Understand
Thornbury recreation site secured after seven-year campaign by residents
Overview
A community recreation site on the border of Leeds and Bradford has been protected from future development after a seven-year campaign by local residents. Leeds City Council approved an application to register part of Sunnybank Lane Recreation Ground in Thornbury as a town or village green (TVG), following a public inquiry and despite opposition from landowner Bradford Council.
Key points
- Part of Sunnybank Lane Recreation Ground in Thornbury has been granted town or village green (TVG) status, protecting it from future development.
- The decision follows a seven-year campaign led by local residents, with the application submitted in 2019 by Kulvinder (Kully) Manik.
- Although the site has a Bradford postal address, it sits within the Leeds district, meaning Leeds City Council had the final say as the Common Registration Authority.
- Bradford Council, which owns the land, had opposed the application.
- A public inquiry held in May found that the site met the legal requirements, including evidence that a significant number of people had used it for sports or pastimes for 20 years.