A RESIDENT has raised concerns over the potential sale of a designated playing field in Longridge, after discovering that Cheshire East Council has indicated an intention to ‘dispose of open space land'.

Debbie Jamison has alerted councillors to the situation, which she fears would see a football pitch at the Higher Downs junction, adjacent to local plan strategic site CS50 – itself earmarked for up to 225 new homes – sold off.

Details of the exact patch of land in question, referred to only as ‘Land at Longridge’ by CEC, are being kept under wraps and are due to be discussed at a cabinet meeting in September.

Meanwhile, ward member Cllr Hayley Wells-Bradshaw is organising a meeting between Knutsford and borough council and community representatives Debbie, the neighbourhood plan sport and leisure working group’s resident lead, has called the issue a ‘red line’ and has urged concerned residents to contact councillors and ward members.

“This land is currently open space for recreation which used to have football goals and is a designated football pitch,” she said. “It is a significant part of the character of the area. Knutsford Town Council held an open space survey in 2015 and it was identified that this land needed improved maintenance and bringing back into use.”

Debbie, who has recently worked on a drainage issue at the site with a view to bringing it back into use as a football pitch, added that she feared the road could be used as access – or an extension – to site CS50 in the future.

Cllr Mrs Wells-Bradshaw said a date for the meeting was due to be decided today, Thursday.