NFDC accused of bullying Milford Parish Council over Pennyfarthing Homes Swifts public space dispute

MILFORD parish councillors have accused New Forest District Council of bullying them in an increasingly bad-tempered row over efforts to force a developer to fix what they say is unsafe public open space.

The reaction comes amid a dispute with Pennyfarthing Homes over a grassed area behind The Swifts, a 42-unit development adjacent to Milford Primary School in Lymington Road.

The parish council is refusing to take ownership of the recreation space, which was a condition of planning permission, claiming it is littered with bricks and tiles which could cost £150,000 to make good.

However, Pennyfarthing has argued it has only to provide a surface to the quality of public open space – a lower standard than sports pitches.

The two sides have now been at loggerheads for several years, with calls for NFDC to step in to force a resolution.

To try to break the deadlock, the parish council commissioned an independent soil expert to deliver a report on the land, which it submitted to NFDC and Pennyfarthing.

But it now claims NFDC and the developer have rejected the report because it mistakenly refers to sports pitches instead of the site’s official designation as “recreation” space.

Parish clerk Graham Wells told the A&T: “Regardless of the references to pitches – the report was very clear in its conclusion the land is unsafe and we should not take ownership of this site in any circumstances.”

He said the report offered two options for remedial action which were both likely to cost in the region of £150,000.

He said: “We are not asking for football pitches – if that is something we want to develop in the future, we will pay for it.

“It is not safe to chase a Frisbee over the land. We know that two dogs have been injured there already.”

In a statement to the A&T, however, NFDC said it had proposed in November last year that Pennyfarthing fund a new independent consultant to recommend a solution – which the developer had agreed.

But Milford Parish Council had not still responded to the suggested brief, it said.

The idea was debated at a recent meeting of the parish council in which chair Cllr Matt Goode reacted: “It’s outrageous – this is two parties trying to drive through something that suits them but not us.

“I think it’s misguided. It’s drafted in bad faith and it should absolutely be rejected.”

Cllr Tim Cowell added: “It’s bullying. These are bullyboy tactics.”

Parish councillors voted to reject NFDC’s proposal for Pennyfarthing to fund a fresh report into the site.

Members also agreed to urgently seek a meeting with NFDC’s new head of planning, who is set to take their place at the authority next month.

The A&T has approached Pennyfarthing for comment.