'We will fight tooth and nail to protect this land' - hundreds of villagers near Harborough fear homes will be built on their 'priceless' open space

Over 300 villagers in Harborough are stepping up efforts to stop their “priceless” open space being sold off and houses built on it.

The village of Church Langton is banding together amid new fears that the Leicester Diocesan Board of Education is set to sell off the much-loved field.

But the church denies this claim, and says it has run a tender process to let the field for two years for grazing.

Some 331 villagers have signed a petition calling on the Board, which helps to look after 97 church schools, to “back off and leave the land alone for ever”.

And they are being backed by Harborough MP Neil O’Brien and Cllr Phil King, who leads Harborough District Council.

The new campaign to shield the field for dog-walkers, youngsters and families for years to come, is being spearheaded by Anthony Lawton, 67.

Anthony, who has lived in Church Langton since 2013, told the Harborough Mail: “We will fight tooth and nail to protect this land and stop it being sold off.

“This is not just a field.

“It’s the only open space we have here in Church Langton and it means the world to us.”

He insisted: “This chunk of land is right at the heart of the village and its value and its importance to each and every one of us is so crucial symbolically as well as practically.”

Anthony, a former chief executive of national youth homelessness charity Centrepoint and the first chair of Leicester Curve Theatre, handed the village petition to the Diocesan Board of Education, a registered charity, on Friday (November 27).

“We are all calling on the charity’s 25 trustees to halt their attempts to tender our open space for animal grazing," said the dad-of-two and grandfather.

“The Board has tried to get planning permission for this land three times – and been turned down every time.

“But they then sprang a new tendering public process on our beautiful village at the start of November.

“This field was dedicated to the people of Church Langton many years ago.

“It’s always been vital to us.

“But it’s been absolutely priceless to us this year as we’ve all been hit by the Covid pandemic.

“So many villagers, children, dog-walkers and families have loved just being able to leave their front doors and enjoy this incredible open space bringing the best of our fantastic countryside right into the village.

“It’s been a total lifesaver – both mentally and physically,” declared Anthony.

“I simply cannot understand what the Board is up to.

“I’ve worked for and with many of our top charities for many years.

“We’ve tried to engage with the Board, to sit down and hold positive talks with them about this – but we’ve got nowhere.

“They have a moral obligation to listen to us and to look after us as well – and that is simply not happening.”

The new row has blown up as Harborough council has designated the land as space for recreation and rejected multiple previous applications to build on it.

Harborough MP Neil O’Brien MP told the Mail: “It is a crucial green space for the village.

“I fully understand why residents are very worried another attempt will be made to build on it in future.

“I know the field is very popular and well used by local people.

“I’m keen to work with the Board, villagers and other stakeholders to ensure we find a solution.”

The Conservative MP added: “I’ve been contacted by residents who have shared their concerns about this and have been in touch with the Board to highlight the strength of feeling on this.”

Cllr King said: “This is something that I’ve had involvement in other parts of the district - so I am looking forward to discussions with the key parties on this.

“We need to work creatively to find a solution which allows residents to continue to enjoy and make use of the land, while also supporting the Board with the important work they do across Harborough.”

The Diocesan Board of Education told the Mail: “The Diocesan Board of Education (DBE) is a charity established to support Church school education across the Diocese of Leicester.

“The DBE has been speaking with local residents to explore if there are any possible solutions that demonstrate our care and concern for the Church Langton community, as well as our primary responsibility for 97 church schools across the diocese educating 23,000 children and young people.”

They added: “The DBE has offered to pause the tender process until February 2021, during which time we would work with the community to agree how we might release a section of the field for a children’s play area.

“We look forward to engaging with local people in future discussions.”

“The DBE is not selling the land and has run a tender process to let the field for two years for grazing.

"Access to the field continues to be permissible along the public footpath. The Board welcomes local residents enjoying the field on this right of way.”