A SUGGESTION to take ownership of a part of Vauxhall Fields has resurfaced at the town council’s meeting on Monday, February 28, writes DES PUGH.

It was just over 12 months ago that Mat Feakins, then a member of the town council, put forward a plan to use some of the ground on Vauxhall for nature trails, allotments, a penned dog-walking area, a heritage orchard and community garden, film shows and seasonal events.

Demand for allotments in Monmouth (44 people were on the waiting list in 2021) was central to Mr Feakins’ proposals for Vauxhall where, he told the council, there was room for up to a 100 allotments.

This led to a cry of “Hands off our fields”by the Friends of Vauxhall Fields, a group set up more than 10 years ago to care for the ground owned by Monmouthshire County Council.

Now Cllr Martyn Ford has suggested that 14 acres of land off the Inglis Bridge could become a valuable town asset if it was preserved as open space.

He said it was very popular with dog walkers, he admitted he was one of those.

“There is no reason why we can’t ask the county council to transfer the freehold to this council, and then, if they agree, it’s a relatively cost-free matter to prepare a transfer deed and then it hopefully becomes a straight-forward matter for us to become owners and then we can decide what to do with it,” he added.

He went on to say: “I make no secret of my wish to see it owned by a charitable trust and that’s because it would be better protected if it was owned by a charitable trust outside the ownership of the county council with all the pressures they have with the aim of protecting it from development at any time in the future.”

He added this may well be “an oasis of 14 acres surrounded by housing estates” and said “that’s my goal and I would ask council to support me on that”.

If it is transferred to four trustees, providing it doesn’t produce an income of more than £5,000 a year, it doesn’t have to be registered with the Charity Commission he said.

“What I envisage is that four trustees are found who would own the freehold to the land and would keep it and preserve it for future generations.

He asked that councillors agree in principle “and no more” and ask the county council to prepare the legal documents for a transfer deed.

The Responsible Financial Officer, Paula Hartley, said that it didn’t need to be set up by a charitable trust, it could be set up as a Community Asset transfer - a transfer from council to community for a nominal fee.

Councillor Jane Lucas said that she was “all for it” but mentioned that there are sometimes sheep on there and it is cut for hay so an income may well be generated, but questioned whether a charitable trust was the way forward, “there are lots of options”.

Councillor James was concerned about the upkeep, cutting of the grass and any other things needed to be done and asked would the council then have to fund this? The town clerk confirmed this would be the case.

It was agreed to start a conversation with the county council about transferring Vauxhall Fields.