Pounds House sale ‘sets a troubling precedent’

COUNCILLOR SPEAKS OUT AFTER ALMOST 80 RESIDENTS OBJECT

- By ALISON STEPHENSON Local Democracy Reporter

ALMOST 80 residents opposed Plymouth City Council's plans to dispose of land in Central Park as part of the proposed sale of Pounds House - a move which a Labour councillor said was “setting a troubling precedent”.

The council says there is “no significant benefit” to keeping the land which represents 0.5 per cent of Central Park when balanced against the ambition to bring the Grade II listed Pounds House back into use after years of lying empty.

It claims that disposing of the land will enable the sale of the house, which has cost taxpayers nearly £500,000 in the past five years.

But some residents are angry by any loss of public open space in their beloved park.

Also, Labour councillor Jeremy Goslin (Pev) said it risked undermining “the original purpose and public benefit of this beautiful park”.

Concerns were raised that the sale would reduce the area of land available to dog walkers, families, nature lovers and community groups, that it would be harmful to wildlife and it could be used to build houses among other fears. The council advertised its plans earlier this year and has now made the decision to sell after it said it had taken the objections into consideration.

In his objection letter, Cllr Jeremy Goslin said Central Park held a unique place in the life of Plymouth and was created as “a people's park”- to provide open space for recreation, wellbeing, and community use. He said: “The park continues to be one of Plymouth’s most valued and widely used public amenities.