News / Stoke Lodge
Campaigners claim ‘multiple errors of law’ in Stoke Lodge judgement
Three months after a High Court judge revoked ‘village green’ status for Stoke Lodge, an application has now been filed to appeal that decision.
Campaign group We Love Stoke Lodge say that their grounds of appeal “identify multiple errors of law” in the decision taken in June by judge Paul Matthews.
These include that the land is held for statutory purposes that are incompatible with village green status, and that that sporting use of the land was not continuous over the relevant 20-year period.
is needed now More than ever
We Love Stoke Lodge are also appealing a costs decision in July which ordered Kathy Welham, the applicant on behalf of the community, to pay 90 per cent of Cotham School’s legal costs, equating to £85,203, which has already been paid in full.
Stoke Lodge was registered as a village green in August 2023 following Cotham School building a fence around the 23-acre site in Stoke Bishop.
But that registration made by Bristol City Council’s public rights of way & greens committee was then overturned by judge Matthews after an appeal by Cotham School.
A We Love Stoke Lodge spokesperson said: “Village green registration is an issue of huge and generational importance not only to the Stoke Lodge community but more widely across Bristol, as demonstrated by the consistent support of hundreds of people over many years.
“This appeal also covers issues of wider national significance and matters of principle and we are grateful to everyone who has supported us in taking this next step.”
Cotham School students at Stoke Lodge – photo: Cotham School
Cotham School, who use part of the council-owned land for sports provision, have been asked for comment about the latest appeal.
In a statement in July, a school spokesperson said: “We welcome the recovery of public funds that were necessarily expended in protecting the school’s playing fields, which are required for our delivery of PE lessons.
“We now look forward to resuming use of our playing fields as soon as possible.”
Cotham School have been unable to use Stoke Lodge as their playing fields for several years due to the numerous legal wrangling – photo: Martin Booth
Main photo: We Love Stoke Lodge
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