Residents win battle to save their 'village green'

RESIDENTS in Plymouth who have won the fight to keep their precious community space from being built on say the first thing they will do is get it designated as a village green.

- ALISON STEPHENSON Local Democracy reporter

City planners rejected the scheme on Thursday for five affordable homes, by Darren Wills of Classic Builders, to be built on the council owned land adjacent to Wilmot Gardens in Crownhill.

They concluded that the area was so important to the community it outweighed the urgent need for affordable homes in the city.

Campaigners said children and the elderly who use it on a daily basis would have to walk around 800 metres to the nearest green space, crossing a “dangerous” road.

Those who attended the Plymouth City Council planning meeting after a long running battle to save their green from development dating back to 2021 were “jubilant”. Leading campaigner Matt Fleming, who gave an impassioned speech to councillors, said everyone living in the area of Wilmot Gardens, Cowley Road and Ruskin Crescent would be thrilled by the news.