.clt@hotmail.com or via the Ore Centre, 455 Old London Road, Hastings, TN35 5BH.

www.orecommunitylandtrust.org.uk

www.facebook.com/OreCommunityLandTrust

Also in: Green Times